Over the past decade, the half-marathon has become America's most popular distance by virtually any metric: by finisher growth, by debut half-marathons, by "buzz" and by survey, and the following numbers and tables compiled by Running USA for its annual report further reinforce the 13.1 mile's impact and influence. In short, it is the Usain Bolt of the U.S. road race world.
Last year, U.S. half-marathons had an estimated 1.85 million finishers (a new high), an impressive 14.9% increase from 2011 (1,610,000 to 1,850,000), but lower than the historic 24% rise in both 2009 and 2010. Also, in the same 1,136 U.S. half-marathons for 2011 vs. 2012, there was a 5.1% finisher increase (1,522,637 vs. 1,599,838).
More half-marathon fun facts reflecting its dynamic growth:
Since 2003, the half-marathon has been the fastest growing road race distance in the United States, and for seven consecutive years (2006-12), the number of 13.1 mile finishers has grown by 10% or more each year. No other U.S. road distance comes close to this growth rate during the Second Running Boom (circa 1994).
Since 2000, the number of half-marathon finishers in this country has nearly quadrupled (482,000 to 1,850,000), an impressive increase of 284%.
For the first time in history, 60% of U.S. half-marathon finishers were females (approximately 1,110,000, a record).
Although the male U.S. half-marathon percent has declined to 40%, in absolute terms, last year, there were a record 740,000 male finishers in U.S. 13.1 mile races.
Also, in 2012, there were a record number of 36 U.S. half-marathons with 10,000 or more finishers. This data point has more than doubled since 2009 when there were 17 with 10,000-plus finishers; in 2000, there was only one.
For the year, there were a total of 43 half-marathons that make up the Top 100 U.S. timed road race list for 2012 with 16 of them from the nationwide Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series.
Like the past 6 years, there were more than 30 inaugural half-marathons in the U.S. last year and the largest debut half was Rock 'n' Roll Portland (OR) with 11,038 finishers. Overall, there were five debut half-marathons with more than 5,000 finishers (also, Tinkerbell, Rock 'n' Roll St. Pete, Hollywood and Rock 'n' Roll Pasadena), a record (previous record was four in 2010).
Last year, there were more than 1,500 active U.S. half-marathons (final road race numbers to be released in an upcoming State of the Sport Report).
According to Running USA's 2013 National Runner Survey, the half-marathon is also the favorite distance to run for both genders (38% men and 43% women) and overwhelmingly, the road race distance that runners (77% overall) are most interested in entering this year (2013), so the half-marathon should maintain its title as the most popular distance in America.
The following tables and lists illustrate the demographics, depth, breadth and incredible growth of the half-marathon:
TABLE 1
Gender and Age Group Breakdown |
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| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Women | 53% | 53% | 55% | 56% | 57% | 59% | 59% | 60% |
Men | 47% | 47% | 45% | 44% | 43% | 41% | 41% | 40% |
Masters (40 yrs+) | 42% | 41% |
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| 39% | 36% | 40% | 41% |
Open (20 to 39 yrs) | 55% | 56% |
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| 58% | 61% | 56% | 55% |
Juniors (under 20) | 3% | 3% |
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| 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
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| Female | Male |
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6-17 yrs | 1% | 2% |
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18-24 yrs | 11% | 7% |
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25-34 yrs | 35% | 28% |
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35-44 yrs | 31% | 31% |
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45-54 yrs | 16% | 21% |
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55-64 yrs | 5% | 9% |
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65+ yrs | 1% | 2% |
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Average Age |
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| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Males | 39.2 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 39.2 | 38.9 | 38.7 | 38.2 | 38.5 |
Females | 36 | 35.9 | 36.3 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 35.7 | 35.3 | 35.6 |
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Median Times for U.S. Half-Marathon Finishers |
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| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Males | 1:58:35 | 1:58:07 | 1:59:55 | 2:00:33 | 2:00:21 | 2:00:30 | 2:01:04 | 2:01:28 |
Females | 2:17:09 | 2:16:33 | 2:19:12 | 2:19:02 | 2:19:47 | 2:19:12 | 2:19:33 | 2:19:47 |
Year | Estimated U.S. Half-Marathon Finisher Total | |
1990 | 303,000 |
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1995 | 420,000 |
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2000 | 482,000 |
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2004 | 612,000 |
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2005 | 658,000 |
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2006 | 724,000 |
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2007 | 796,000 |
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2008 | 900,000 |
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2009 | 1,113,000 |
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2010 | 1,385,000 |
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2011 | 1,610,000 |
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2012 | 1,850,000 | (record) |
TABLE 2
2012 U.S. Half-Marathons (>2,000 finishers) with the… |
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… Fastest Median Times |
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| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
New Bedford |
| 1:52:29 | 1:52:13 | 1:54:34 |
NYRR: Staten Island | 1:56:47 |
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| 1:57:27 |
Lake Minnetonka |
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| 1:59:08 |
NYC |
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| 1:59:15 |
NYRR: Brooklyn |
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| 1:58:42 | 1:59:16 |
… Slowest Median Times |
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| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Tinkerbell |
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| 2:48:51 |
Disney Princess | 2:37:04 | 2:38:49 | 2:46:00 | 2:44:49 |
Disneyland | 2:32:53 |
| 2:38:48 | 2:40:19 |
Nike Women’s | 2:41:04 | 2:40:20 | 2:41:26 | 2:40:05 |
Divas San Francisco Bay |
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| 2:39:48 |
… Most <2 Hour Finishers |
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| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
NYC |
| 5,998 (52%) | 5,038 (49%) | 7,911 (51%) |
NYRR: Brooklyn | 4,849 (50%) |
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| 7,306 (52%) |
OneAmerica 500 Festival | 8,476 (28%) | 8,816 (28%) | 7,966 (26%) | 5,749 (18%) |
Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia | 5,899 (48%) |
| 6,416 (39%) | 5,556 (37%) |
Rock ‘n’ Roll USA |
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| 4,634 (28%) |
… Most >3 Hour Finishers |
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| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
OneAmerica 500 Festival | 6,669 (22%) | 7,091 (23%) | 6,931 (23%) | 8,197 (26%) |
Nike Women’s |
| 4,889 (32%) | 5,156 (32%) | 6,190 (31%) |
Disney Princess |
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| 4,866 (35%) | 5,716 (34%) |
Walt Disney World |
| 4,637 (27%) | 5,616 (26%) | 5,710 (25%) |
St. Jude Country Music | 5,299 (23%) | 4,334 (18%) |
| 4,787 (21%) |
… Highest Percent Women* | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
More/Fitness Magazine | 99% | 99% | 100% | 100% |
Chicago Women’s |
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| 100% |
Girlfriend’s |
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| 100% |
Divas at Long Island | 99% | 99% | 100% | 100% |
Divas San Francisco Bay |
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| 100% |
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… Highest Percent Men* |
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| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Dexter Ann Arbor | 57% |
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| 57% |
Newport Liberty |
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| 55% | 57% |
NYRR: Staten Island | 59% | 58% | 56% | 56% |
Kaiser Permanente Southern California |
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| 55% | |
New Bedford |
| 57% | 58% | 55% |
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… Highest Percent Masters (40+ yrs)* |
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| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
First Watch Sarasota |
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| 54% | 59% |
Publix Fort Lauderdale A1A | 53% | 54% | 55% | 57% |
Girlfriend’s |
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| 57% |
National Breast Cancer - 26.2 with Donna | 55% | 55% | 56% | 54% |
Brooksie Way | 54% | 55% |
| 54% |
*Based upon events with >1,000 finishers in each representative category and >2,000 total race finishers. | ||||
...Most Finishers in Certain Age Groups | Event | 2012 |
Female Juniors | Nike Women’s | 3,422 |
Male Juniors | Pomona Holiday | 1,636 |
Females 20-29 | Disney Princess | 4,637 |
Males 20-29 | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 1,668 |
Females 30-39 | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 5,400 |
Males 30-39 | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 4,142 |
Females 40-49 | Nike Women’s | 3,837 |
Males 40-49 | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 3,699 |
Females 50-59 | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 2,049 |
Males 50-59 | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 2,433 |
Females 60+ | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 596 |
Males 60+ | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 1,012 |
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Overall 40+ | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 13,465 |
Overall 50+ | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 6,090 |
Overall 60+ | OneAmerica 500 Festival | 1,608 |
Göteborg largest annual half-marathon ever; record 9 half-marathons with >20,000 finishers
In 2012, Göteborg not only kept its #1 ranking as the world's largest half-marathon, but with 44,094 finishers, it was the largest annual half-marathon ever, and for the first time, there were two halves with more than 40,000 finishers in the same year (also, Bupa Great North Run with 40,066).
In addition, in 2012, there were a record 9 half-marathons worldwide with more than 20,000 finishers (previous record, 8 in 2011), and for the first time, just to be in the top 30 world list, a half-marathon had to have more than 12,000 finishers.
Unlike the largest marathon rankings last year, the U.S. dominates the largest half-marathon world lists with 6 of the top 10, 16 of the top 20 and 19 of the top 30. Just to make the U.S. top 30, a half-marathon needed more than 11,000 finishers (another record).
With 31,170 finishers, One America 500 Festival reclaimed its #1 U.S. ranking after being supplanted by Zappos.com Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas last year. One America 500 Festival has been the largest U.S. half-marathon for 22 of the past 23 years.
2012 World’s Largest Half-Marathons (finishers) |
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1) | Göteborg, SWE | 44,094 | (largest annual half-marathon ever) |
2) | Bupa Great North Run, GBR | 40,066 |
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3) | OneAmerica 500 Festival, IN | 31,170 |
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4) | Paris, FRA | 24,990 |
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5) | Vattenfall Berliner, GER | 23,055 |
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6) | Walt Disney World, FL | 22,443 |
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7) | St. Jude Country Music Nashville, TN | 22,330 |
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8) | Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas, NV | 22,123 |
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9) | Nike Women’s, CA | 20,097 |
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10) | Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego, CA | 17,604 |
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11) | Disney’s Princess, FL | 16,910 |
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12) | Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio, TX | 16,516 |
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13) | Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Nation’s Capital, DC | 16,329 |
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14) | ING Miami, FL | 16,096 |
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15) | P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll, AZ | 15,700 |
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16) | NYC, NY | 15,344 |
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17) | Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia, PA | 15,154 |
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18) | XSport Fitness Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago, IN | 14,990 |
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19) | Disneyland, CA | 14,831 |
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20) | Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle, WA | 14,247 |
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21) | NYRR Brooklyn, NY | 14,197 |
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22) | Surf City USA, CA | 14,140 |
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23) | Villa de Madrid, ESP | 13,733 |
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24) | Lloyds TSB Cardiff, GBR | 13,674 |
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25) | Reading, GBR | 13,104 |
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26) | Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans, LA | 13,093 |
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27) | Bupa Great Birmingham, GBR | 12,843 |
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28) | TCS Amsterdam, NED | 12,727 |
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29) | Old Mutual Two Oceans, RSA | 12,517 |
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30) | Stockholm, SWE | 12,208 |
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U.S. Largest Half-Marathons (finishers) |
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1) | One America 500 Festival, IN | 31,170 |
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2) | Walt Disney World, FL | 22,443 |
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3) | St. Jude Country Music Nashville, TN | 22,330 |
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4) | Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas, NV | 22,123 |
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5) | Nike Women’s, CA | 20,097 |
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6) | Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego, CA | 17,604 |
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7) | Disney’s Princess, FL | 16,910 |
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8) | Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio, TX | 16,516 |
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9) | Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Nation’s Capital, DC | 16,329 |
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10) | ING Miami, FL | 16,096 |
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11) | P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll, AZ | 15,700 |
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12) | NYC, NY | 15,344 |
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13) | Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia, PA | 15,154 |
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14) | XSport Fitness Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago, IL | 14,990 |
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15) | Disneyland, CA | 14,831 |
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16) | Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle, WA | 14,247 |
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17) | NYRR Brooklyn, NY | 14,197 |
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18) | Surf City USA, CA | 14,140 |
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19) | Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans, LA | 13,093 |
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20) | UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh, PA | 12,141 |
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21) | Chicago, IL | 12,108 |
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22) | Kentucky Derby Festival, KY | 12,091 |
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23) | Cincinnati Flying Pig, OH | 11,775 |
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24) | Disney Wine & Dine, FL | 11,617 |
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25) | Wipro San Francisco, CA | 11,559 |
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26) | Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas, TX | 11,340 |
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27) | Long Beach International City Bank, CA | 11,241 |
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28) | Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah, GA | 11,166 |
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29) | Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach, VA | 11,046 |
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30) | Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland, OR (inaugural) | 11,038 |
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SOURCE: Running USA with Athlinks (2009-12) and Active.com (2005-08); Contact: Ryan Lamppa, (805) 966-7747, (805) 966-7747 or ryan@runningusa.org
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