Half Marathon Events Continue Growth in 2013 in the United States

As we approach the last quarter of 2013, it is safe to assume about 99% of the 2013 half marathons are published, with 2014 event dates now starting to roll in.  Hence, we have totaled the current number of half marathons listed across the USA to evaluate the half marathon growth from 2012 to 2013.

Last year Fifty States HALF Marathon Club & Halfmarathonsearch.com's CEO Nicole Blomgren, USATF Certified Official, analyzed and provided a count of approximately 2005 half marathons, officially listed on the Halfmarathonsearch.com Half Marathon Calendar, a complete listing of half marathons across the USA with both search by state and search by month features.  The new approximate total for half marathons in the USA (total listed on Halfmarathonsearch.com) has now reached a total of approximately 2200 half marathons.  This is growth of approximately 200 half marathons added across the USA over the past year.

The most significant half marathon growth over the last year occurred across California, Oregon and Colorado, with over 50 California half marathon additions, 21 Oregon half marathon additions, and 15 new Colorado half marathon additions, followed by Michigan and Virginia with 12 new half marathons.

With no doubt, half marathon events offering an exciting venue with beautiful scenery, or out of the ordinary swag and medals to attract runners, typically sell out year after year.  However, we have also seen some events cancel over the past year due to low attendance, observed a few go out of business, and several states with a decrease in half marathons over the past year.  This could be evidence of increased competition in some regions, and the importance of planning and a well thought out schedule, a great website, and cool swag and medals to attract runners.  Runners will travel from all over to attend a race that has an awesome course or great swag, but it has to be well portrayed on a website to attract runners.  Having a race listing on a race calendar registration site alone will not do the job.  Additionally, with more races to choose from comes higher expectations from runners and the importance for half marathon events to list their upcoming event dates 8 months to 1 year out in this growing half marathon running era.  

The growing half marathon running era shows no slowing trend, and Halfmarathonsearch.com predicts further continuous growth at approximately the same growth rate over the next year.  While half marathon events continue to grow, the half marathon runners and clubs such as Fifty States Half Marathon Club, also have seen significant growth over the last 2 years.  The half marathon 13.1 mile distance is a fun distance, long enough for a challenge, and short enough to recover quickly and still enjoy an evening out on the town at a weekend destination.  Many first timers immediately catch the half marathon addiction once they complete their 1st.  We look forward to another exciting year of half marathon growth and are so honored to be a part of this fabulous half marathon running community.

TOP 10 HALF MARATHON GROWTH STATES IN PAST YEAR

California Half Marathons  - over 50 half marathons added

Oregon Half Marathons - 21 half marathons added

Colorado Half Marathons - 15 half marathons added

Michigan Half Marathons - 12 half marathons added

Virginia Half Marathons - 12 half marathons added

Missouri Half Marathons - 11 half marathons added

Washington Half Marathons - 10 half marathons added

Tennessee Half Marathons - 6 half marathons added

Nebraska Half Marathons - 5 half marathons added

Arkansas Half Marathons - 5 half marathons added

Copyright 2013 Halfmarathonsearch.com Half Marathon Calendar

Half Marathon Runners, Marathoners & Triathletes - Join the Challenge!

Join in runners and triathletes, and take the Challenge!  Whether you are a half marathon runner, a full marathon runner, a half ironman triathlete or go long for the full ironman triathlons, OR like to do a little bit of all, ... we have a challenge for you!  Choose from 3 challenges .........

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Half Marathons in USA Reach 2000 + Milestone

Written by Nicole Blomgren, August 2012

The year 2012 has been a year of tremendous growth for half marathons and marks a new milestone of surpassing over 2000 half marathons across the United States.  Half Marathons are being formed as fast as we can add them to the online calendar directories.  Halfmarathonsearch.com analyzed, searched, and compared the top half marathon directory listings across the United States and came to a total of 2,005 half marathons for all US States totaled, reported on August 26, 2012.  California leads the way with the top number of half marathons, surpassing the 250 mark this year and new half marathons being added almost weekly, with Florida following as second with a total of 105 half marathons reached in 2012.  Not too far behind Florida follows Utah, Texas, and the state of Washington for most half marathons in the United States.  Both Florida and Texas hit their 100 half marathons milestone this year in 2012.

Half marathons appear to be one of the fastest growing running events in the United States, with a noticeable growth trend in the rise of trail half marathons as well, most significantly in Utah and Colorado.  Additionally, many new series are being created, from the creative 5 halfs in 5 days in 5 states, to multi-state events launching 5 to 10 events in the same year, to some that are launched specifically in one state, and they are adding to the speedy growth of this ever so popular 13.1 mile event.

As events grow, the importance for Race Directors and Event Management companies to understand their audience, not only from a race day perspective, but also an online perspective in presenting the event website is critical.  A past article Event Websites in our Changing World of Technology, Social Media, and Accommodating the Traveling Athlete written by Nicole Blomgren, Founder and President of Fifty States HALF Marathon Club and Halfmarathonsearch.com, provides good insight into what events should be cognizant of in presenting their information for runners, to make finding an event so much easier.

The rate of half marathon additions does not seem to be slowing as we approach this last quarter of 2012, predicting half marathon totals to likely grow to between 2300 to 2500 by the end of 2013.  Half Marathon clubs have also seen growth in 2012, most notably Fifty States HALF Marathon Club has more than doubled over the past year.  Fifty States HALF Marathon Club provides 3 challenges for runners to choose from, most known for their 2 challenges of finishing an event in all 50 states, but becoming very popular as well for their 100 HALF Anywhere Challenge and their now new 250 Gold Member Challenge and 500 half marathon Platinum Member Challenge.  Furthermore, the half marathon 13.1 mile distance event is a nice event to travel on the weekends to. Runners can typically experience a quick recovery after finishing a half marathon, one may not encounter when participating in a full marathon, presenting the half marathon experience to be very enjoyable running distance event for runners.

 ~ Copyright 2012 - Nicole Blomgren

Cool video of Ryan Hall's Quest to break Half Marathon record

COLD WEATHER TRAINING

Cold Weather Training
Article By: Paul “Crazy Legs” Stofko RRCA Running Coach
November 3, 2011

Cold weather training requires a little extra planning and protection before you head out the door. Your body loses heat quickly in cold weather due to convection (heat loss due to motion), conduction (transfer of heat due to temperature changes), evaporation of moisture, and radiation (transfer of energy caused by the difference between skin temperature and ambient temperature). The right layers will protect you from the elements without weighing you down. Cold can take it toll on your performance and comfort. And frostbitten skin is always a risk. But if you take some simple precautions, you can maintain your mileage in anything weather winter bring your way.

The challenge in dressing for winter training is not only to keep the winter chill and wetness out, but to manage the heat and moisture your body produces as well. Even in subfreezing temperatures your body produces a lot of heat and sweat. You can produce up to two liters per hour when running. Water conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than air – great in summer, but dangerous in cold temperatures. Staying dry under your layers is critical and can impact heart rate, as well as comfort, dryness, and warmth.

Here are some tips for dressing in layers:

First Layer

Forget cotton. It holds moisture next to your skin. Choose the new lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics that hold a very small percentage of their weight in moisture. Performance microfibers hold less than on percent of their weight in water compared to 17% wool or 8% cotton.

Second Layer

If you running in very cold weather, you may need a middle layer to trap the warmth your muscles generate. Choose a layer that produces maximum warmth with minimum bulk. Synthetic fibers have an advantage of staying drier than natural ones.

Outer Layer

Fibers have been developed that block the elements without trapping too much heat and moisture underneath. Look for waterproof fabrics that vent.

Hands and Head

Up to 40% of your body’s heat loss occurs from the head due to a large blood supply, extra surface area, and the mucus membranes of the nose and mouth. Choose thin microfiber hats and lightweight gloves liners for your hands.

Don’t forget your feet

Cotton is a bad choice for socks. Look for synthetic socks that won’t hold moisture and become packed down when damp.

Half Marathons, Half Marathon Runners, Race Directors & Event Organizers

Hi Half Marathon Runners, Race Directors and Event Organizers.  Feel free to email us Half Marathon race news and stories to post on our blog.  To send news, articles or fun information, please send us which Half Marathon State Blog you'd like it posted in at   CONTACT US

Also if you'd like your event or any other discounts to be added to the official Fifty States HALF Marathon Club member discount list that goes out to all our members across the United States, please send your event, website link and race discount code to be added for our official members to use.  Our members like to choose from races on our discount list when they look at choosing a half marathon in your state.  Send to  CONTACT US  and in return we will help promote your event.

If your Half Marathon event is missing from the Half Marathon Race Calendar found at www.halfmarathonsearch.com and would like to be added, please send the event date, name, and website link to   CONTACT US

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