Trail Running is Booming — and Getting Younger
Trail running is no longer a niche pursuit for seasoned mountain athletes. It has become one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet — and the runners leading that charge are younger, more social, and more values-driven than any generation before them. From sold-out 200-mile races to packed weekend run clubs, the sport is transforming in real time.
By the numbers
231% growth in trail running participation over the past 10 years (RunRepeat)
17.9% of 2025 race participants aged 18–29 — the highest share since 2017 (RunSignup)
$7.5B projected global trail running market value by 2032 (Future Data Stats)
+114% year-over-year growth in 200+ mile race registrations in 2024
8 min time it took for the Cocodona 250 (2026) to sell out completely
Who is running trails?
The core trail running demographic has traditionally centred on runners aged 25–44, who still make up 48.9% of participants. But the growth story is happening at the edges — specifically among younger runners entering the sport for the first time.
· 17.9% of race participants in 2025 were aged 18–29, the highest share since 2017
· ~80% of trail runners cross over from road running — the trail scene is growing partly by converting road runners looking for more adventure
· Casual runners: Casual runners (≤25 trail days per year) are the fastest-growing segment, expanding at around 9% annually
· 39.6% of trail race participants in 2024 were women — up significantly from a decade ago, with shorter distances approaching gender parity
Why young runners are switching to trails
Three forces are driving the youth surge into trail running — and they have as much to do with culture and connection as they do with fitness.
1. The run club explosion
Strava reported a 3.5% rise in new run clubs in 2025, with urban run clubs acting as a gateway to trail. For 18–29 year-olds — a demographic research identifies as the most likely to experience loneliness — running has become as much about community as competition. 37% of Strava users say run clubs are their best place to meet people.
2. Social media discovery
Trail running is being discovered through YouTube and Instagram at an unprecedented rate. Industry observers are calling it the 'YouTubification' of the sport — people scrolling casually who stumble across a stunning race video from UTMB, Transgrancanaria, or a local mountain 50k, and decide they want in. This organic, algorithm-driven discovery channel is pulling in participants who would never have found the sport through traditional media.
3. Athletes converting from track and road
A growing number of college track and field athletes are bypassing professional road racing entirely and heading straight to trail. The draw: more freedom, more community, and a racing culture that prizes experience over times. The trend is visible at the front of the pack too — several of the sport's rising stars arrived via collegiate cross-country rather than the traditional mountain running pathway.
Bangaroo Run Club, Sydney.
Gen Z and the values shift
Trail running's appeal among younger runners isn't purely athletic — it's values-driven. Gen Z participants are gravitating toward a sport that prioritises experience over pace, community over competition, and sustainability over consumption.
· 30% of Gen Z plan to increase their fitness spending in 2026
· 64% of Gen Z say they prefer spending on fitness over dating
· Sustainability: Plogging, trail conservation volunteering, and race sustainability pledges are becoming part of trail runner identity — not just add-ons
· Brand response: Brands like Arc'teryx, Brooks, and Merrell are all increasing trail investment in direct response to this demographic shift
As one industry analyst recently put it: it's not about miles or medals anymore. It's about meaning.
The ultra extreme boom
At the far end of the spectrum, 200-mile races are selling out faster than ever. The Cocodona 250 sold out in just 8 minutes for its 2026 edition. Registrations for 200+ mile events grew 114% year-over-year in 2024 alone. The sport isn't just getting broader — it's also getting more extreme, as a generation that grew up watching ultrarunning documentaries on YouTube decides to test their own limits.
What to watch in 2026
· Global expansion: UTMB World Series expanding: more races, more regions, more accessibility for newer runners
· Gear democratisation: Super-foam trail shoes (Arc'teryx Sylan 2, NNormal Cadí) lowering the barrier to entry with more comfortable, versatile footwear
· Youth races: Race organisers adding youth categories and shorter entry-level distances to bring in new participants
· Urban-to-trail pipelines: Run clubs increasingly organising group trail days, bridging urban running culture and the mountains
