Have you ever wondered how your local running specialty store finds the latest “must have” item? Whether it’s cushioned socks, sunglasses, or a tech toy, the smart retailers start looking at The Running Event, a trade show and conference for specialty running retailers that includes sessions on how to better help customers reach their goals – and a trade show floor packed with new and soon-to-be-released products for runners.
At 2018’s The Running Event, all the usual suspects – Brooks, Saucony, and Asics, to name the big three in shoes – set up booths. But so did newer entrants into
According to one store owner, the big items she couldn’t keep in stock this past year were the incredibly inexpensive but useful
This year, it was harder to tell which items would sell out like hotcakes. For less expensive items, it could very well be the PRO Hair Tie, a customizable hair tie that pulls apart to come out of your hair, protecting your locks. For the pricier items, it could be any one of the recovery massage tools, like the Theragun or Hyperice Hypervolt.
Surprisingly, when I stopped at the Garmin booth, I learned that Garmin hasn’t released a new watch model in two years. I’m keeping my eyes open for new releases, because the rep assured me something is in the works.
Brooks Streamlines Its Shoes
Of note this year, Brooks Running displayed not only shoes but its own line of sports bras, after selling Moving Comfort for several years. The Brooks shoes themselves have been streamlined. The technology is still there, but as one representative put it, the appearance has now caught up with the technology. The result is a more modern, sleeker-looking shoe that ideally delivers the same performance as the bulkier, brighter shoes of yore. Speedy retailers snagged Spring 2019 models of Brooks Glycerins and Brooks Transcends.
Running Nutrition Is Always a Concern
One big category for runners is nutrition. If you’re fairly new to distance running, you’ve likely heard of GU. At The Running Event, GU offered up samples of little-known flavors like Chai Latte.
But there were other
All the Running Periphery
I call all the running accessories out there “periphery” items. They’re important, but newer runners don’t think of them until they’ve been to a specialty retailer or begun training for longer distances. The Running Event offered plenty of these items for retailers to examine. For example, I counted at least four different body lubrication sticks: Run Guard, SportShield (I took home a sample of the women’s lubricant, which hopefully will work better than my alternative), Chamois Butt’r, and the ubiquitous Body Glide.
Other items include athletic detergent to get out the persistent funk (Rockin Green Active and Defunkify were two); reflective strips; socks from Injinji, Balega, Thorlo, and Swiftwick; and my personal favorite (and running companion), pepper spray from Sabre. There was ample opportunity to test recovery tools like a roller massager from ProTec Athletics and TP Therapy foam rollers.
I mean, anything you could think of related to running was there. What’s the next big thing? I don’t know. What I do know is that I will be posting reviews of some of the amazing products that may be available at your local running store, so stay tuned!
The Brooks running shoe wall 
Theragun, one of the tools for recovery 
Don’t forget reading material! 
Goodr’s got a sense of humor 
Beet oatmeal – it’s actually delicious! 
The chocolate hazelnut bars are the best
I was there , too! It was my first time and it was overwhelming — in a good way!! Fun to see what’s coming!
That sounds like a fun event! It’s so neat to see what new items brands will come up with!