Projo Running Blog

Running USA, a non-profit group founded in 1999 in an effort to improve the status of road racing and long distance running in the U.S., is teaming up with the Road Runners Club of America to conduct a national runner survey about the sport.

They explain more about their plans here:

``Why do Americans run? Are the demographics of runners in Texas different from those in New York? What populations offer the most potential for running market growth?

Many valuable answers will be obtained in the months to come as results are compiled for the first National Runner Survey conducted by Running USA and the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). The overall purpose is to identify attitudes, habits and demographics of all types of runners as well as potential runners in order to better serve participants and build the sport.

"Learning about runners is the primary focus of the survey and the partnership between the Road Runners Club of America and Running USA. The more we know, the better we can serve everyone involved in our sport," explains Jean Knaack, RRCA executive director. "We will utilize our grassroots connections to help spread the word about the survey and report results that benefit the whole running community."

In the first phase of the year-round survey effort, 3 respondent groups will be sought: RRCA club members via emails, specialty shoe store customers via in-store computers and running event entrants in partnership with participating race directors via pre-race or post-race online forms. Later in 2007, a second phase will be launched that surveys spectators at events and training program participants.

All participating entities will get a detailed, confidential report describing their constituencies and summary analysis will be presented in press releases and at future Running USA and RRCA meetings.

"As the purpose of Running USA is to build the sport of running for every age and for every interest, we need to know what America's runners are thinking about" says Basil Honikman, Running USA Executive Director. "What are their habits and preferences and how would they like things to change and develop? Thus an in-depth survey of the runners, our customers, is vital. Partnering with the RRCA allows us to reach a much wider audience and ensures that the survey results will be as comprehensive as possible."

Interested specialty stores or road races should contact Linda Honikman, survey coordinator, at rric@runningusa.org and any RRCA club wishing to survey their constituents should contact Jessica Sleight at membership@rrca.org. Participating clubs, races and stores will be selected based on their size and location to ensure a representative sample.''

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