Posted: February 13, 2006

Athletics: Runner's World Debuts "Runner's Choice Awards" to Honor Top Specialty Retailers

Online voting now underway at RunnersWorld.com

NEW YORK - (February 9, 2006) - Runner's World magazine is giving runners across the country a chance to honor their favorite specialty running stores this month with the debut of the first-ever Runner's Choice Awards for Specialty Retail, promoted in tandem with the Specialty Retail Directory in the March 2006 issue of Runner's World (now on sale) and at RunnersWorld.com.

Runners can vote for the best-in-class specialty running stores within ten regions around the United States in the categories of Best Customer Service, Best Community Outreach, Best Product Selection and Best in General Excellence. Voting began online at RunnersWorld.com this week and will continue thru Sunday, February 19.

"Specialty retail stores very often provide the heartbeat of their local running communities," said Runner's World VP/Publisher Andrew Hersam. "In addition to making sure that all runners are properly fitted and wearing the right shoes and gear, they're also sponsoring the local road races, raising money for charity and supporting running clubs. They've done, and continue to do, so much to make running fun and popular, and we think it's time that, on behalf of the running community, we help recognize the very best of the best."

All 40 winning stores in the Runner's Choice Award voting program will receive national in-magazine recognition from Runner's World, along with designation as a Runner's Choice Award winner within RunnersWorld.com's online retailer directory.

Winners will also receive in-store award recognition collateral from Runner's World, recognition at the WSA Shoe Show in Las Vegas in August 2006, and the right to incorporate the Runner's Choice Award logo into local advertising, customer mailings and other marketing efforts.

For more information on the Runner's Choice Awards, visit RunnersWorld.com. Voting results for the top overall leaders in all four categories will be updated on a daily basis throughout the voting period.

About Rodale's Runner's World
Recognized as the worldwide authority on running information, the mission of Rodale's 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 and to inspire them with vivid, memorable storytelling. Currently Runner's World publishes nine international editions, plus a special bi-annual teen running publication, High School Runner. Runner's World's companion website, RunnersWorld.com, is the largest running community on the Internet, featuring interactive, searchable and targeted content for runners of all ages and abilities.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.

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