Understanding.
The Nation.
The Participant.
The Market.
The running industry is evolving rapidly, and with that comes an increasing need for trusted, independent intelligence that helps organisations make better decisions.
RIA Running Industry Data has been created to provide exactly that.
Developed by Running Industry Alliance (RIA) in collaboration with industry partners, researchers and members, it brings together robust research, market intelligence and participant insight to help businesses, events, governing bodies, charities and communities better understand the running landscape.
Rather than relying on isolated data sources, RIA Running Industry Data connects complementary research programmes to create a broader, more meaningful picture of the industry, from participation and consumer behaviour to the commercial health of the market.
Three Perspectives. One Intelligence Ecosystem.
RIA Running Industry Data is built around three complementary research programmes, each answering a different but connected question about the running industry.
UNDERSTANDING THE NATION
The National Running Report
In partnership with England Athletics
The National Running Report provides a benchmark view of recreational running participation across the UK.
Produced annually with England Athletics, it combines nationally representative research with industry insight to understand who is running, how participation is changing and where future opportunities exist.
The report explores topics including:
Participation levels and running frequency
Demographics and audience segmentation
Motivations and barriers to participation
Health and wellbeing outcomes
Purchasing behaviour
Club, community and event engagement
Training habits and technology use
Emerging participation trends
Together, these insights provide an evidence base to support strategic planning across brands, retailers, events, governing bodies, charities and community organisations.
The Latest Findings Unveiled at TRC26.
The latest National Running Report will be fully unveiled at The Running Conference presented by haku (TRC26) in December 2026, giving RIA Members an opportunity to explore the findings and consider what they mean for the future of running.
Following the conference, the report will be issued to support further discussion, planning and informed decision-making across the running ecosystem.
UNDERSTANDING THE PARTICIPANT
Endurance Sport Survey 2026/2027
In partnership with MultiSport Research
Understanding participants, their behaviours, attitudes, purchasing decisions and expectations, is essential to understanding the future of running and endurance sport.
Developed in partnership with MultiSport Research, the Endurance Sport Survey provides valuable insight into the people behind the participation statistics, exploring the motivations, behaviours and decisions shaping today's endurance sport landscape.
Covering running, triathlon and endurance sport, the survey examines areas including:
Consumer purchasing behaviour
Brand awareness and loyalty
Retail journeys and buying channels
Event participation and motivations
Training habits and technology use
Digital behaviour and community engagement
Generational trends
Gender differences, experiences and participation
The research helps organisations better understand their audiences, identify emerging trends and make more informed decisions about products, services, communications and commercial opportunities.
A First Look at the Findings at TRC26
As part of its commitment to bringing the industry closer to the intelligence it needs, RIA will provide an exclusive first look at preliminary findings from the Endurance Sport Survey 2026/2027 at TRC26.
Featuring Gary Roethenbaugh of MultiSport Research, the session will introduce emerging insights from the research, followed by a panel discussion exploring what the findings could mean for the running and endurance sport industries.
Bringing research and industry perspectives together, the discussion will consider the implications for brands, retailers, event organisers, governing bodies and the wider running ecosystem.
This will be an opportunity to explore emerging trends, challenge assumptions and consider how a deeper understanding of participants can help inform future decisions across the industry.
The session will offer an early insight into the findings ahead of the full Endurance Sport Survey report, scheduled for release in February 2027.
Shaped by the Industry
One of the defining strengths of RIA Running Industry Data is that it is developed collaboratively.
RIA regularly consults with members, partners and industry experts to ensure each research programme continues to evolve and address the questions that matter most to the sector.
Feedback gathered through member consultation sessions directly informs future editions of the Endurance Sport Survey, helping ensure the research remains relevant, practical and valuable for the whole industry.
By bringing the industry into the research conversation, RIA aims to ensure the questions being asked reflect real-world challenges, opportunities and priorities.
Introducing Value Back
Organisations contributing to future editions of the Endurance Sport Survey will benefit from RIA's Value Back initiative.
Through a secure and confidential process independently managed by MultiSport Research, participating organisations will have the opportunity to benchmark their own audience data against aggregated industry findings.
This provides contributors with valuable comparative intelligence while maintaining strict confidentiality and independent data governance.
The initiative reflects RIA's commitment to creating mutual value for the organisations helping to strengthen the industry's shared evidence base.
UNDERSTANDING THE MARKET
Running Participation Analysis
Launching in 2027
Completing the trilogy is the new Running Participation Analysis.
Launching in 2027, this annual report aims to establish a consistent benchmark of the commercial size, value and long-term health of the UK running market.
Moving the conversation beyond participation alone, it will bring together market analysis and participation intelligence to help establish:
Annual participation benchmarking
Market size and value
Growth and contraction trends
Commercial performance indicators
Long-term industry health metrics
Strategic opportunities across the sector
Together with The National Running Report and the Endurance Sport Survey, this will complete a connected intelligence framework, helping the industry understand not only who is participating, but how the market is performing and where future growth opportunities exist.
LOOKING AHEAD
RIA Running Industry Data will continue to grow alongside the industry.
Working collaboratively with members, partners and research specialists, the programme will expand through new studies, deeper analysis and enhanced market intelligence, ensuring the running industry has access to trusted, independent evidence that supports informed decision-making.
The next milestones include:
December 2026 — The National Running Report: Full unveiling at TRC26, followed by publication of the report.
December 2026 — Endurance Sport Survey 2026/2027: An exclusive first look at preliminary findings, featuring Gary Roethenbaugh of MultiSport Research, followed by a panel discussion exploring their implications for the running and endurance sport industries.
February 2027 — Endurance Sport Survey 2026/2027: Publication of the full report.
2027 — Running Participation Analysis: Launch of the inaugural analysis, extending the industry's understanding of the commercial size, value and long-term health of the UK running market.
Together, these programmes will establish a connected intelligence framework designed to help the industry make better-informed decisions, identify opportunities and plan for the future.
HELPING SHAPE THE FUTURE OF RUNNING
RIA believes that better data leads to better decisions.
By bringing together participation research, consumer insight and market intelligence within one connected ecosystem, RIA Running Industry Data is helping create a stronger, more informed and more collaborative running industry.
Whether you are a brand, retailer, event organiser, governing body, charity, community organisation or service provider, these insights are designed to help you understand today's market and prepare for tomorrow's opportunities.
Interested in contributing to future research or learning more about RIA Running Industry Data?
Get in touch with the RIA team to discover how your organisation can become part of one of the UK's most comprehensive collaborative running industry intelligence programmes.
Discover the Research. Understand the Industry. Shape What Comes Next.
The Running Conference presented by haku
The latest National Running Report will be fully unveiled at TRC26, alongside an exclusive first look at preliminary findings from the Endurance Sport Survey 2026/2027.
Explore the TRC26 overview agenda.
Running Industry Alliance (RIA)
Visit www.runningindustryalliance.com to learn more about RIA, membership and its work to connect, inform, educate and advance the running industry.
Want to Attend TRC26?
The Running Conference is built for RIA Members.
Join Running Industry Alliance to become part of the community connecting the running ecosystem and helping shape the industry's future.
Find out more about RIA membership and apply to join today.
One final consideration before publishing
I've kept the three research programmes clearly differentiated:
The National Running Report: Full unveiling at TRC26, followed by publication.
Endurance Sport Survey 2026/2027: Preliminary findings presented by Gary Roethenbaugh, followed by a panel discussion at TRC26; full report in February 2027.
Running Participation Analysis: Launching in 2027.
This gives each programme its own purpose and timeline while reinforcing the bigger RIA vision: one connected intelligence ecosystem, built with the industry, for the industry.
