There is an invisible thread that connects those who run, those who produce running shoes, those who sell them, and those who tell this world. Running Magazine is born and grows right at that point of intersection: listening to the industry and, at the same time, offering insights and tools to build strong and meaningful connections among all the players in the supply chain. In this first issue of the year, we do it from the very first pages, presenting the results of SportOnSocial Global Running Culture 2025, the report by Redtorch that analyzes and captures emerging behaviors and global trends in running. Understanding how running evolves and what fuels today’s interest and market demand is essential to help brands and specialized stores communicate with the millions of people who wear running shoes every day and go running, focusing on Zone 2 workouts and “conversational pace” runs. The mentality focused solely on performance and personal bests that has shaped and guided the sector for years is giving way to a more inclusive approach: group running is growing and shared practice is increasing, often even within families during the weekend. At the same time, more and more young people choose to start running: the 20-29 age group is now the fastest growing in many city marathons and is often the second largest overall. This scenario opens up new opportunities for brands and industry operators to develop new products, experiences, and storytelling capable of promoting intergenerational participation. Further food for thought for insiders can be found on page 16, with the first 10 pages dedicated to the highly anticipated “Carica dei 101,” the exclusive investigation by Running Magazine and other publications in our editorial group that no longer needs introductions. Ten pages in this issue that reveal the good mood of the retail channel, a fundamental link in the distribution chain to which we have always given a voice. In 2025, thirty out of forty interviewees declared themselves satisfied, a sign that running is experiencing a phase of strong vitality, to be embraced with all the tools at our disposal, including social media, which is now the place where running culture takes shape and spreads. Take the right time to read the “Carica dei 101” and above all, do not “skip” the final messages addressed to the industry, which from May 14 to 19 will meet in Riva del Garda for the first European Outdoor & Running Week. A week that will include a series of events dedicated to the sector, including our trade show which this year – as you all know by now – combines the Outdoor event and the ORBDAYS into a single great moment of business and networking. By concentrating all the initiatives into seven thematic days, together with the European Outdoor Group (EOG), we respond to a clear and precise request from the industry: fewer appointments on the calendar and more effective events, capable of optimizing time, costs, and resources. Because our role is precisely this: to listen to the sector and continue to offer a space where the industry can recognize itself and engage. See you in Riva, this year there are no excuses!
Manuela Barbieri manuela.barbieri@mag-net.it
