2002 Total USA Marathon Finishers
In 2002, there was a 9.1% increase in marathon finishers from the preceding year, with a total of nearly 325,000 people completing a marathon in the USA. While the number of male finishers increased by 8%, women saw a 10.9% increase, reducing the gender gap to 61.5% men and 38.5% women. Women composed only 37.5% of marathon finishers in 2000, and this year's results indicate a continuation of a gradual trend towards equilibrium between male and female runners. In total, 279 marathons took place in the U.S. in 2002 - up seven from 2001 - and these new races, coupled with a general growth of the largest marathons, contributed to 2002's record number of marathon finishers.
2002 Largest USA Marathons
New York recaptured its status as the largest U.S. marathon, reclaiming the position from 2001 title-holder Chicago. The New York City Marathon regained its post-9/11 losses and more, growing 35% in 2002, after falling nearly 20% in 2001.
The majority of the country's largest marathons gained runners in 2002, with Honolulu up 37%, New York City and Richmond both up 35%, Philadelphia up 17%, Los Angeles up 16%, and Chicago and Pittsburgh both up 10%. A few races lost runners, such as the Baltimore Marathon, which shrank by nearly 57% and lost its spot in the top 25, and the Country Music Marathon, which dropped by 29%. |
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Overall Demographics
|
Percent |
Age |
Time |
| Men |
61.5% |
39.7 |
4:23:41 |
| Women |
38.5% |
35.6 |
5:01:46 |
| All Runners |
100% |
38.1 |
4:38:21 |
Fastest Age Groups
The fastest times, on average, run by men in 2002 came from runners between the ages of 35-39-year old, with a mean finishing time of 4:17:12.
The women's fastest times were posted by 20-24-year olds, who averaged a time of 4:50:41 for their races. |
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Largest Age Groups
Men aged 40-44 represented the largest single age group for marathon runners in 2002, with this category containing 10.5% of all marathoners and 17% of all male marathoners.
For women, the largest group was females aged between 30-34, and 18.5% of female marathoners fell into this age group. |
| Race |
2002
Finishers |
2002
Rank |
2001
Rank |
Growth
2001->2002 |
| New York City Marathon |
31,824 |
1 |
2 |
34.6% |
| Chicago Marathon |
31,093 |
2 |
1 |
9.5% |
| Honolulu Marathon |
26,382 |
3 |
3 |
37.3% |
| City of Los Angeles Marathon |
18,549 |
4 |
4 |
16.3% |
| Rock 'n' Roll Marathon |
15,427 |
5 |
5 |
3.3% |
| Boston Marathon |
14,400 |
6 |
7 |
7.5% |
| Marine Corps Marathon |
14,086 |
7 |
6 |
-1.1% |
| Disney World Marathon |
7,950 |
8 |
8 |
-0.8% |
| Portland Marathon |
7,091 |
9 |
9 |
-3.3% |
| Grandma's Marathon |
6,836 |
10 |
10 |
2.1% |
| Twin Cities Marathon |
6,532 |
11 |
11 |
2.8% |
| Philadelphia Marathon |
4,535 |
12 |
18 |
16.6% |
| Motorola Austin Marathon |
4,424 |
13 |
14 |
5.6% |
| Houston Marathon |
4,394 |
14 |
17 |
9.4% |
| Washington DC Marathon |
4,309 |
15 |
Inaugural |
NA |
| St. George Marathon |
4,226 |
16 |
16 |
4.5% |
| Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon |
3,885 |
17 |
15 |
-5.7% |
| Country Music Marathon |
3,465 |
18 |
12 |
-29.3% |
| Dallas White Rock Marathon |
3,358 |
19 |
19 |
-2.4% |
| Columbus Marathon |
3,258 |
20 |
20 |
6.3% |
| California International Marathon |
2,611 |
21 |
21 |
-4.3% |
| Richmond Marathon |
2,561 |
22 |
31 |
34.9% |
| Pittsburgh Marathon |
2,557 |
23 |
26 |
10.1% |
| Big Sur International Marathon |
2,343 |
24 |
23 |
-8.5% |
| Las Vegas International Marathon |
2,341 |
25 |
25 |
-4.0% |
2002 Largest Inaugural USA Marathons
The Washington DC Marathon was the largest inaugural marathon of 2002, becoming the nation's 15th largest race with 4,309 finishers. While it was the biggest marathon born in 2002, race organizers canceled the race in 2003, and subsequently filed for bankruptcy, so the race will be no more.
Three other inaugural marathons had over 1,000 finishers: the Lakeshore Marathon (1,049), the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon (1,031), and the Des Moines Marathon (1,011).
*The Miami Marathon, though born in 2003 and not technically eligible for this list, had over 1,400 finishers and ranks as a top inaugural marathon.
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