Marathon business is a competitive business. In the USA alone over 400 marathons are organised each year targeting something like 400,000 runners.
The big marathons such as New York Marathon, Boston marathon and the Chicago marathon have no problem attracting runners, they dont even need to spend alot on marketing because it is the runners that come to them. But for many marathon races how to attract runners is a big headache.
Any race director who is organising a marathon and is wondering how he can attract more runners needs to read the following case studies. I read them from raonoke dot com.
Case Studies of formers struggling marathons and how they solved the problem
The Country Music Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee
The race started 10 years ago with hilly course, and participation fell off from 7,500 the first year to 6,300 the second year, said Adam Zocks, the race’s general manager. Organizers flattened the course and added a half-marathon. Last year, the races had a combined 31,000 participants.
The Mount Rushmore Marathon.
The mount Rushmore marathon in the black hills of South dakota which had a mountainous course has seen steady growth in recent years, says Steve Kurtenbach, president of All Sports Central, which organizes the race. He attributed part of that to adding a second, easier marathon course that now draws more runners than the original.
From this two case studies is clear that if the marathon course is hilly and tough a marathon race will find it difficult attracting willing runners, if a race directors manages to convince some novice local runners to participate, they will have a hard time such that they will not participate again.
But what about a race that with an easy flat course but struggles to attract runners.
Few marathon race can survive on local participation. The race director and the organisers must target runners from out of town. To get out of town runners to come the organisers must give them a good reason, rather than the marathon alone, as to why they should visit the town.
Like the organisers of country music marathon added “part of the Country Music Marathon’s success was people realizing that Nashville was a great destination apart from the race.”
Another well market marathon is the Suntrust Richmond marathon, the marathon targets first time marathon runners with the tagline “America’s most friendliest marathon”
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Black Hills, Black Hills Of South Dakota, Boston Marathon, chicago marathon, Country Music Marathon, half marathon, Hilly Course, Marathon Boston, Marathon Course, Marathon Race, Marathon Races, marathon runners, Marathons, Mount Rushmore, Nashville Tennessee, New york marathon, Race Director, Race Directors, Sports Central, Zocks
Haile Gebreselassie Vs Samuel Wanjiru. I had hoped this two will race together this year so that we can know who is the king of the full marathon.
Samuel Wanjiru had hoped to take on Haile at 2009 Berlin Marathon but he failed to get invitation to the Berlin Marathon from the organisers. I feel the organisers bowed to the demands of Haile who has previously been quoted saying he prefers to race against the clock rather than go head to head and worry about the athlete behind his neck.
After failing to challenge Haile in Berlin, Wanjiru has entered 2009 Chicago marathon. What is interesting is that Chicago is a flat course just like Berlin. If the weather cooperates, expect Wanjiru to attack Haile record time. Berlin Marathon is on September 20th While Chicago marathon will be on October 11th. After the Berlin marathon Wanjiru will have ample time to reflect and prepare to better Haile’s effort.
A local paper here in Kenya caught up with Samuel Wanjiru on a 35K run along Nyahururu – Gilgil road last monday and the 22 year old athlete played down the Berlin politics and insisted he is 100% focused on 2009 Chicago Marathon.
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Ample Time, Athlete, berlin marathon, chicago marathon, Clock, Haile Gebreselassie, Haile Gebrselassie, Invitation, Last Monday, Organisers, Record Time, Samuel Wanjiru, Weather
With hundreds of marathons held around major cities in the US not all marathons are the same. Some marathons are harder than others and some are easy to run.A good example is Boston marathon, even without its requirement for proof of running a previous marathon, the hilly boston route would be handful for a marathon newbie.
Most beginners choose to run nearer home but if you are an adventure seek you can choose a marathon from a different city. In choosing a marathon to run a beginner should ask is the course flat or hilly.
If your goal is an easy marathon, I think you may benefit from US Airways article that listed some easy marathon across US.
Writer Larry Olmsted had a few simple criteria for choosing his first marathon: good weather, a flat course, a fun atmosphere and a high volume of registrants to lower his chances of coming in last!!!!!!
Easy beginners marathon
These were some of the marathon listed.
1. Honolulu Marathon – It was the writers no one pick because of a flat course
2. Chicago Marathon -Flat course but beware, the marathon has a history of horrible weather on Dday.
3. Marine Corps Marathon
4. Twin Cities marathon – Down side of this marathon is Leave your iphone home, ear phones are banned from twin cities.
5. Las Vegas marathon – It is the only marathon in the world where you can run and get married. For those married they can renew their wedding vows.
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Beginner Runner, Boston Marathon, chicago marathon, Dday, Different City, Ear Phones, First Marathon, First Timer, Good Weather, Honolulu Marathon, Horrible Weather, Iphone, Larry Olmsted, Las Vegas Marathon, Marathon Races, Marathons, Marine Corps Marathon, Running Marathon, Twin Cities Marathon, Us Airways
Many runners who want to run the Chicago marathon may think it’s too late, but the good news is they can still sign up and help a great cause at the same time.
The American Cancer Society Charity Runner program has coveted spots available for the sold-out 2009 Chicago Marathon and is seeking dedicated athletes to race for the fight against cancer.
Visit: www.charityrunner.org to register for the 2009 Chicago Marathon and learn more about the Charity Runner team.
Additionally, to get daily health and running tips you may consider connecting with the fellow runners on: -
? Twitter.com/ACS_ChiRunner
? Facebook.com
? YouTube.com
One running tip from runners world.
“As you build your mileage base in the first month, make sure you’re getting a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains; eliminate most of the junk.” – Runner’s World
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Acs, American Cancer Society, Balanced Diet, Charity, chicago marathon, Facebook, Fellow Runners, Fruits Vegetables, Health, marathon runners, Mileage, Protein, Runners World, Running Tips, Whole Grains, Youtube
If you are training to run New York marathon you should keep in mind the following marathon training principles:
When to start training for New York marathon
The early you start your marathon training the better. 4 months prior to the marathon is a good idea. Training early has advantages, you get enough time to train and most importantly you have time to recover from inevitable running injuries.
The 10% rule of marathon training.
Never increase your weekly mileage, by more than 10 percent a week. If you do you will drastically increase the risk of running injury.
The long runs for New York marathon
The long runs can be up to 20-23 miles (for the experienced runner) for the inexperienced runner this can be 5 – 15 miles depending on your level of experience. The long run should be done at least once a week.
Easy weeks
We love going full speed on our training but it is a good Idea to slow things down between your training weeks. This will allow you to stay fresh as you build on your overall workload.
Rest.
Taking a complete break from running is as important as running itself. Two to three days of complete rest will allow you body to recover from the stress of marathon running. Don’t take a long rest as you will lose all the gains from your training.
Hydration for New York marathon
Keep drinking enough water. Water helps in preventing running injuries.
Nutrition for New York marathon
Eating the right foods is important! You need to eat plenty of carbohydrates to give you energy. Eating foods rich in protein will help your body repair small tears that happen during training.
Taper for New York marathon
Avoid over training by reducing your weekly mileage during the final two weeks before New York marathon. This will ensure you arrive at the starting line feeling fresh and energised.
Good luck!!
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Marathon Running, Marathon Training, New york marathon
What is the perfect running posture? Runners have always sort the answer to that question.
I found this picture with a good illustration on a good posture during running.
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: 10K Running, Ankle, Exercise, Marathon Running, Marathon Training
In preparation for 2010 london marathon I read the post race commentary of 2009 London marathon and in a bbc article I discovered a sad statistic that shows the london marathon finishing times have gotten slower since the marathon begun in 1981.
The top of the pack (the elite runners) they have gotten faster and faster but the rest of the field has gotten slower and slower.
In 1982, a time of two hours 40 minutes would have placed you 457th. Last year, it would have been good enough for 184th – this despite the huge increase in competitors.
Interesting Case of Mathew Parris
Matthew Parris, the Times columnist and former MP, finished in 1985 in the best time ever by an MP – an impressive two hours, 32mins, 57 seconds, for 385th out of about 20,000. In 2008 london marathon, this would have placed him 83rd out of 34,000. In 2007 London marathon (a hot day, admittedly), his time would have been good for 46th.
What this illustrates is the decline in the number of good runners who are clocking times between 2 hours 20 minutes up to 2 hours 50 minutes.
To read the full article visit the BBC Running site
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: london marathon, Marathon, Marathon Running, Runners
If you are training for the Chicago marathon you should keep in mind the following marathon training principles:
When to start training for Chicago marathon
The early you start your marathon training the better. 4 months prior to the marathon is a good idea. Training early has advantages, you get enough time to train and most importantly you have time to recover from inevitable running injuries.
The Chicago marathon course
The course is the flattest around. No need to do hill running as part of your training but if you do hill running during your training, on the d-day the flat course will feel like a piece of cake.
The 10% rule of marathon training.
Never increase your weekly mileage, by more than 10 percent a week. If you do you will drastically increase the risk of running injury.
The long runs for Chicago marathon
The long runs can be upto 20-23 miles (for the experienced runner) for the inexperienced runner this can be 5 – 15 miles depending on your level of experience. The long run should be done at least once a week.
Easy weeks
We love going full speed on our training but it is a good Idea to slow things down between your training weeks. This will allow you to stay fresh as you build on your overall workload.
Rest.
Taking a complete break from running is as important as running itself. Two to three days of complete rest will allow you body to recover from the stress of marathon running. Don’t take a long rest as you will lose all the gains from your training.
Hydration for Chicago marathon
Keep drinking enough water. Water helps in preventing running injuries
Weather conditions for Chicago marathon
The last two chicago marathon have seen hot temperatures on the day of the marathon. In 2007 it was so hot to the extent one vulnerable runner died. The best way to prepare is to train in hot weather conditions.
Nutrition for Chicago marathon
Eating the right foods is important! You need to eat plenty of carbohydrates to give you energy. Eating foods rich in protein will help your body repair small tears that happen during training.
Taper for Chicago marathon
Avoid overtraining by reducing your weekly mileage during the final two weeks before Chicago marathon. This will ensure you arrive at the starting line feeling fresh and energized.
Good luck with your training!!
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: chicago marathon, Marathon Running, Marathon Training, Training Plan
I found this chart from BBC. Listing the Top 100 Marathon runners between 1981 -2008.
 World Marathon Rankings Marathon Facts
- Kenya has come from nowhere in 1981 to dominate the roads; in 2008 65 of the 100 runners were Kenyans.
- Kenya’s men are stronger indepth in the marathon than in any other country in a single discipline in athletics.
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Running, Training
The historic 26 mile boston marathon course starts in the town of hopkinton and ends in boston city
9 Towns along the boston marathon course.
1. Hopkinton
2. Ashland
3. Framingham
4. Natick
5. Wellesley
6. Newton
7. Brighton
8. Brookline
9. Boston
Snap short of boston marathon route – course map
 Boston from start to finish To get a detailed boston marathon route map you may down load it from the official boston marathon website : download the boston marathon map here
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Boston Marathon, Marathon Running, Marathon Training
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