Posted: August 10, 2009  :

(RWire) Athletics: RunnersWorld.com Delivers Unprecedented Subscription Growth in 2009 First Half

Customized online content and interactive community drive subscription sales and record website traffic NEW YORK - Runner's World, the worldwide authority on running information, has announced the magazine's total circulation increased 5% in the first half of 2009 vs. the same period last year. Runner's World's award-winning website - www.runnersworld.com - has driven an impressive 89% increase in magazine subscriptions during the first six months of 2009 vs. the same period in 2008. Newsstand sales for Rodale's monthly title also showed a slight increase in the first six months of 2009 and the magazine has experienced continuous growth on newsstands, up nearly 24% since 2004. Runner's World's customized online content, interactive community forums and shared video content have quickly become a driving force in magazine subscription sales. Throughout the first half of 2009, new applications and daily features were introduced - further enhancing the brand's overall digital experience. "We are experiencing steadfast growth at www.runnersworld.com," says Runner's World Media Group Vice President Chris Lambiase. "Online is now responsible for driving a huge percentage of subscription sales - further reinforcing the power of this integrated brand." Earlier last month (June 30, 2009 - July 5, 2009), www.runnersworld.com reached its biggest traffic week in history with 5.49 million page views, 526,748 unique visitors and 381,649 new visitors. Hot off the heels of its Sarah Palin "I'm a Runner" exclusive, the site quickly surpassed its previous traffic peak of 5.41 million page views, 433,942 unique visitors, and 381, 649 new visitors from the week of April 21, 2009 leading up to the 2009 Boston Marathon. Palin's outspoken interview and photo gallery (www.runnersworld.com/photo/sarahpalin/)) not only received an outpouring of page views, 337,724 and 1.12 million, respectively but it also put Runner's World in the company of top news media outlets CNN, MSNBC, FOX, ABC, NBC & CBS. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest Check out our FrontPage for all the latest running and triathlon news.