Races are back – big time – as the COVID hangover is over and, according to a research report recently released by Running USA called “Industry Insights: A Look at the Country’s Top Races,” runners are taking to the streets in all distances across America.
The report offers an in-depth look at the top 100 largest races in the U.S. prior to the pandemic in 2019 and how those events and their participation changed as the industry began to return to normalcy in 2023.
In collaboration with Athlinks, Running USA conducted an analysis of race finisher data from 2019 and 2023, presenting the most accurate depiction of the running event industry’s recovery post-pandemic. The report delves into the types of events and geographic locations that are thriving, as well as areas that still have growth potential and participation trends by demographic. It includes a detailed breakdown of the top 100 timed races in the United States and comparative data between 2023 and 2019.
“This side-by-side comparison paints an accurate picture of the recovery the industry has experienced since the height of the pandemic,” explains Jay Holder, executive director of Running USA. “It also shows us the difference in the speed at which some races and distances have recovered and the encouraging trajectory we are seeing across the country.”
The running industry faced significant challenges during the pandemic, with 2020 seeing a near halt in activities. Following more than a year of canceled, virtual-only, or reduced-capacity events, a substantial recovery began in the fall of 2021. Although 2021 and 2022 experienced a gradual return to normalcy amidst various restrictions, supply chain issues and participant hesitance, 2023 and 2024 have marked record participation levels for many events. Even those events yet to reach 2019 numbers show a promising upward trend.
The report not only examines individual events but also highlights the top 25 event weekends in 2023, considering all timed race distances, including kids’ runs and pet-friendly dashes. Additionally, it lists the top 10 events in each state, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of the running event industry.
Some Key Takeaways:
- The TCS New York City Marathon was the largest single road racing event in the United States in 2023.
- Overall, the top 100 races in 2023 recorded 86 percent of the total finishers tracked in the top 100 races in 2019. Though it is impossible to know how many of the 2019 runners had returned to racing in 2023, the percentage is a healthy indicator of the progress events have made to return to “normal” post-pandemic.
- California was the state with the most road race finishers in 2023.
- Among the top 100 races, the distance that appeared most on the list was half marathons followed by 10Ks, 5Ks and then marathons.
Additional noteworthy findings include that men represent the majority of finishers
A webinar reviewing highlights from the report will be held July 24 at 2 p.m. ET. Those interested can sign up here.
To view more reports and running industry resources, visit runningusa.org.
