Runner's World's July Issue Uses Tablet Enhancements to Tell Boston Story

EMMAUS, Pa., June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Runner's World Magazine's first issue after the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings is now available on the iPad, packed with exclusive audio, video and interactive features. The print edition of the July 2013 issue officially hits newsstands June 11.

"This issue is dedicated almost entirely to what happened in Boston, why it still matters, and what it will mean for all runners going forward," said Runner's World Editor-in-Chief David Willey. "The issue covers the biggest story of the year, perhaps the most significant running-related story ever, with unprecedented depth, detail, emotion, and insight. It is the definitive record of that day from the runner's perspective." (NOTE: Runner's World could not get any Boston coverage into the June issue, which had already been printed by April 15.)

To produce this enhanced issue, Runner's World worked with interactive editorial consultant Steve Malley, and designers Robert Priest and Grace Lee of the design firm Priest + Grace.

The iPad issue of Runner's World is available via the free Runner's World App in the iTunes store. Single copies of issues are available for $4.99 and yearly subscriptions are $19.99. By leveraging the Free Article Preview feature in Adobe Digital Publishing Suite, the platform used to create the Runner's World App, select content features from this special issue will be available as a free preview once the app has been downloaded. As a bonus to digital subscribers, the April 1996 issue of Runner's World, the 100^th Boston Marathon Collector's Edition, which was dedicated entirely to the Boston Marathon, will be free (also available for $0.99 for non-subscribers).

Here is a summary of key content and tablet enhancements in the July 2013 iPad issue:

THE COVER 
To acknowledge and honor the events of April 15, Runner's World shot a finisher's medal from this year's marathon with a piece of black tape across its front. This is a tradition among police officers and firefighters, who place a band of black fabric across their badges when one of their colleagues has died in the line of duty. It is mournful but also shows support and solidarity. Runners were seen wearing finisher's medals this way around Boston in the days after the race. In the interactive tablet edition, the iconic cover is animated and also includes exclusive embedded audio from runners Dave Fortier and Caroline Spencer explaining what it means to have gotten their medals the day after.

ORAL HISTORY 
The centerpiece of the issue is a detailed oral history of the events of April 15 from the perspective of over 20 runners, spectators, first responders, medical personnel and race officials. Running over 20 pages, it begins at 4:30 a.m. on the seemingly perfect race-day morning and concludes with reflections on the attacks and how runners hope to move forward.

Enhancements include:

• Added stories from subjects not included in the print edition.
• An expanded photo essay that captures the moments around the bombs exploding.
• Audio commentary from select subjects of the oral history.
• A video version of two runners' stories, showing how they crossed on Boylston Street after the first bomb exploded. One of the runners, David Fortier, is the only documented marathoner who sustained major injuries from the bombs.
• A two-part map—one showing the final stretch on Boylston Street where the bombs went off, and the other looks at the bottleneck on Massachusetts Avenue heading to Boylston Street, where several thousand runners eventually were halted for more than two hours. The maps also display the location of the oral history subjects when the bombs exploded.

PROFILE OF BILL IFFRIG 
Bill Iffrig became an iconic representation of the Boston attacks when he was seen on early news reports and then appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Runner's World becomes the first magazine to publish a profile of this remarkable 78-year-old runner, who got up to finish his race, setting the tone for all runners to carry on.

Enhancements include:

• Video of Bill Iffrig being knocked to the ground by the first explosion.
• An audio clip of Iffrig taking readers through the moment of the bombing.
• Additional photos from Runner's World's exclusive photo shoot.

TIME-LAPSE FINISH-LINE VIDEO
The week after the marathon, the finish line on Boylston Street was repainted at night with no fanfare. Runner's World was able to secure access for a photographer to exclusively document it, resulting in a captivating time-lapse sequence that shows the finish line "coming back to life" in dramatic fashion.

BILLY EVANS'S SLEEPLESS WEEK
Police Superintendent Billy Evans finished his 18th Boston Marathon before the bombs went off, then worked 40 straight hours on the crime scene. He was instrumental in almost all of the significant events of the days that followed—running security for President Obama's visit to Boston, shaking Big Papi's (Red Sox player David Ortiz) hand on the steps of the Fenway Park dugout, and being one of the first on the scene at the boat in Watertown for the capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. He explains why being a runner is the only reason he had the endurance to do it all. The interactive tablet edition is enhanced with an audio slide show of Evans featuring photos and commentary from the police superintendent.

JUST IMAGINE BY AMBY BURFOOT
For 1968 Boston Marathon champion Amby Burfoot, the 2013 race was supposed to be a celebration of the 45^th anniversary of his victory. He was instead stopped less than a mile from the finish, among a confused throng of thousands of runners. Burfoot counts himself lucky, and declares he will run again. "While this Boston Marathon was the most tragic day in the history of running," Burfoot writes. "Next year's Boston, on April 21, 2014, will be the most glorious." The interactive tablet edition contains exclusive audio from the author.

"BOSTON STRONG" MAP
In the days after the Boston Marathon bombings, scores of "tribute runs" were organized around the country, ranging from one runner to over 3,000. Data was compiled for 121 of these runs and Runner's World looked to tell the story visually. In the interactive tablet edition, the U.S. map is displayed with columns of different heights representing the runs, which will appear and expand chronologically, starting with the day after the blasts, then rippling into effect over time.

TABLET-EXCLUSIVE PROSE FEATURES:

• Peter Sagal, Runner's World columnist and host of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, ran his third Boston Marathon as a guide for a blind runner. He writes about how they got through the day together both physically, mentally and emotionally.
• Runner's World "Newbie Chronicles" columnist Marc Parent writes about why runners who won't ever qualify for Boston will still run and cheer in solidarity with Boston Marathoners.

About Runner's World 
The mission of Rodale's Runner's World, recognized as the worldwide authority on running information, is to inform, advise and motivate runners of all ages and abilities. Named to Adweek's Hot List in 2011 and 2010, Runner's World aims to help runners achieve their personal health, fitness and performance goals while inspiring them with vivid, memorable storytelling. Runner's World offers the award-winning Runner's World Challenge, allowing readers to interact with editors while training for races and run races with the magazine's staff, and the brand recently completed the inaugural Runner's World Half Marathon and Running Festival (www.RWHalf.com), in Bethlehem, PA. The 2013 event is scheduled for Oct. 18-20. Runner's World publishes 17 international editions: Australia/New Zealand, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. For up-to-date running news, visit www.runnersworld.com, and get instant updates on twitter (@runnersworld) and Facebook (Runner's World Magazine). Runner's World is also available as a mobile app on the iPhone and iPad.

CONTACT: David Tratner, Runner's World  
[email protected] (212) 808-1358

SOURCE Runner's World