I think it fitting The Running Event 2025 (TRE) falls amid the holiday season. For me, TRE’s presence in between Thanksgiving and Christmas really does make it the most wonderful time of the year.
While the run specialty marketplace is always atop my professional mind, TRE heightens everything. It provides inspiration and insights. It delivers energy and interaction elevating my passion for run specialty. It strengthens connections. It amplifies my enthusiasm for an industry I’ve called home since 2004.
Put simply, TRE never disappoints.
The 2025 edition of TRE brings a new location in San Antonio after years in Austin, TX – a move necessitated because the Austin Convention Center is being renovated – but many of the same features that make the event an annual must-attend. Here are five things I’m particularly looking forward to at TRE 2025.
#1: TRE’s new home
I must confess: I really, really appreciate familiarity and routine. As the long-time home of TRE, Austin delivered comfort. I knew where I was going to dinner with editor Mike Jacobsen on Monday (BBQ!!!), where I’d log miles each morning and where I’d enjoy a sweet dessert at the Austin airport before returning home. I didn’t have to think. I just knew.
Nevertheless, I’m excited for TRE’s move to San Antonio. This will be my first visit to the Alamo City and I’m eager to discover its culture, its food, its history and running routes – even if my packed TRE schedule won’t leave much time for urban exploration.
#2: Tuesday morning’s “Run with the Retailers”
Back in 2021, as TRE returned to Austin from its pandemic hiatus, I reached out to a few retailers about gathering for a run on the morning of TRE Tuesday. I had nothing tangible to offer and told them as much. “No free shoes or swag here,” I warned. I pitched the morning run as a casual way to meet other retailers and kick off the TRE experience with some positive energy. I simply hoped to be the connective tissue introducing one retailer to another, which is, I would argue, where the real magic of TRE resides.
Tuesday morning’s “Run with the Retailers” is my most cherished TRE tradition. After a brief introduction and highlighting a notable element or two of each individual’s store, we hit the road for about 30 minutes. Naturally and beautifully, these individuals fall into conversation about things they’re doing at their respective stores. They talk about challenges and discuss solutions. They banter about trends and the industry’s evolution. They ask questions of one another. The seeds of a relationship get planted. It’s magical, and it speaks to the collaborative spirit of our industry.
Interested? At 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, I’ll be at the main entrance of the Henry B. González Convention Center (900 E. Market St.). Look for the 6’2” red head wearing an orange top. Don’t be a stranger.
#3: Tuesday’s education sessions
TRE 2025 kicks off on Tuesday, December 2, with a packed slate of education. The chance to learn about consumer behavior, leadership, retail efficiencies, merchandising and more from successful retailers and subject matter experts is always enlightening. Education sessions never fail to deliver a key takeaway, ignite inspiration or offer a new perspective.
On a personal note, I’ll be moderating a 45-minute panel on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. focused on how run specialty shops are incorporating hybrid and remote employees. Panelists Harry Chandler of the Charlotte Running Company as well as Jeff Anderson and Mary Sutton from Connecticut-based Kelley’s Pace will detail their experiences with remote employees and practical strategies to drive productivity.
As the four of us have prepped for our TRE program, I’ve marveled at the panelists’ honesty, perspectives and solutions-oriented mindset, and I believe it will be a beneficial session for retailers eager to build high-performing teams.
#4: The trade show floor
To be certain, the trade show floor can be overwhelming, packed with people, booths and nonstop energy over two days. But it is absolutely, undeniably exhilarating!
This year’s TRE show floor will feature 360 exhibitors, ranging from established footwear brands to upstart apparel and accessories players to back-office service providers. Walking the floor is an invitation to discovery and an opportunity to explore new products and services with potential to shape the future of the run specialty marketplace. Once upon a time, it’s worth noting, now-powerhouse brands like On, Hoka and Vuori had a tiny presence on the TRE floor, so the next big thing is out there.
The exhibit floor also offers a chance to engage in deeper conversations with brands to learn about new products and technologies as well as broader industry trends. It’s a window into the future of run specialty.
#5: Inspiration to power Running Insight’s 2026 editorial calendar
For individuals like me who cover the running industry, TRE is fuel.
From the education sessions to the trade show floor to random conversations in a hotel lobby, TRE is a treasure trove of inspiration to inform Running Insight editorial. Every year, I return home from TRE with a lengthy list of story ideas – perhaps to the benevolent exasperation of my boss, Mike Jacobsen – and begin plotting where specific content might fit on the Running Insight editorial calendar.
(Editor’s Note: Danny’s ideas are certainly not exasperating. They are more than welcome and fuel our editorial coverage every year.)
Ultimately, my goal as Running Insight senior writer is to deliver relevant, engaging stories for readers. TRE powers my efforts toward that end, challenging me to think intentionally about the topics I cover and how I will share information, ideas and perspectives in compelling ways to serve our readers.
