From 31st January to 1st February, the UK running community descended on the NEC in Birmingham for this year’s National Running Show and what an exciting show weekend it was.
In recent years, running has surged in popularity, and this year’s show was a clear reflection of that. The halls were packed with runners of all levels, from couch to 5K beginners to seasoned marathoners and everyone in between. The event delivered exactly what it promised: inspiration and innovation.
The show floor was action-packed. Well-attended talks from industry experts drew crowds throughout the weekend, while brands pulled out all the stops to create immersive, hands-on experiences. There were product testing stations, treadmills, recovery zones and reaction-based games – all designed to keep visitors engaged.
Commercial shows like this are always lively. The atmosphere is fast paced, with visitors moving from stand to stand, eager to discover something new. But that energy comes with a challenge. In a sea of colour, noise and competition, it’s easy for brands to get lost. If you’re not doing something different or possibly unexpected, you can easily get lost in the crowd. If ever there was a show to think outside of the box to get visitors engaged, it’s The National Running Show.
That’s exactly the mindset our experienced design consultants adopted when creating the exhibition stands for two of our clients exhibiting this year, Enertor and REP Fitness.
Enertor
Enertor brought serious energy to the show floor. With a large 10m x 8m space open on all four sides, the brief was to create a custom-built stand that reflected their strong, electric branding while remaining highly functional.
The result was a vibrant green and black structure rising to nearly four metres high – impossible to miss from across the hall. Illuminated showcases, colourful edge-lit acrylic displays and bespoke acrylic product boxes elevated their premium running insoles and recovery sliders, drawing attention from every direction.
But visibility was only part of the strategy. The stand was designed to drive engagement. Visitors could spin a gamified prize wheel, sit down to try on products, or test the insoles out on a treadmill. The open design welcomed attendees from every angle, encouraging natural flow and interaction.
The impact spoke for itself. Enertor’s stand was consistently busy, with queues forming around the space. By the end of the show, they had completely sold out of the stock they brought with them, a testament to the power of a well-executed exhibition stand.
REP Fitness
Also making waves was REP Fitness, the Colorado-based strength equipment brand exhibiting at one of their first UK shows since launching here. Their goal was clear: make a statement.
As a commercial show focused on consumers, REP wanted to showcase their equipment in context, not just simply products on display, but as part of a lifestyle. Instead of relying solely on bold branding, we created a set-based stand design featuring two photo-realistic at-home gym environments.
On several occasions, we saw people surprised to discover the backdrops weren’t real rooms. The high-impact graphics transported attendees into aspirational home gym settings, allowing them to visualise their own future training spaces.
This approach is still relatively unique in exhibition stand design. Many brands understandably stick closely to their established brand colours and graphics. REP’s decision to visualise their brand messaging in a completely different way, through immersive environments, set them apart. It created intrigue and reinforced their identity as one of the top suppliers of elite strength equipment for everybody.
Ready to Stand Out?
Seeing both stands in action, from initial concept and client brief through to a buzzing, high-energy show floor, was incredibly interesting. The hard work put in during the design and build stages truly paid off.
The National Running Show 2026 proved once again that in a busy commercial exhibition environment, standing out is everything. Height, lighting, interaction, immersive graphics, when all used strategically, can transform a space into the ultimate experience.
If you’re feeling inspired and want your brand to stand out just as boldly at your next exhibition, our talented team at Quadrant2Design would love to help. Email design@quadrant2design.com or call 01202723 500 for an obligation free design proposal.
