The Running Event Expo 2012 Comes to Austin
OutdoorHub 12.06.11
This year, The Running Event Expo, the six-year-old brainchild of Formula 4 Media scheduled for Dec. 8 to 10, 2011 at the Austin Convention Center, will provide a first look at the footwear Olympians will wear for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
Approximately 1,500 retailers and manufacturers will gather in Austin to see the latest in footwear, apparel and accessories for 2012 and beyond from the likes of adidas, ASICS, Brooks, Gore-Tex, Merrell, New Balance, Nike, Pearl Izumi, Puma, Reebok, and Saucony, to name a few.
The running specialty market experienced another record year of growth in 2010 as U.S. marathons registered an estimated 507,000 finishers, an 8.6% increase from 2009 and the second largest increase in the past 25 years, according to Running USA. Market research company Leisure Trends Group (www.leisuretrends.com) reports sales of running apparel increased 15.4 percent for the 12 months ending July 2011, versus the same period one year earlier.
Media opportunities: Speak to leaders in running gear and apparel; see the latest gadgets and gizmos helping runners stay on track; “test drive” new footwear on an indoor test track; learn how reflective material and lights are making nighttime running safer; see targeted compression performance apparel that helps runners warm-up, then recover faster afterwards; see high tech socks (yes, socks).
WHO: Austin becomes the center of the $850 million running business; Expo features the next generation of running gear, shoes and apparel. (www.therunningevent.com)
WHEN: December 8 to 10, 2011 (closed to public, media welcome). Open 3 p.m. Thurs., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday. Early morning access available through prior arrangement.
WHAT: A four-day conference and expo organized by Formula 4 Media, Great Neck, N.Y. (www.formula4media.com) (www.therunningevent.com)
WHERE: Austin Convention Center
