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Prepared Runner reference

U.S. running statistics,
clearly sourced.

Current participation figures and race-market signals for road and trail running, gathered in one practical reference for writers, race organizers, running groups, and curious runners. Every number below names its source and data year.

Last updated October 28, 2026U.S. participation and race data

At a glance

Running is broadening,
and race fields are growing.

The latest available industry reports show a large road-running audience, a rapidly growing trail-running segment, and continued growth in race participation. The participation picture is not only about devoted racers: many people now use running as one part of a flexible mix of movement, community, and time outside.

That matters locally. A shorter race, a welcoming club run, or a simple first trail outing can be a meaningful entry point, not a lesser version of the sport.

Participation and race trends

Ten figures worth keeping handy.

Use the linked source next to each statistic when you need to check the original reporting or cite the underlying research.

How to read the numbers

Participation is not the same as a race start.

These reports count different things. Activity reports count people who took part during the stated year, while race-platform figures describe registrations in a defined data set. They are useful for understanding direction and reach, but they do not measure race registration, club membership, or weekly mileage one-for-one.

The Outdoor Industry Association’s 2026 Running Report separates road and trail running and distinguishes between casual participation and core participation. Its core threshold is 50 or more running occasions in a year. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association tracks participation across a broader set of sports and fitness activities for Americans age six and older.

Method and sources

Built for a clean citation.

Prepared Runner reviewed the latest publicly available summaries from established U.S. industry organizations. We report figures as the source presents them, keep the source year next to each statistic, and distinguish activity participation from race-platform data. We will refresh this page when a newer foundational report is available.

  1. Outdoor Industry Association, 2026 Running Report executive summary. Published in 2026, reporting participation data for 2025. ↗
  2. Sports & Fitness Industry Association, 2026 Topline Participation Report announcement. Published March 12, 2026, reporting participation data for 2025. ↗
  3. Sports & Fitness Industry Association, 2025 Topline Participation Report announcement. Published February 27, 2025, reporting running and jogging data for 2024. ↗
  4. RunSignup, 2026 Midyear RaceTrends Update. Published June 30, 2026, reporting platform data from December 2025 through May 2026. ↗

Cite this page

Prepared Runner. “U.S. Running Statistics: 2025 Participation and 2026 Race Trends.” Updated October 28, 2026. https://preparedrunner.com/running-statistics

Put the numbers to work

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way in.

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