Canadian Running Magazine Wins Two Awards

In its first year of publication, Canadian Running Magazine surged forward to run with the lead pack in the niche market of specialty sports magazines. Last week, the magazine won two awards – one for reaching heights in journalistic reporting and one recognizing growth in circulation on the newsstand.

At the 32nd annual National Magazine Awards on Friday, June 5, Canadian Running Magazine‘s senior editor Alex Hutchinson was awarded the Silver Award in the Sports & Recreation category for his article High Standards in the July/August 2008 issue. Hutchinson’s piece delves into the contentious and often-debated topic of Canada’s stringent Olympic Standards for distance runners. To read the complete article, please click here. Hutchinson’s piece won the award over articles in such highly regarded and award-winning magazines as The Hockey News, L’Actualite, Maisonneuve, Outdoor Canada and various articles in Explore.

Alex Hutchinson received an honourable mention at the 2008 National Magazine Awards for his 2007 piece titled Breaking D-Wave in The Walrus, but this is his first Silver NMA (Canadian). An accomplished runner, Hutchinson represented Canada at the World Cross-Country Championships. He also writes the bi-weekly Globe and Mail column called Jockology and is a regular contributor to Popular Mechanics. Learn more about Alex at www.alexhutchinson.net.

In addition, at the Annual ACE Awards (Award for Circulation Excellence) on June 3, the Circulation Management Association of Canada (CMC) presented Gripped publisher Sam Cohen with a Special Achievement Award, recognizing Canadian Running Magazine‘s growth in its first year of publication.

Cohen says the Canadian running magazine market has significant room for growth. The U.S. publication Runner’s World sells about 25,000 subscriptions in Canada and 10,000 copies on the newsstand – with total U.S. sales of 600,000. Based on population – Canada has one-tenth the population of the U.S. – Canadian Running Magazine has the potential to reach 60,000 Canadian subscriptions.

Canadian Running Magazine launched in February 2008 and is Gripped Inc.’s third magazine. The company first launched Gripped: The Climbing Magazine in 1999, followed by Triathlon Magazine Canada in March 2006. Canadian Running Magazine is available at Sport Chek, Running Room stores, in most Shoppers Drug Marts and at all major Canadian airports. Canadian Running Magazine is also sold at independent retailers across Canada (please visit www.runningmag2.wpengine.com for a complete list). For subscriptions, please go to www.runningmag2.wpengine.com or call 1-800-567-0444.