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Rodale, publishers of Runner’s World, acquire Running Times

Posted February 26th, 2007 at 6:40 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Rodale Inc., one of the United States’ best known publishers of fitness periodicals and books, announced today that they have reached an agreement to acquire Running Times magazine and RunningTimes.com from Fitness Publishing, Inc. Rodale is based in Emmaus, PA, while Fitness Publishing is headquartered in Wilton, CT. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Rodale owns Runner’s World magazine, the most popular running periodical in the United States with a circulation rate base of 630,000. Running Times is the #2 U.S. running magazine with a circulation rate base of 105,000.

According to a press release sent by Rodale today, Runner’s World and Running Times would continue to publish as separate titles.

Running Times and RunningTimes.com would continue to operate under the Running Times brand, and will be independent of the Runner’s World and RunnersWorld.com brands, the release said. Runner’s World and Running Times, however, will combine their respective databases of race events to provide a single source for racers.

“This acquisition creates the largest multi-media platform for runners and further strengthens Rodale’s leadership position in the rapidly growing running marketplace,” said Steve Murphy, President and CEO of Rodale.

Running Times is aimed at readers for whom running is an end unto itself, editor-in-chief Jonathan Beverly once said. The magazine explores many aspects of competitive running, including in-depth training advice for runners who race often and want to get faster.

Runner’s World is a broader publication, and also attracts casual runners and a general fitness audience in addition to competitive runners.

Beverly will continue as editor-in-chief of Running Times but will now report to David Willey, vice-president and editor-in-chief of Runner’s World. Andy Hersam will remain vice president and publisher at Runner’s World and will continue to co-manage the magazine with Willey. Running Times publisher, Carol Lasseter-Rice, will remain publisher of Running Times during a transition period and will report to Hersam.

Both magazines showed solid growth in circulation and ad revenue last year. Runner’s World finished 2006 with its fifth consecutive record year, up 6% in ad pages and 14.8% in revenue. Running Times’ advertising revenues increased 38% in 2006, with ad pages rising by 24%.