Posted: November 16, 2004

Athletics: Road Runner Akron Marathon Sees 30% Increase in Runners from 2003 to 2004

AKRON, Ohio - (Nov. 15, 2004) - More than 3,300 runners took to the streets of Akron in the 2004 running of the Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays. That represents a 30 percent increase over the inaugural event in 2003 when more than 2,500 runners participated.

"This year we had runners from 33 states and nine foreign countries participate in either the marathon or the team relays," said Jim DeVoe, Marketing Director for the Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays.

The most significant gains were in the number of Northeast Ohio runners; up 39 percent over a year ago. To no one's surprise, Akron area entries were up 47 percent from last year, followed by Canton which was up 31 percent and Cleveland and Youngstown entries both up 14 percent.

Relay teams represented the largest increase in runners for 2004. More than 2,400 men and women were part of 486 (they were not all 5 person) relay teams in 2004. Women represented 41 percent of the relay runners and the men 59 percent. The average age of the women relay runners is just over 35 and 38 for the men.

Marathon runners for 2004 were down by 17% percent. A total of 865 men and women were entered for the 26.2 mile race. Women represented 28 percent of marathon participants and the men 72 percent. Ages for both men and women were slightly higher in the marathon versus the relays. The average age for the women is 36 and the men 41. The average age nationally is 34 for women and 39 for men.

"The increase in the number of relay runners this year, particularly those from the Akron and Northeast Ohio area, is great news for our sponsors," said DeVoe. "For 2005, we will work very hard to get more marathon runners to come to Akron and participate in what participants tell us is a great, well-organized event over a particularly scenic course."

For additional information about the Road Runner Akron Marathon or to register for the 2005 event on Sat., Oct. 1, visit the marathon website at www.akronmarathon.org, or call toll-free at (877) 375-2RUN.

A full breakdown of runner statistics is available by contacting Tom Koch, tk@HighlandPr.com or (330) 996-4140.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.