Everything You Need to Know About The Running Event 2023
The Running Event has arrived. Here is everything you need to know about the annual running industry-focused trade show.
Dates: Nov. 28-30
Location: Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas (500 E Cesar Chavez St.)
Day One of the event, replete with education and connection opportunities, starts with a 7 a.m. CT trail cleanup at the Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail (in partnership with Low Impact Alliance). From there, the day moves to the Austin Convention Center and includes deep dive sessions (9:30-11 a.m. CT), keynote speaker Melissa Gonzalez (principal at MG2 and founder of The Lionesque Group) from 12-1 p.m. CT, conferences sessions from 1:15-6 p.m. CT and a welcome reception a 6 p.m. CT that is sponsored by Hoka.
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To start Day Two, there will be a Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) “CommUnity Run” powered by Saucony. This will take place at 6 a.m. CT. After that, The Conservation Alliance will present a special breakfast presentation titled “Leading with Values is Smarter Business: Learnings from Key Brands and Retailers” from 7:15-8:45 a.m. CT. The exhibit hall at the Austin Convention Center will be open from 9 a.m. CT to 6:30 p.m. CT. Also during those times, there will be Training Camp Theater Sessions from 10 a.m. CT to 5:30 p.m. CT. The day will conclude with “The Cookout,” which will be presented by RIDC and run from 6:30-9 p.m. CT.
The third and final day will begin with the Indie 5K at Festival Beach Park at 7 a.m. CT, and the exhibit hall at the Austin Convention Center will be open from 9 a.m. CT to 4 p.m. CT. There will be Training Camp Theater Sessions from 10 a.m. CT to 3:30 p.m. CT, and the day will conclude with the 2023 Industry Awards Dinner — including the Best Running Stores presentation — at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Last year, TRE introduced an outdoor-focused section called Switchback. TRE confirmed prior to this event that the section has doubled in size from last year.
“This crossover between running and outdoor is real and continues to strengthen,” TRE executive director Christina Henderson told FN. “A majority of the brands who exhibited last year are returning, and they are also sharing. That’s been our largest recruitment tool: word of mouth from brands saying, ‘This is where you need to be. This is the future.'”
Pickleball will also have a large presence at this year’s trade show. There will be a pickleball court on the exhibit hall floor, and there will be two education sessions from the court. First, representatives from Kelley’s Pace, Whirlaway Sports, Run With It and The Association of Pickleball Players will speak during “Why Sell Pickeball,” which will take place Nov. 29 from 2:30-3:15 p.m. CT. And on Nov. 30 from 10:30-11:15 a.m. CT, there will be a seminar titled “How to Sell Pickleball,” which features representatives from OS1st, K-Swiss and Selkirk.
Other new things attendees can expect to find at TRE include The Hub, which is an area where people can access professional resources and connect with fellow attendees. This is located in the exhibit hall. Also, the Pedorthic Footcare Association (PFA) will hold its annual in-person convention, titled 2023 PFA LIVE! at TRE.
“We’re excited to work with numerous partners going into TRE 2023 that have bolstered our exhibit floor and attendance. You’ll see new footwear brands who have never been on the floor before in performance, lifestyle and outdoor. And the Switchback side of things, that growing crossover between running and outdoor has made TRE intriguing and valuable for outdoor brands and retailers,” TRE executive director Christina Henderson told FN at the start of the month. “We have this formula of growing the show while keeping it intimate with that community feel you crave at a trade show.”
Below, Henderson offers additional thoughts on five of the can’t-miss events at TRE.
Trail Cleanup
Congress Grove at the Waller Creek Boathouse
Nov. 28 (7 a.m. CT)
“We want to give back to the city of Austin. We’ve been there for many years, so how can we leave the city better than we found it? Asics is our title sponsor, so they’re supporting it, and it’s in partnership with Low Impact Alliance. It’s a good opportunity for retailers to see how they could do this in their own community.”
Keynote Speaker Melissa Gonzalez
Austin Convention Center
Nov. 28 (12-1 p.m. CT)
“She’s a retail expert, she’s going to share learnings from other retail industries, as well as large retailers that our specialty retailers can learn from. It’s going to be interesting and informative and will get our specialty stores thinking differently from how they’ve always done things.”
Best Running Stores Panel
Austin Convention Center
Nov. 28 (4:30-5:15 p.m. CT)
“We are bringing in a representative from each of our top four stores of 2023 and Laura Green, who is a running influencer, to moderate that panel. We’re going to learn about those stores and how they do things, what makes them so special.”
The Cookout hosted by Running Industry Diversity Coalition
The Riley Building (315 Lavaca Street)
Nov. 29 (6:15 p.m. CT)
“The RIDC came up with the concept of The Cookout to invite all people to come out. That’s going to be a special event. It’s important that the running industry continues to strive to be a place for all people.”
TRE Livestream hosted by PR Project
Nov. 29-30 during exhibit hall hours
“For the first time, we are doing a live stream from The Running Event. The concept was could we do a live from game day like college football does? We’re building a desk with a plexi background so you can see The Running Event. We’re inviting guests on, and anyone can watch the interviews. It’s a way for people at home to get a peek into the future of the industry.”
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