A growing appetite for the outdoors
Trail running is expanding faster than running overall, as more people trade paved routes for uneven terrain and time in nature. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that trail-running participation rose 8 percent over five years, compared with 0.4 percent growth in running overall.
Trail runs logged on Strava in the first half of 2025 were double the number recorded in the same period of 2022. The activity also has a strong community dimension: 93 percent of trail-running activities on the platform received kudos in its 2025 Year in Sport Report.
Racing is only one part of the trend. Of an estimated 14.8 million trail runners, around 257,000 enter races. For many, the appeal lies in the varied terrain, the challenge of adapting to changing conditions, and the chance to run in natural settings without focusing solely on pace.
As outdoor recreation evolves, trail running's growth could encourage more people to explore active ways of connecting with nature.
