SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - With the spring marathon season in 
full bloom, it is time for USATF Road Running Information Center's annual 
marathon report on the estimated number of finishers, trends, demographics 
and largest marathon lists.

After a slight decline in 2001 U.S. marathon finishers due to the post-9/11 
effect, the marathon numbers rebounded to an estimated 450,000 finishers 
compared to 424,500 in 2001. More specifically, for the same 181 U.S. 
marathons for 2001 and 2002, there was a 5.4% increase in finishers (289,663 
in 2001 compared to 305,294 in 2002). The bulk of the increase came from the 
largest 2002 fall marathons that were affected by 9/11:  New York City (up 
8,170) and Honolulu (7,241).

Outside the U.S., there was similar overall growth as for the same 56 
marathons, the numbers increased by 6.1% (232,804 finishers in 2001 vs. 
246,923 in 2002).

In the U.S., the trend of new marathons continued in 2002 as four marathons 
debuted with over 1,000 finishers:  Washington DC (4,295 - 8th largest debut 
all-time), Anthem Kentucky Derby (1,067), Lakeshore, IL (1049) and Des 
Moines, IA (1,014). And like last year, 55 U.S. marathons reported over 1,000 
finishers to the tie the 2001 record.

Speaking of records, in 2002, a record 40% of U.S. marathon finishers were 
women. By 2002, there were one-and-a-half times more female finishers 
(180,000) in U.S. marathons than the total number of U.S. marathon finishers 
in 1980 (120,000) during the first running boom.

Last year's median marathon times reflect a continued non-competitive 
approach to the distance. In 1995 the median men's time was 3:54:00, while by 
2002 it hit 4:20:01 and for women, median times slowed from 4:15:00 to 
4:56:46 for the same two years. The slower trend may be leveling off a little 
as illustrated by slightly faster median times in about 40% of the 2002 
events compared to 2000.

For the first time in history, three marathons in 2002 - London, New York 
City and Chicago - reported over 30,000 finishers. The Flora London Marathon 
kept its #1 position in the world with 32,899 finishers in 2002, while New 
York City regained its #1 U.S. position with 31,834 finishers edging LaSalle 
Bank Chicago (31,106). In 2002, the U.S. had 7 of the 15 largest marathons in 
the world. 

For more marathon statistics and data, see the tables and lists below.

U.S. Marathon Growth

YEAR    Estimated # of Finishers
1976     25,000
1980    120,000
1990    260,000
1995    347,000
1996    396,000 (Boston's 100th)
1997    396,000
1998    419,000
1999    435,000
2000    451,000
2001    424,500
2002    450,000

DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
        1980    1995    1998    1999    2000    2002
Women   10.5%   26% 	34% 	36% 	38% 	40%
Masters 26% 	41% 	40% 	42% 	44% 	43%
Juniors 5%  	2%  	1%  	1%  	2%  	2%

MEDIAN TIMES
        1980       1995          2002
Males   3:32:17   3:54:00 	4:20:01
Females 4:03:39   4:15:00 	4:56:46

MEDIAN AGE
        1980    1995    1998    2000    2002
Males   34  	38  	38  	38  	39
Females 31.3    35  	34  	35  	34
Median Age Overall  37  37  37

2002
World's Largest Marathons (finishers):

 1) Flora London, GBR       32,899
 2) New York City, NY       31,834
 3) LaSalle Bank Chicago, IL    31,106
 4) Honolulu, HI            26,477
 5) real Berlin, GER        25,223
 6) Paris, FRA          24,025
 7) City of Los Angeles, CA 18,737
 8) Hansaplast Hamburg, GER 17,083
 9) Joongangilbo Seoul, KOR 16,800E
10) Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll, CA    16,136
11) Boston, MA          14,573
12) Ford Cologne, GER       14,173
13) Marine Corps, DC        14,058
14) Naha, JPN           10,733
15) Stockholm, SWE      10,722
E = estimated total

2002
U.S. Largest Marathons (finishers):

 1) New York City, NY       	31,834
 2) LaSalle Bank Chicago, IL    31,106
 3) Honolulu, HI            	26,477
 4) City of Los Angeles, CA 	18,737
 5) Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll, CA    16,136
 6) Boston, MA          	14,573
 7) Marine Corps, DC        	14,058
 8) Walt Disney World, FL   	 7,950
 9) Portland, OR            	 7,091
10) Grandma's, MN           	 6,836
11) Twin Cities, MN      	 6,641
12) Motorola Austin, TX      	 5,393
13) Philadelphia, PA         	 4,535
14) Compaq Houston, TX       	 4,412
15) Washington DC, DC        	 4,295
16) St. George, UT       	 4,227
17) Cincinnati Flying Pig, OH    3,886
18) Country Music, TN       	 3,465
19) Dallas White Rock, TX    	 3,375
20) Columbus, OH             	 3,340

Source: USA Track & Field Road Running Information Center - 
www.runningusa.org