Running Industry Alliance

Running Industry Alliance (RIA) is a membership organisation that brings together all sectors of the running industry (B2B) across the UK and Ireland. Members include brands, retailers, events, communities, charities, services, suppliers, distributors, buying groups, media, and governing bodies. By uniting the industry through one collaborative network, RIA connects people, creates opportunities, shares knowledge, and drives growth. Our purpose is to strengthen and support the running industry so it can thrive, innovate, and continue inspiring more people to run. Through collective membership, RIA exists to galvanise, align, elevate, inform, educate, collaborate, and advance both the sport and business of running.

Get in touch to discuss your business being involved with RIA and supporting the industry together, head to the membership tab to contact RIA today

What does RIA do?
RIA brings together all sectors of the running industry into a connected, ongoing conversation — helping to galvanise, align, energise, elevate, inform, educate, collaborate, and advance the industry while creating an amplified voice for its members. At its core, RIA drives focus and purpose through a thriving community and ecosystem for everyone involved.

Members benefit from purpose-built support, promotional opportunities, and industry connectivity, alongside flagship events: The Running Conference (TRC) each December and The Spring Gathering (TSG) each April — dedicated spaces for the industry to connect, learn, and do business together. Read more about member benefits here. 

RIA also runs additional member meetups throughout the year, both online and in person, and is expanding opportunities through member-led events, plus European and global partnerships.

“We exist to collectively assist our members to drive the Running Industry forward and improve both the sport and business of running”

Get in touch to discuss your business being involved with RIA and supporting the industry together, head to the membership tab to contact RIA today.

Who is RIA built for?

Running Industry Alliance (RIA) is built for every part of the running industry business collective — across all sizes, scales, and stages of growth. Membership spans 10 defined verticals:

• Brands

• Retailers

• Buying Groups & Distributors

• Events

• Charities

• Communities

• Media

• NGBs & NGOs

• Services

• Suppliers

As an independent, member-based (trade / B2B) organisation, RIA provides a safe and collaborative business space where members can connect, share opportunities, and work together for the benefit of the whole industry.

RIA membership reflects the diversity of the running industry across the UK & Ireland, with strong European and global connections. Many international members join to engage with the UK & Ireland market, and vice versa. Whether you’re an established business, a new entrant, or a service provider connected to running — RIA has been built for you.

Through its ecosystem, RIA:

• Creates connectivity and opens opportunities that may have seemed out of reach or too time-consuming.

• Amplifies member voices and shares industry opportunities within a supportive, collaborative climate.

• Drives important conversations — from future vision to best practice — and facilitates the “difficult conversations” that move the industry forward.

• Acts as a bridge across sectors and geographies, uniting parallel industries where running is the common thread.

• Provides structure and support through an experienced industry team, helping members cut through noise, save time, and focus on growth.

RIA is B2B, built for the businesses that power running. Its members are a mix of B2C and B2B organisations who collectively share a simple goal: to strengthen, support, and grow the running industry.

Get in touch to discuss your business being involved with RIA and supporting the industry together, head to the membership tab to contact RIA today

RIA Focus Areas

Through ongoing feedback from RIA Members and discussions at The Running Conference, a number of focus areas have been defined to guide industry-wide work from 2024–2028. These sit across the four pillars of RIA: Membership, Events, Awards, and Data.

Top-line focus areas for Running Industry Alliance include:

• The Marketplace – strengthening business opportunities, innovation, and commercial growth.

• Research, Data & Insights – driving knowledge-led decisions through collective intelligence.

• Health & Wellbeing – supporting the positive impact of running on individuals, communities, and society.

• Sustainability – championing environmental and social responsibility across the industry.

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) – ensuring the running industry is open, accessible, and representative for all.

• Future – anticipating trends, embracing innovation, and preparing the industry for what’s next.

By anchoring these focus areas to our four pillars, RIA continues to create tangible impact: connecting and supporting members, hosting industry-leading events, celebrating excellence, and building stronger insight and knowledge for the collective.

For further details or to get involved please contact RIA Membership by email. 

RIA Member Benefits

Click HERE for the full details.

Get in touch to discuss your business being involved with RIA and supporting the industry together, head to the membership tab to contact RIA today

Joining RIA Can Help You, your Business and / or Brand to:

• Raise awareness of your brand or business through RIA channels (news, LinkedIn, podcast, socials and more)
• Amplification of your news and happenings through RIA Channels
• Help you to connect into the industry with faster integration or widen and grow your existing network
• Meet people in the industry that you may never meet or have the opportunity to meet
• Quick access to the latest industry and fellow member news
• Awareness of business opportunities, partnership and sponsorship options within the network and beyond
• Access to RIA Member events and curated industry events that are useful and have purpose for your brand / business
• Special rates to access partner events, services, suppliers and fellow relevant conferences in the UK and Globally – often with a group of fellow RIA Members and Team attending
• Enable you to access the network and become part of the eco-system through annual membership and building meaningful partnerships
• Help you to create connections and potential longevity relationships in the industry through membership recognition

> Additional benefits are available at The Running Conference – Built for RIA Members, the Running Industry, the B2B must-attend annual event!
> Special 60% off ticket rates for Running Industry Awards for RIA x TIA Members
> New Dual Multisport Membership for Running Industry Alliance (RIA) x Triathlon Industry Alliance (TIA)

Get in touch to discuss your business being involved with RIA and supporting the industry together, head to the membership tab to contact RIA today

RIA Podcast

Running Industry Alliance Podcast, created with Supersonic, is a B2B audio series sharing the collective knowledge of RIA Members and industry experts.

Hosted by Matt with rotating co-hosts Becs, Tom, and Phil, episodes cover industry news, data-driven insights, peer support, and behind-the-scenes perspectives – all designed to help your business grow and stay industry connected.

Packed with RIA Member guest features, the podcast is a platform to share expertise and raise your profile. Members can apply to be featured in future episodes.

🎧 Listen on Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Deezer

Not a member yet? Head to the Membership tab to apply and get involved.

Click HERE to read the Running Industry Alliance (RIA) Safeguarding Policy for all Events, Conferences and Business Community Activities.

MEMBER B2B IN-PERSON EVENTS

Go to this page for the Calendar of Events. 

Any questions please contact the RIA Membership Team

The Running Conference (TRC)

The Running Conference presented by haku (TRC) is the flagship annual event for Running Industry Alliance (RIA), taking place 6th to 8th December 2026 at Loughborough University, UK. This will be the 5th annual members conference.

This must-attend B2B event brings the running industry together for three days of connection, collaboration, and future-facing conversation. Exclusively for RIA members, TRC provides a professional safe business space to network, share insights and do meaningful business.

The programme includes expert panels, roundtables, workshops, product launches, and interactive Pop-Up Discovery Spaces (PUDS). Members get first-look access to industry research, data, and insights to inform strategy and innovation.

TRC also features Track Stars 2026, early morning runs, product try-ons, and curated evening celebrations creating energetic opportunities to connect and showcase fellow members.

Each full RIA Membership includes one guaranteed TRC ticket, with additional tickets available to purchase for colleagues in your business.

Visit the dedicated website: www.therunningconference.com for full details.

Not a member yet? Apply today via our short Membership form.

The RIA Spring Gathering

The RIA Spring Gathering is our Spring flagship event, held annually at a unique location in London for RIA Members in April.

Open exclusively to RIA Members, The RIA Spring Gathering offers a valuable mid-year opportunity to network, share updates, meet in person and gain fresh insights in a relaxed whilst professional setting.

Not a member yet? Head to the RIA Membership page to apply today and join the conversation shaping the future of the running industry.