‘Running Trends Of 2023’

Jessy Carveth and Michael Doyle collecting some trends for Marathon Handbook:

As we close out 2023, it’s a good time to reflect on the dominant trends, innovations and bizarre fads that overtook the running world in the past 12 months.

A couple things that stand out to me (and are somewhat trail running related):

On Trail Running:

The trail running boom was marked by a growing number of events, both competitive races and recreational runs, set against the backdrop of scenic landscapes that offered a stark departure from traditional road races. 

…

In the last 10 years, trail running has grown by 231 percent.

On Inclusion And Accessibility At Ultras:

The past 12 months marked a pivotal phase for the running world as the sport embraced a more accessible and diverse ethos. 

A standout example of this trend was the introduction of inclusion policies at renowned events like the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). UTMB’s groundbreaking inclusion policy aimed to welcome a broader spectrum of athletes. 

And finally, highlighting one of the worst trends of 2023: Strava DMs.

How many development hours were poured into this feature that seemingly no one likes, and no one uses? Another own goal by Strava?