The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman The Trail Ahead: Consumer & Industry Trends Shaping Trail Running (TRE Live Panel)
Dec 16, 2025
Stephen Holmberg, the Founder of Insight Accelerator and ex-Nike executive, joins David Callahan, Co-CEO of UltraSignup, to discuss the booming trail running scene. They highlight how trail running is a driving force for overall running growth and the variety of available race formats. The duo explores the influence of star athletes on brand awareness and sales, alongside market challenges like tariffs and inflation. They emphasize the importance of preserving trail culture amidst commercialization and provide strategic advice for brands looking to enter this vibrant community.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trail Running Outpacing Road Running
- Trail running is growing at ~8% annual CAGR while road running is nearly flat, driving overall running growth.
- Growth is strongest among casual trail runners (≈9%) and still solid among core runners (≈4%).
Variety Fuels Trail Participation
- Trail offers many formats and distances, creating a wider funnel than road's 5k–marathon structure.
- That variety attracts people who can find a niche that fits their goals and lifestyle.
The Pyramid Of Trail Distances
- Trail participation forms a pyramid with sub-ultra distances as the broad base feeding longer ultras.
- Sub-ultra growth sustains the sport and enables the smaller number of participants at extreme distances.