News

MAY 15, 2013

Competitor Group Announces Tim Dunne as Race It General Manager

In his new role Dunne will lead the organization’s day-to-day operations, product and business development strategy, developing the roadmap to support the platform’s growing client base, with a focus on a more robust feature set and international expansion.

MAY 1, 2013

“Spirit of the Marathon II” Races Into Cinemas Featuring Inspirational Stories From Seven Motivated Competitors Running The Rome Marathon

Set against the sweeping backdrop of a 26.2 mile marathon race through the historic streets of Rome, Italy, “Spirit of the Marathon II” focuses on seven inspiring individuals whose lives will forever be transformed by the experience. NCM Fathom Events and Competitor Group present this highly anticipated sequel to the 2008 award-winning documentary “Spirit of the Marathon” in select U.S. theaters on Wednesday, June 12 at 7:00 p.m. local time.

APRIL 24, 2013

Running Industry Launches ‘Run Now’ Coalition To Support Recovery From The Boston Tragedy

In the wake of the tragedy on Patriots Day 2013, Run Now assembles running industry partners and competitors alike to call on runners at every level to recommit to the spirit of running and to be inspired to donate, participate and share experiences. The Run Now initial launch partners include Competitor Group, U.S. Road Sports & Entertainment Group, Brooks Running Company, MapMyFitness, Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Running Specialty Group and the Independent Running Retailers Association (IRRA). The Run Now coalition has launched RunNow.com. The website will become the hub of information on volunteering, participating and sharing all of the activities that demonstrate the solidarity of the running community.

Older News Stories

Competitor Group to Launch Women’s Endurance Sports Global Initiative

June 1, 2012

Acquisition of Women’s Running Magazine, Lady Speed Stick® Women’s Half Marathon Series and WomensRunning.com to Anchor Overall Strategy

San Diego, Calif. – June 1, 2012 – Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI), the leading active lifestyle sports media and event entertainment company, today announced the formation of an integrated women’s endurance sports global platform with the acquisition of Women’s Running magazine, the Lady Speed Stick® Women’s Half Marathon Series and WomensRunning.com.

“This is a watershed moment for our organization as we greatly expand our media and event portfolio with a collection of powerful assets from which we will create the largest participatory platform in the world dedicated to female athletes,” said Scott Dickey, CEO of CGI. “The launch of a new women’s endurance sports platform gives us the opportunity to capture the power of a rapidly expanding and passionate audience from the ‘physical to the digital’ as we continue to make strategic investments supporting our growth as a market leader in the global active lifestyle movement.”

Events catering and dedicated to the female audience are a rapidly growing segment of the endurance industry, fueled largely by an influx of female participants seeking personal fulfillment with every stride taken in a running or multisport event. CGI’s global platform will engage and market the active lifestyle to all facets of women’s lives, from pre-race, to race weekend to post race lifestyles decisions supported by a variety of media and event assets.

At the foundation of the platform is the Lady Speed Stick® Women’s Half Marathon Series featuring five destination events across the nation, with plans to expand to eight races in 2013. This will compliment the nearly 50,000 female runners the company expects to have in Women’s-only events in Europe in 2013. The new platform will also leverage mobile, digital, social media, travel, training and merchandising opportunities for partners to reach the vast number of affluent female participants in the endurance sports sector.

“I am honored to be involved in developing and launching CGI’s new global women’s platform, what I believe is one of the most exciting developments in women’s endurance sports in decades,” said Dawna Stone, founder of the Women’s Half Marathon Series and Women’s Running magazine who has joined CGI as a consultant and media contributor. “There is no one better than the Competitor Group to continue expanding and improving the Women’s Half Marathon Series and Women’s Running magazine. This agreement will allow us to reach even more women with our message about the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle.”

The increased participation of women has been driving the latest renewed “fitness boom” in the endurance industry. Over the past decade female USA Triathlon membership has grown from 27 percent to more than 38 percent at the end of 2011. Participation of women’s running in the United States has also exploded over the past decade, with over 7 million women finishing a U.S. road race in 2011, according to industry group Running USA.

Across CGI’s flagship Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series featuring 24 North American events and 500,000 participants in 2012, over 60% of all race participants are women. In its first year branded as part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, the 45-year old Madrid Marathon doubled women’s participation from 8% to 19% year-over-year. Additionally, CGI operates the Corrida da Mulher, a women’s only 5k held in partnership with the Maratona Clube de Portugal, which annually takes place in Lisbon the last weekend of May.