Running USA Launches New Website

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – (May 21, 2009) – Since its
inception in 1999, Running USA has been known for its informative news
wire, comprehensive runner demographics, top athlete rankings, running event
trend reports and helpful assistance to the media. The “new” RunningUSA.org website brings all of those
resources and more into an online public library for running and its industry.
Regardless of the type of running information you seek or need – from the 5K
record for an 88-year-old male to the latest jobs in the running industry to the
largest 10K in California or the location of your nearest running specialty
store to interesting running videos, you will probably find it on RunningUSA.org or the sites that are linked
from it.

“RunningUSA.org will have something for everybody – runners,
event directors, media, our members as well as non-runners. This community site
is designed to serve as a network for events, products, services, media and more
and to advance, promote and celebrate running,” said Susan Weeks, Running USA
CEO.

From the Home page, visitors can see the latest wire
stories, recent industry press release topics, upcoming running events, U.S.
records finder, national website links for race results and best sources for
training programs. A Programs section features Running USA’s activities
including the annual Running USA Conference for the Industry and a
description of the youth initiative which includes Running USA’s other website,
launched last summer, RunningRocks.com. In the near future,
details will be available in that section about webinars and regional
educational conferences for event directors.

The member companies and organizations of Running USA have
their own Members-Only section which includes a more detailed list of
members and their contact information, access to the informative weekly Industry
E-News and in the near future, complete results of the National Runner Survey.

When complete in June, the Statistics section will
feature all State of the Sport reports, Largest U.S. and World Races of 2008 by
distance and state and the Largest Running Festivals of 2008. This section also
hosts the World Road Running Records, U.S. Running Single Age Records and 2008
U.S. Road Runner Rankings compiled with the help of the Active Network, event
timers and more than 5,000 U.S. races.

For new runners who want to find out about training for and
participating in local events there are links to the country’s best training and
race calendars sites. Other resources for new and seasoned runners include a
Marketplace for Runners which will feature New Gear, Snacks and Drinks,
Online Running Communities, Running Magazines, etc. Running business owners can
describe their products and services in the Marketplace for the Industry
section which includes categories such as Associations, Marketing and PR,
Timing and Results and Event Supplies.

New sections include U.S. Runners of Interest – not
just the Olympians and marathon winners but up-and-coming high schoolers and
fast octogenarians. Running fans can check out the new Photos and Videos section
that will feature the winners of various photo and video categories later in the
year. Nomination details will be announced in the fall but in the meantime
exceptional running related photos and videos can be submitted to rric@runningusa.org for posting on the
site.

The new site has taken all of the information from the old
site, doubled the number of pages and added many new sections and a site search
capability. When all archived Running USA wires are uploaded the complete
U.S. running history of the last decade summarized in more than 1,000 wires will
be available to all. And in ten years from now visitors will be able to check
out the running videos favored most in 2009 or what significant running news
occurred in October of 1999.

About Running USA
Running USA
advances, serves, promotes and celebrates the sport of running as a
clearinghouse and resource center and though its popular annual conference,
Running USA wire, Running USA E-News, website, annual marathon and State of the
Sport reports and youth fitness portal RunningRocks.com and by supporting
athlete development.

Running USA’s more than 250 members include road races, race
services companies, running-related media companies and organizations and the
athletic industry.