The Running Event 2025 Concludes in San Antonio, Celebrating Innovation, Growth, and Collaboration

December 8, 2025

Hundreds of attendees, 350+ exhibitors, and dynamic programming showcase the strength of the running and outdoor industry.

PORTLAND, Maine (December 8, 2025) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – The Running Event (TRE), North America’s premier run specialty retail conference and trade show, took place last week, December 2-4, in San Antonio, Texas, marking a successful inaugural year in its new host city. TRE showcased exceptional momentum across the run and outdoor specialty industry with its largest show to date.

“This year’s event exemplified the health and vibrancy of the running industry,” said Christina Henderson, Event Director of TRE. “The energy and excitement in San Antonio was tangible, and real, meaningful business was taking place throughout each day.”

TRE’s 2025 exhibit hall was the largest in show history, featuring 357 exhibiting brands and spanning nearly 100,000 sq. ft. Attendees represented all 50 states as well as 33 countries, reinforcing TRE’s expanding global reach. In total, TRE welcomed more than 5,300 attendees to San Antonio.

TRE 2025 Highlights Included:

• Cutting-Edge Product Launches: Dozens of new footwear, apparel, accessory, nutrition, and training products debuted throughout the week.
• River Walk Run + Cleanup: The signature kickoff event combined movement, networking, and community impact, giving attendees a scenic tour of San Antonio’s iconic River Walk while contributing to local green space care.
• Education Program: Over 40 education sessions with nearly 110 speakers underscored this year’s theme, “Better Together: Uniting the Running Industry.”
• Interactive Experiences: Exhibitors, Training Camp Theater panel sessions, live podcasts, exhibit hall happy hours, and special meetups fostered connection, collaboration, and product discovery. The Opening Party further facilitated networking and the celebration of TRE’s San Antonio debut.
• TRE LIVE: PR Project hosted 37 interviews streamed live on FloTrack, featuring key brand representatives, athletes, and industry leaders throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
• Indie 5K: TRE’s annual chip-timed race welcomed hundreds of runners and walkers for a morning of movement, with Run Flagstaff taking home the fastest retail team award.
• 2025 Industry Awards Dinner: The special celebration closed out TRE by celebrating Industry Award recipients as well as all 65 Best Running Stores for their community and industry contributions. Running Lab (Michigan) took home the Store of the Year title.

Switchback at TRE, the event’s growing outdoor showcase, returned for its fourth year, hosting 60 brands and a slate of education sessions. With high energy and steady retailer traffic, the specialty outdoor zone blended legacy and emerging brands with essential industry conversations, including panels like “Common Ground: Trails, Public Lands, and the Business Case for Protecting Nature” led by Paul Hendricks of The Conservation Alliance and “Sustainability in the Outdoor Market: Business Value and Consumer Expectations” led by Julie Brown and Kelly Davis of Outdoor Industry Association. Switchback will return for its second annual standalone spring gathering this June 16-18, 2026, in New Orleans.

According to Visit San Antonio’s economic projections, hosting TRE 2025 generated more than $5.7 million in economic impact, driven by $3.3 million in direct spending and additional indirect business sales, job support, and local tax revenue. The event also supported more than 1,200 jobs across the region’s hospitality, retail, transportation, and service sectors, underscoring TRE’s value as both an industry touchpoint and an economic driver for its new host city.

TRE’s successful San Antonio debut signals not only the strength of the run specialty retail market but also the community’s eagerness to embrace growth and collaboration. With hundreds of brands, global attendance, and a thoughtful balance of business, education, and community engagement, TRE 2025 set a strong foundation for future editions. Planning is already underway for the 2026 gathering, which will return to San Antonio’s Henry B. González Convention Center next December 1-3. TRE will remain in San Antonio through 2027. Beginning in 2028, the event will move to Nashville, Tennessee, at the Music City Center.

Additional coverage highlights of the 2025 event will be available at therunningevent.com and on social media channels. Stay informed on the latest TRE updates here. For 2026 exhibiting opportunities, contact TRE Sales Manager Glenn Dulberg at gdulberg@divcom.com.

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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. Switchback Spring will take place June 16-18, 2026, in New Orleans, LA. For more information, visit www.therunningevent.com and www.switchbackevent.com.

Media Contact: tre@obviouslee.com