The Running Event 2024 Breaks Records with Largest Show Yet

November 20, 2024

TRE Brings Together the Running and Outdoor Industry in Austin, TX

Austin, Texas (November 20, 2024) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – The Running Event (TRE), North America’s premier run and outdoor specialty retail conference and trade show, kicked off yesterday at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX. The 18th annual event, running from November 19-21, today opened its 2024 exhibit hall. 336 brands span more than 90,000 square feet, all showcasing the latest innovations in footwear, apparel, nutrition, recovery, and technology. For 111 exhibitors, TRE 2024 is their first time at the event.

“This year’s event is truly remarkable—not only in its size but in the incredible energy of this community,” said Christina Henderson, Event Director, TRE. “Year after year, I’m astonished by the innovation, passion, and collaboration that TRE fosters. It’s a reminder of the importance of in-person gatherings and the magic that happens when people come together.”

The event opened Tuesday with TRE’s conference program, which included 28 education sessions covering topics such as creative customer loyalty, empowering female runners, the role of AI in specialty retail, and strategies for navigating the industry’s future. The Race Director Summit offered endurance event professionals peer networking and education, while the Pedorthic Footcare Association celebrated its 50th Annual Symposium with specialized programming. Keynote Speaker Johnny Cupcakes held his presentation “A Creative Recharge in Building Customer Loyalty & Memorable Retail Experiences,” and a panel featuring leaders from HOKA, Brooks, Saucony, and Altra discussed the future of run specialty to a standing-room-only audience.

Switchback at TRE, the event’s outdoor-focused expansion – now in its third year – features 45 outdoor brands and reflects the industry’s growing demand for trail and outdoor products. Switchback at TRE also serves as a preview to the inaugural standalone Switchback event, taking place June 16-18, 2025, in Nashville, TN.

Community-driven events also took center stage, beginning with the third annual Trail Cleanup, presented by ASICS, Tuesday morning, which welcomed more than 250 participants and resulted in 600 pounds of trash collected. The day concluded with a Welcome Reception hosted by HOKA, which kicked off the 2024 event and brought together hundreds of retailers, brands, media, and TRE partner organizations.

Thursday, the final day of TRE, will include additional education programming in the exhibit hall, the annual Indie 5K, and the 2024 Industry Awards Dinner. Stay up to date with the latest TRE news here.

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About The Running Event

Launched in 2006, The Running Event (TRE) is North America’s premier specialty retail conference and trade show, attracting thousands of industry professionals each year who are seeking the latest in footwear, apparel, gear, and services. With numerous opportunities for peer learning, interactive conference programming, and dynamic product demonstrations and discovery, TRE has become the must-attend event for the run and outdoor specialty markets. In 2022, TRE expanded with the launch of Switchback, a dedicated space showcasing outdoor brands. Upcoming dates include Switchback at TRE (Nov. 19-21, 2024, Austin, TX) and the inaugural Switchback Spring (June 16-18, 2025, Nashville, TN). For more information, visit www.therunningevent.com and www.switchbackevent.com.

Press Information:

Contacts: Obviouslee Marketing | tre@obviouslee.com, Pale Morning Media | michael@palemorning.com

Media Kit

NOTES

Community-driven events also took center stage, beginning with the third annual trail cleanup hosted by ASICS and the Low Impact Alliance on Tuesday morning, which engaged over XX participants, gathering over 600 pounds of trash. The day concluded with a Welcome Reception hosted by HOKA and the announcement of the 2024 Best Running Stores finalists: A Runner’s Mind, Fleet Feet Fayetteville, PR Run & Walk, and Up & Running.

On Wednesday, November 20, the event began with the RIDC CommUnity Run powered by Saucony and a breakfast presentation from The Conservation Alliance, which emphasized sustainability and the importance of outdoor preservation.

TRE 2024 continues through November 21, fostering collaboration, innovation, and community within the running and outdoor specialty industries.

EXHIBIT HALL BY THE NUMBERS

• 336 exhibiting companies

• 90,400 square feet of exhibiting space

• The floor is 13% larger than 2023

• We have 111 brands exhibiting at The Running Event for the first time

• Switchback at TRE: 45 exhibitors, nearly 10,500 square feet

REGISTRATION BY THE NUMBERS

• We have Attendees from all 50 states in the US

• 22% ahead for Trade Show Only Badges

• 46% ahead for Media Badges

o Attending media include Runner’s World, Women’s Health, Outside, The New York Times, local Texas publications, and more

• 20% ahead for Industry Professional Badges

• 57% ahead for Event Management Professional Badges

• 41% of attending businesses are in the growth cycle of their business

• 39% of our attendees are store owners

• Overall, we are 10% ahead in attendee registration to 2023. For perspective, we’re 43% ahead of where we were this time in 2022.

• We will surpass our attendee revenue goal in the next few days

• 211 International Retailers

• 27 different countries represented

• Attendees from 6 of the 7 continents

• International Attendance has doubled since 2022

• 96% of our Best Running Stores will be in attendance

• 29 unique states represented

Switchback at TRE, the event’s outdoor-focused initiative, has nearly doubled in size in its third year, featuring 45 outdoor brands. This growth reflects the increasing demand for trail and outdoor products, highlighting the convergence of the running and outdoor industries.