The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman The State of Trail Running in 2025 | TrailCon Live Panel
Oct 24, 2025
Join industry experts David Callahan, Co-CEO of UltraSignup, Stephen Holmberg, outdoor brand consultant, and race director Rob Goyen as they dive into the future of trail running. They explore trends like the significant growth in participation and the rising influence of run clubs. COVID's impact on race design and community resilience also takes center stage, with insights on how unique race experiences are in demand. With optimism, they discuss innovations shaping events and the exciting potential for female athletes in 2025.
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Old Debates Still Shape The Sport
- Longstanding tensions around elites and media in trail running mirror debates from the 1980s.
- David Callahan notes the sport's core challenges are recurring, not entirely new.
Trail Running Is Growing Steadily
- Trail running participation has been growing ~8% annually over five years per SFIA.
- Stephen Holmberg highlights casual runners (<25 runs/yr) growing faster than core runners.
Let Community Guide Race Design
- Race directors must adapt events to new participant preferences post-COVID.
- Rob Goyen advises listening to who shows up and evolving race formats accordingly.