Another year of running statistics are in the books and it looks like the changes are minimal when it comes to the half marathon and marathon distances. Running USA, a non-profit organization for the running industry, once again crunched the numbers and had the following to say in their 2015 Annual Half Marathon and Marathon Reports.
Half Marathon Report
Nearly two million runners finished 13.1 miles in 2015, which was just a little lower than the over two million finishers in 2014. While participation numbers waned, the number of U.S. half marathon events increased from 2,500 in 2014 to 2,700 in 2015. The report also showed:
- The Airbnb Brooklyn Half Marathon kept the number one spot as the nation’s largest half marathon with 26,479 finishers.
- Women represent 61 percent of U.S. half marathon finishers.
- Forty-four percent of finishers were masters (40 and older), a record high percentage.
- Average finisher times were slower 2:04:00 for males and 2:22:21 for females.
Marathon Report
For the first time in recent years (with the exception of when the 2012 New York City Marathon was cancelled), the number of U.S. marathon finishers dropped from a record-high 550,600 finishers in 2014 to 509,000 finishers in 2015. The report also showed:
- Over 49,000 runners finished the TCS New York City Marathon, making it the largest marathon once again.
- In 2015, there were 90 marathons with 1,000-plus finishers, down from a record high of 98 marathons in 2014.
- Women U.S. marathon finishers hit a record high of 44 percent in 2015.
- Forty-nine percent of finishers were masters (40 and older), a record high percentage.
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