Runner's World

Runner's World

Editor-in-Chief	David Willey
Categories	Health Running Marathons
Frequency	Monthly
Publisher	Rodale Press
First issue	1966
Country	United States
Based in	Emmaus, Pennsylvania, United States
Language	English
Website	www.runnersworld.com
ISSN	0897-1706

Runner's World is a globally circulated monthly magazine for runners of all skills sets, published by Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Recognized as the worldwide authority on running information, the mission of Runner’s World is to inform, advise and motivate runners of all ages and abilities.

Runner’s World aims to help runners achieve their personal health, fitness and performance goals while inspiring them with vivid, memorable storytelling.

Beginnings

Runner's World was originally launched in 1966 by Bob Anderson as Distance Running News, and Anderson published the magazine by himself for several years from his home in Manhattan, Kansas. Runner and writer Hal Higdon had been writing for the magazine since the beginning (2nd edition). In 1969, Anderson changed the name of the magazine to Runner's World.^[1] He brought on Joe Henderson as chief editor and moved the editorial offices, now named World Publications, to Mountain View, California. Runner's World thrived during the 1970s "running boom", even in the face of competition from the New York-based magazine, The Runner.

Purchased by Rodale Press

In the early 1980s, Bob Anderson sold a good portion of his publications, including Runner's World.^{[citation needed]} Some of Anderson's books went out of print while others were distributed by Macmillan Publishing.^{[citation needed]} Robert Rodale of Rodale Press, purchased Runner's World and the editorial offices moved to Rodale's base in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Joe Henderson did not move to Emmaus, and stepped down as editor, though he remained associated with the magazine until 2003. Random House bought the running log, which was published under the Runner's World name for decades after the sale.

Not long after buying Runner's World, Rodale bought The Runner,^[2] and merged the two magazines, keeping the Runner's World name and some writers, including Amby Burfoot who became the editor (a post he held until 2003).

Runner's World remained strong through the so-called "second running boom" in the late 1990s. In 2004, the magazine had a full redesign. Since then, the magazine has won several awards including being ranked #1 on Adweek's Hot List,^{[citation needed]} #6 on Advertising Age's "A-List";^{[citation needed]} been recognized for having the "Creative Team of the Year",^{[citation needed]} and most notably has been nominated three times for National Magazine Awards.^{[citation needed]} Also, since the redesign, the magazine's circulation has increased from 525,000 to 650,000^{[citation needed]} at a time when most consumer magazines' circulations have declined,^{[citation needed]} and advertising pages and revenue remain at an all time high.^{[citation needed]} The vice-president and publisher of Runner's World's United States' edition is Christopher Lambiase and its editor is David Willey.^{[citation needed]}

In February 2007, Rodale acquired Running Times magazine with the objective of getting the magazine back on its original mission to serve the front of the pack.^{[citation needed]}

International circulation

Since the early 1990s, Runner's World has expanded outside the United States, currently with 14 international editions. The first was a United Kingdom edition wholly owned by NatMag Rodale, a joint venture between Rodale Inc. and The Hearst Corporation in the UK. Editions in Australia/New Zealand, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands/Belgium, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden are published either as joint ventures or through licensing arrangements with publishers in those countries. Editors in each country have access to editorial content from the U.S. edition, but also publish their own original content with local flavor.

See also

• Bob Anderson
• John Bingham
• Browning Ross

References

1. ^ Benyo, Richard. "The Essential Encyclopedia of Marathoning". Marathon and Beyond. http://www.marathonandbeyond.com/choices/encyclop.htm. Retrieved 21 April 2010. 
2. ^ Advertising magazines for runners to merge at Rodale, The New York Times, 15 Jan 1987

External links

• Official website