The Running Event Recap
Every fall, the running industry comes together for three days of education, connection, and inspiration called The Running Event. The 2023 TRE did not disappoint.
Several members of the John’s Run/Walk Shop team were there, finding new ways we can better serve the Central Kentucky community through our stores and races.
Lots of brands were set up at the convention, allowing us to strengthen our relationship with vendors of the products you love. We also found exciting new products we’ll be bringing to the shops in 2024. Stay tuned!
JRWS staff celebrating being named a Top 100 Running Store of 2023.
(from left: Charlie, Riley, Reace, Kellen, Melody, Matt)
In addition to meeting with vendors, we also sought ways to further live out our mission of making Central Kentucky a cleaner, healthier, fairer place for everyone. We gained valuable insights from groups like the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) and the Queer Running Society. We also learned about more sustainable products and practices that we can bring to the events we put on through John’s Bluegrass Racing Company.
And what would a running conference be without, you know, actual running? TRE offered several opportunities for attendees to keep moving while supporting great causes. On Tuesday, Asics sponsored a cleanup run, providing participants with supplies for picking up litter along the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail. Since we’re always looking for ways to make a positive environmental impact on the Lexington area, we were more than happy to do our part to leave Austin better than we found it.
We also enjoyed a community run sponsored by Saucony and the Running Industry Diversity Coalition. The coolest part of that early morning run was going through the Trail of Lights. Check out the photo below. It was impossible not to be in the holiday spirit after that experience!
On TRE’s final day, we participated in the Indie 5K at Camp Mabry. Despite some drizzle, it was a fun way to get charged up for the conference’s home stretch.
We don’t know who submitted this review, but thank you!
One of the highlights of TRE was the closing ceremony, which honored the businesses voted as the Top 100 Best Running Stores in the United States. We at John’s Run/Walk Shop are so honored to be included on this list. Thank you to our fellow Kentuckians who took the time to send in nominations. And congratulations to our friends at the Palmetto Running Company in South Carolina on being named 2023’s Store of the Year!
Overall, The Running Event was again a worthwhile experience. Not only did we have a lot of fun exploring Austin, but we walked away with plenty of valuable ideas and information to implement into John’s Run/Walk Shop operations in the coming year. Thank you, Austin and TRE for bringing the running industry together to help stores like ours better serve their communities!
Runners going through a portion of Austin’s Trail of Lights. What’s with the bats? From late March through early fall, North America's largest urban bat population treats Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge as a bat cave. Every evening, thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from the bridge and fly over Lady Bird Lake.