Two UK Trail Run Organisers Announce Closure

In the past month, two UK-based trail run organisers have announced they are to close due to financial difficulties. 

Keep Running Rural, who organised runs in Dorset and Wiltshire, explained on their website that they’ve had a hard time since the pandemic. “As a team, we’ve all put our heart and soul into KRR to make it work. But the complications, difficulties and cost of being a race organiser in today’s climate is exhausting, and has an impact on our mental health and wellbeing. Things have never bounced back to where they were [before the pandemic].”  

Trail Events Co, who put on races all around Britain, including Snowdon, Lulworth Cove and the Lake District, have also folded because of financial difficulties – they are seeking interested parties to consider taking over the events or the company itself. 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BRITISH TRAIL RUNNING?

We hear stories of a boom in running around the UK, and while it’s exciting to know that more people are interested in running, and especially trail running, it’s also sad to know that it’s difficult for all companies to succeed – especially those who have been around for a long time, and who offer well-regarded races in beautiful places. 

It’s a double-edged sword. More people are taking part in trail races and there are increasing numbers of race organisers and races, but that means increased competition at a time when cost of living is going up. That leads to runners becoming more selective, and often choosing larger race organisers or focusing on bigger goal races instead of taking part in smaller runs.  

With a lot of runners coming to the trails after having experience with road races, they also bring increased expectations of what a trail race will be like. Runners want accurate timing, good medals, perhaps a t-shirt or other merch, aid stations, good facilities, lots of toilets – and all of that is expensive for race organisers to put together. If there aren’t enough runners on the start line, then the businesses become too stretched. 

It’s a difficult story to report on. We hate to see race organisers have to close their businesses, while at the same time we want to celebrate all the great things about running, and all the great races that you can sign up to each week all around the UK. Putting on events is difficult and expensive, so if you’re looking for a trail race, then check out some of the smaller race organisers as well as the bigger companies, and support your local races if you can.

Image from Trail Events Co.