2026 Running Report – Executive Summary

Running participation in the U.S. continued to expand in 2025, with road running reaching 52.3 million participants and trail running climbing to 17.2 million. Growth in both segments is increasingly driven by casual, lower-frequency participants who integrate running into a broader fitness routine rather than pursuing it as a primary sport.

Our 2026 Running Report provides a detailed look at participation trends, demographics, and market dynamics shaping both road and trail running. Highlights include:

• Road running reaching 52.3 million participants, with growth fueled almost entirely by casual runners as the core segment continues to soften.
• Trail running expanding 6.6% to 17.2 million participants and becoming one of the most diverse segments in outdoor recreation, up 57% since 2019.
• Strong crossover between running and other movement-based activities — including walking, treadmill use, hiking, and yoga — as running increasingly serves as a complement within broader fitness routines.
• Regional growth concentrated in the South Atlantic, Pacific, Texas-dominated West South Central, and Great Lakes, while rising race-event costs present potential hurdles to sustained participation growth.

Check out the Executive Summary for key findings and market implications. To access the complete report and our full library of market intelligence and single-sport reports, contact us to learn more about joining OIA.