Statistic,Value,Unit,Geography,Segment,Basis,Period,Source,Evidence tier,Series ID or note,Primary source URL,Note
US road runners,52.3,million people,United States,Road running,OIA participation survey; runner definition not on the public page,2025,"Outdoor Industry Association, 2026",C,n/a,https://outdoorindustry.org/2026-running-report/,Second only to hiking among outdoor activities in the OIA summary.
US road runners who are not core runners,about 29,million people,United States,Casual road runners,OIA: did not run often enough to count as core,2025,"Outdoor Industry Association, 2026",C,n/a,https://outdoorindustry.org/2026-running-report/,Core means 50 or more outings a year.
US core road runners,about 23,million people,United States,Core road runners,52.3 million minus about 29 million,2025,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-method,UrbanStyle calculation from rounded OIA figures.
Casual road runners as a share of road runners,55,percent,United States,Casual road runners,About 29 million divided by 52.3 million,2025,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-method,UrbanStyle calculation.
Growth in casual road running,about 7,percent per year,United States,Casual road runners,"OIA, average over three years",2023 to 2025,"Outdoor Industry Association, 2026",C,n/a,https://outdoorindustry.org/2026-running-report/,As worded in the OIA summary.
Change in core road running,about -1.1,percent,United States,Core road runners,"OIA, as stated in its summary",2025,"Outdoor Industry Association, 2026",C,n/a,https://outdoorindustry.org/2026-running-report/,The summary does not say whether this is a yearly or multi-year change.
US trail runners,17.2,million people,United States,Trail running,OIA participation survey,2025,"Outdoor Industry Association, 2026",C,n/a,https://outdoorindustry.org/2026-running-report/,Up 6.6%.
Growth in US trail runners since 2019,57,percent,United States,Trail running,OIA,2019 to 2025,"Outdoor Industry Association, 2026",C,n/a,https://outdoorindustry.org/2026-running-report/,
Growth in core trail runners,7.8,percent,United States,Core trail runners,OIA,2025,"Outdoor Industry Association, 2026",C,n/a,https://outdoorindustry.org/2026-running-report/,
US marathon participants,432562,participants,United States,Marathon,RunRepeat dataset of US marathon results,2024,"RunRepeat, 2025",C,n/a,https://runrepeat.com/the-state-of-us-marathons-2025,RunRepeat says it covers about 97% of US marathon results.
US marathon participants at the 2014 peak,496178,participants,United States,Marathon,RunRepeat dataset of US marathon results,2014,"RunRepeat, 2025",C,n/a,https://runrepeat.com/the-state-of-us-marathons-2025,
US marathon participants against the 2014 peak,-12.8,percent,United States,Marathon,RunRepeat: 12.8% below the all-time high,2024,"RunRepeat, 2025",C,n/a,https://runrepeat.com/the-state-of-us-marathons-2025,Matches my calculation from the two counts.
US marathon events in the dataset,"6,352",events,United States,Marathon,RunRepeat,1984 to 2025,"RunRepeat, 2025",C,n/a,https://runrepeat.com/the-state-of-us-marathons-2025,"10,482,628 race results."
Female share of US marathon participants,41,percent,United States,Marathon,RunRepeat,2024,"RunRepeat, 2025",C,n/a,https://runrepeat.com/the-state-of-us-marathons-2025,The page gives both 47% and 45% for the 2017 peak.
Average US marathon finish time,4:34,hours,United States,Marathon,RunRepeat; 4:39 in 2019,2024,"RunRepeat, 2025",C,n/a,https://runrepeat.com/the-state-of-us-marathons-2025,A 1.9% improvement on 2019 per RunRepeat.
Under-25 share of US marathon participants,12.1,percent,United States,Marathon,RunRepeat; 9.2% in 2016,2024,"RunRepeat, 2025",C,n/a,https://runrepeat.com/the-state-of-us-marathons-2025,
Growth in per-race participation,5,percent,United States,US road races on RunSignup,"RunSignup average per-race growth, 2024 to 2025",2025,"RunSignup RaceTrends, 2026",C,n/a,https://www.runningusa.org/industry-news/runsignups-annual-racetrends-report-shows-per-race-participation-growth-of-5/,After 8% in 2024 and 11% in 2023.
Events and registrations in the RunSignup dataset,"97,000+ events, 12.2 million registrations",events and registrations,United States,US road races on RunSignup,RunSignup RaceTrends,2025,"RunSignup RaceTrends, 2026",C,n/a,https://www.runningusa.org/industry-news/runsignups-annual-racetrends-report-shows-per-race-participation-growth-of-5/,RunSignup estimates it covers at least half of the US endurance market.
Race weekends with fewer than 500 participants,86,percent,United States,US road races on RunSignup,RunSignup RaceTrends,2025,"RunSignup RaceTrends, 2026",C,n/a,https://www.runningusa.org/industry-news/runsignups-annual-racetrends-report-shows-per-race-participation-growth-of-5/,"13% of participants took part in races of more than 5,000."
Direction of participation at the top US races,Up,direction,United States,Top US races,Running USA industry insights report; no figures in the release,2025,"Running USA, January 2026",C,n/a,https://www.endurancesportswire.com/running-usa-releases-2025s-top-races-a-look-at-the-year-in-review-industry-insights-report/,"Growth across the 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon."
Americans taking part in at least one sport or fitness activity,250,million people,United States,All activities (not running only),SFIA 2026 topline report,2025,"SFIA, 2026 topline",C,n/a,https://sfia.org/resources/participation-hits-new-high-but-majority-of-americans-not-yet-meeting-recommended-guidelines-of-150-minutes-of-weekly-activity-sfias-2026-topline-report-finds/,Record high. 158.8 million were core participants.
Americans meeting the 150-minute weekly activity guideline,32,percent,United States,All activities (not running only),SFIA 2026 topline report,2025,"SFIA, 2026 topline",C,n/a,https://sfia.org/resources/participation-hits-new-high-but-majority-of-americans-not-yet-meeting-recommended-guidelines-of-150-minutes-of-weekly-activity-sfias-2026-topline-report-finds/,
US running shoe dollar sales growth,13,percent,United States,Running footwear,"Circana Retail Tracking Service, first half against first half",H1 2026,"Circana, H1 2026",C,n/a,https://www.circana.com/post/performance-shoe-sales-pick-up-the-pace-amid-selective-us-consumer-spending-in-the-footwear-market,
US running shoe unit sales growth,13,percent,United States,Running footwear,"Circana Retail Tracking Service, first half against first half",H1 2026,"Circana, H1 2026",C,n/a,https://www.circana.com/post/performance-shoe-sales-pick-up-the-pace-amid-selective-us-consumer-spending-in-the-footwear-market,
US performance footwear dollar sales growth,6,percent,United States,Performance footwear,Circana Retail Tracking Service,H1 2026,"Circana, H1 2026",C,n/a,https://www.circana.com/post/performance-shoe-sales-pick-up-the-pace-amid-selective-us-consumer-spending-in-the-footwear-market,Units rose; Circana gives no unit figure in the post.
US total footwear dollar sales growth,1,percent,United States,All footwear,Circana Retail Tracking Service,H1 2026,"Circana, H1 2026",C,n/a,https://www.circana.com/post/performance-shoe-sales-pick-up-the-pace-amid-selective-us-consumer-spending-in-the-footwear-market,Units fell; higher average selling prices offset weaker demand.
Implied change in the average price of a running shoe,about 0,percent,United States,Running footwear,Dollars and units both up 13%; both rounded,H1 2026,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-method,"UrbanStyle inference. Circana publishes no average price, and rounding leaves about 1% either way."
Circana outlook for 2026 US footwear,Roughly flat,direction,United States,All footwear,"Circana Future of Footwear report, as quoted in its post",2026,"Circana, H1 2026",C,n/a,https://www.circana.com/post/performance-shoe-sales-pick-up-the-pace-amid-selective-us-consumer-spending-in-the-footwear-market,Price gains offset lower unit demand.
Consumers delaying purchases or choosing lower-priced alternatives,Nearly half,share of consumers,United States,All footwear,Circana post; no exact figure or question wording given,2026,"Circana, H1 2026",C,n/a,https://www.circana.com/post/performance-shoe-sales-pick-up-the-pace-amid-selective-us-consumer-spending-in-the-footwear-market,
"Footwear consumer price index, August 2026",151.979,index (1982-84 = 100),United States,All footwear,"BLS CPI footwear, not seasonally adjusted",Aug 2026,BLS CPI,B,"FRED series CUUR0000SEAE (updated Sept 11, 2026)",https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUUR0000SEAE,August 2025: 146.675.
"Footwear consumer price index, change from a year earlier",3.6,percent,United States,All footwear,151.979 against 146.675,Aug 2026,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-method,"UrbanStyle calculation. This is all footwear, not running shoes."
HOKA net sales,2.59,billion US dollars,Global,HOKA brand,"Deckers Brands, as reported by World Footwear","Year to Mar 31, 2026",World Footwear on Deckers,D,n/a,https://www.worldfootwear.com/news/strong-full-year-2026-for-deckers/11528.html,"Whole brand, not only running."
HOKA net sales growth,15.9,percent,Global,HOKA brand,"Deckers Brands, as reported by World Footwear","Year to Mar 31, 2026",World Footwear on Deckers,D,n/a,https://www.worldfootwear.com/news/strong-full-year-2026-for-deckers/11528.html,Deckers expects low double-digit growth in fiscal 2027.
On net sales,"3,014.0",million Swiss francs,Global,On brand,On Holding company results,2025,"On Holding, full year 2025",C,n/a,https://press.on-running.com/on-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results-and-the-filing-of-its-annual-report-on-form-20-f-for-2025,Whole brand.
"On net sales growth, reported",30.0,percent,Global,On brand,"On Holding company results, Swiss francs",2025,"On Holding, full year 2025",C,n/a,https://press.on-running.com/on-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results-and-the-filing-of-its-annual-report-on-form-20-f-for-2025,35.6% in constant currency.
On shoe sales,"2,804.4",million Swiss francs,Global,On brand,On Holding company results,2025,"On Holding, full year 2025",C,n/a,https://press.on-running.com/on-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results-and-the-filing-of-its-annual-report-on-form-20-f-for-2025,
Shoes as a share of On net sales,93,percent,Global,On brand,"2,804.4 divided by 3,014.0",2025,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-method,UrbanStyle calculation.
On expected growth in 2026,at least 23,"percent, constant currency",Global,On brand,On Holding outlook,2026,"On Holding, full year 2025",C,n/a,https://press.on-running.com/on-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results-and-the-filing-of-its-annual-report-on-form-20-f-for-2025,"A forecast by the company, not a result."
Brooks revenue growth,16,percent,Global,Brooks brand,Brooks press release,2025,"Brooks press release, 2025",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260205023502/en/Brooks-Running-Delivers-Record-Breaking-Global-Growth-in-2025,"North America 13%, EMEA 22%, Asia Pacific and Latin America 66%. No dollar figure given."
ASICS net sales,810.9,billion yen,Global,ASICS group,ASICS results as reported by World Footwear,2025,World Footwear on ASICS,D,n/a,https://www.worldfootwear.com/news/asics-reports-strong-full-year-2025-results/11279.html,"Whole group, not only running."
ASICS net sales growth,19.5,percent,Global,ASICS group,ASICS results as reported by World Footwear,2025,World Footwear on ASICS,D,n/a,https://www.worldfootwear.com/news/asics-reports-strong-full-year-2025-results/11279.html,ASICS targets 950 billion yen for 2026.
"Running injuries per 1,000 hours, novice runners",17.8,"injuries per 1,000 hours",Mixed,Novice runners,"Pooled estimate from five studies, 95% CI 16.7 to 19.1",Review 2015,"Videbaek et al., 2015",A,DOI 10.1007/s40279-015-0333-8,https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-015-0333-8,Injury definitions varied between studies.
"Running injuries per 1,000 hours, recreational runners",7.7,"injuries per 1,000 hours",Mixed,Recreational runners,"Pooled estimate from five studies, 95% CI 6.9 to 8.7",Review 2015,"Videbaek et al., 2015",A,DOI 10.1007/s40279-015-0333-8,https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-015-0333-8,Injury definitions varied between studies.
"Running injuries per 1,000 hours, ultra-marathon runners",7.2,"injuries per 1,000 hours",Mixed,Ultra-marathon runners,"Single study, no confidence interval",Review 2015,"Videbaek et al., 2015",A,DOI 10.1007/s40279-015-0333-8,https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-015-0333-8,One study only.
Novice injury rate against recreational injury rate,2.3,times,Mixed,Novice vs recreational runners,17.8 divided by 7.7,Review 2015,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-method,UrbanStyle calculation.
"Illustration: injuries over 150 hours of running, recreational runners",1.2,injuries,Mixed,Recreational runners,"7.7 per 1,000 hours multiplied by 150 hours (about 3 hours a week for 50 weeks)",Illustration,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-method,"UrbanStyle arithmetic. It assumes injury risk is steady per hour, which is a simplification."
"Illustration: injuries over 150 hours of running, novice runners",2.7,injuries,Mixed,Novice runners,"17.8 per 1,000 hours multiplied by 150 hours (about 3 hours a week for 50 weeks)",Illustration,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-method,"UrbanStyle arithmetic. It assumes injury risk is steady per hour, which is a simplification."
Trials and participants in the Cochrane review of running shoes,"12 trials, 11,240 participants",trials and people,Mixed,Adult runners,Cochrane systematic review,2022,"Relph et al., Cochrane 2022",A,DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD013368.pub2,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35993829/,No trial compared running shoes with non-running shoes.
Injury risk ratio: neutral or cushioned vs minimalist shoes,0.77 (95% CI 0.59 to 1.01),risk or rate ratio,Mixed,"5 trials, 766 participants",Cochrane review; certainty of evidence: low,2022,"Relph et al., Cochrane 2022",A,DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD013368.pub2,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35993829/,"The interval includes 1.0, meaning no clear difference."
Injury risk ratio: soft vs hard midsole,0.82 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.10),risk or rate ratio,Mixed,"2 trials, 1,095 participants",Cochrane review; certainty of evidence: low,2022,"Relph et al., Cochrane 2022",A,DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD013368.pub2,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35993829/,"The interval includes 1.0, meaning no clear difference."
Injury risk ratio: shoes chosen by foot posture vs standard shoes,1.03 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.13),risk or rate ratio,Mixed,"3 trials, 7,203 participants",Cochrane review; certainty of evidence: moderate,2022,"Relph et al., Cochrane 2022",A,DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD013368.pub2,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35993829/,All three trials used military populations.
"Energy cost of running, prototype vs Nike Zoom Streak 6",4.16,percent lower,Laboratory,18 male high-caliber runners,"Averaged over 14, 16 and 18 km/h",2018 study,"Hoogkamer et al., 2018",A,DOI 10.1007/s40279-017-0811-2,https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5856879,Individual runners ranged from 1.59% to 6.26% lower.
"Energy cost of running, prototype vs adidas Adios BOOST 2",4.01,percent lower,Laboratory,18 male high-caliber runners,"Averaged over 14, 16 and 18 km/h",2018 study,"Hoogkamer et al., 2018",A,DOI 10.1007/s40279-017-0811-2,https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5856879,Individual runners ranged from 1.97% to 6.08% lower.
"Typical life of performance running shoes, miles",300 to 500,miles,Global,Performance running shoes,Brooks guidance; no test data shown,2026,Brooks support page,C,n/a,https://support.brooksrunning.com/hc/en-us/articles/10043139042843-When-is-it-time-to-replace-my-shoes,Manufacturer guidance.
"Typical life of performance running shoes, months",4 to 6,months of regular use,Global,Performance running shoes,Brooks guidance; no test data shown,2026,Brooks support page,C,n/a,https://support.brooksrunning.com/hc/en-us/articles/10043139042843-When-is-it-time-to-replace-my-shoes,Manufacturer guidance.
Weeks to run 300 to 500 miles at 20 miles a week,15 to 25,weeks,Global,Performance running shoes,300 divided by 20 and 500 divided by 20,Illustration,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-method,UrbanStyle arithmetic. It matches Brooks's 4 to 6 months of regular use at roughly that mileage.
Published global running shoe market size figures,2.9 to about 53,billion US dollars,Global,Global running shoe market,"Forecasts quoted on two roundup pages; different years and definitions, no public methods",2024 to 2032,Competing roundups,D,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/running-shoe-statistics/#usf-why,They cannot be reconciled from what the pages show.