The National Running Show has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Consumer Show Launch’ category at the AEO Excellence Awards 2018, taking place on 15th June in London, UK. The AEO Excellence Awards aim to represent the very best that the events industry has to offer whilst showcasing the achievements within that industry. The 25th anniversary of the awards event will be celebrated at Grosvenor House on London’s Park Lane this June.
Organised by Raccoon Events, The National Running Show launched in January 2018 – positioned as the UK’s first non-race affiliated event solely for runners.
The inaugural show at Birmingham’s NEC gathered together thousands of runners alongside a line-up of sports brands, retailers, race organisers, nutrition experts, communities and expert speakers. With interactive sponsor areas, free advice, one-to-one coaching and a packed speaker programme, The National Running Show staked a claim as a must-attend event for runners of all abilities.
The National Running Show 2019 launched in mid-April and ticket registrations reportecly reached 8,500 in the first 24 hours and 17,500 in two weeks. A release from the show noted that ‘These impressive figures are testament to the success of the 2018 event and the significant impact of the show on the UK’s running community.’
The show organisers have already confirmed that the 2019 event will welcome big names in running, include many more interactive elements and cover a greater floor space. Many exhibitors from the 2018 event reportedly ‘signed up for the second year before the first show was even over, such was the success of the opening weekend.’
Four shows have reached the shortlist of the Best Consumer Show Launch category at the AEO Excellence Awards and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in June.
The National Running Show was also shortlisted at the Exhibition News Awards in March of this year.
Mike Seaman, Director of Raccoon Events, said “We are thrilled to be shortlisted in the Best Consumer Show Launch category at the AEO Excellence Awards 2018. The awards really celebrate the great and the good of the events industry and it is a privilege to be listed alongside a number of other excellent new exhibitions.
“When we launched The National Running Show we were very clear that we wanted to bring the running community together under one roof for a fantastic celebration of running, and I am proud that this is what we achieved. To be recognised by the AEO Excellence Awards is a huge credit to everyone who worked so hard to make the show the success it was.”
The National Running Show 2019 takes place at Birmingham’s NEC on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th January, 2019. Tickets are on sale on the website and cost £10 per person for the weekend.
