Aspire Insights – Trends from the England Athletics Run Report

What you need to know

The report is a collaborative effort between the Running Industry Alliance (RIA) and England Athletics (EA) looking into trends in participation and the impact of running in the UK. Using data from a new quarterly participation tracker in partnership with YouGov, the report focuses on topline participation trends as well as a focus on the impact of running on mental health.

Aspire has taken a deep dive and presented 10 key insights, so you can easily digest the key facts you need to know.

1. We’ve seen an increase in the number of clubs and event participation is also booming, showing the growing interest in the sport of running. Encouragingly, 57% of the population are aware of park runs with 1,298 taking place in the UK in 2024.

2. The running population continues to grow, with 29% of people having run at least once in the past 3 months – which equates to 16 million people in the UK! There are also 17.2 million more potential runners with 44% of non-runners saying they would consider it in the future.

Dan Southam, UK Marketing Manager at Suunto said: “The growing running trend in the UK has positively impacted sales for Suunto in the UK, with increased demand for high-performance training equipment as more people embrace running for fitness and mental well-being. Products like the Suunto Race S watch and Suunto Wing headphones play a key role in supporting new and seasoned runners alike. The Suunto Race S provides advanced metrics such as heart rate, pace, and GPS tracking, helping runners monitor progress and stay motivated. Meanwhile, the Suunto Wing headphones offer open-ear comfort and situational awareness, allowing runners to enjoy music or coaching cues without compromising safety. Together, these products help build consistency, improve performance, and keep runners engaged on their fitness journey.

3. Out of the 9.4 million regular runners in the UK, 54% are male, but females dominate the 45-54 age category, with more than 2X women than men.

4. 1 in 10 people have been prompted to start running because they have entered an event.

5. Just shy of half of all non-runners could be converted to running by removing some key barriers, which equates to 17.2 million more potential runners. This includes being encouraged by a doctor (28%), having someone to run with (25%) and if they had a running plan (17%).

6. Finding running physically demanding is a common barrier to entry amongst women with 40% of women citing this as an issue vs just 31% of men. Alongside this insight, a new survey by the Threshold Trail Series showed that half of women (54%) say they’d be more likely to take on an ultramarathon event if they knew walking was an option.

Penny Welch, CCO at Threshold Sports said:“In 2025, the Threshold Trail Series will continue to invest in female participation, with a focus on first-time ultra participants. We want to bust the myth that ultramarathons are only for elite runners. Our aim is for walkers, joggers and runners alike to cross the finish line, as the sense of achievement can be truly life changing. The survey results show us that our walker-friendly cut-off times, walking training plans and fully serviced aid stations all help first-timers tackle an ultra. We’re committed to championing this important topic, empowering even more women to take on greater distances so they too can realise the physical and mental health benefits of trail events.”

7. 70% of runners are not a member of a club and only 20% say they are likely to join a club in the future.

8. 20% of runners volunteer in the sport such as at Parkrun or races with wanting to give back to their local community as the main driver (35%).

9. Data from the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Physical Activity review commissioned by Sport England shows a growing body of evidence to highlight the positive impact of running on mental health.

10. There is a positive correlation between high engagement in running and better mental health, with well-being scores rising from 45 on average to 56 for those who run at least once a week and volunteer in the sport.

To read the full report and findings click here.

Data sources:

Written by Lotty Campbell Bird, Aspire Account Manager

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