It seems everything is more expensive these days. Marketplace uncertainty and recent tariffs on goods imported from China and other countries are beginning to ripple through just about every corner of life… including running. While the full impact remains uncertain; local runners, retailers, and race organizers in Charlotte are already considering how these changes might affect the sport. From race fees to running shoes, the potential cost increases could influence just about every part of the running economy.
Retailers Ready for Potential Price Hikes
Donny Forsyth, co-owner of Charlotte Running Company, has been keeping a close eye on how tariffs might affect business. So far, manufacturers have not raised prices on running gear and apparel for 2025. However, Forsyth acknowledges that this stability might not last beyond 2026. “Right now, it’s a holding pattern,” he said. Many brands appear willing to absorb costs temporarily or are locked into existing pricing agreements. And, he reminded, any impacts at the retail level really shouldn’t land until fall of this year or spring of 2026.
Still, uncertainty looms. Forsyth told us some brands are exploring alternatives like Costa Rica for production, which could help mitigate the highest tariff-related risks in the long run. And at least one manufacturer suggested retailers stock up on inventory now to avoid potential price hikes later—a move he described as impractical for most businesses. “We’re not going to warehouse a bunch of products just in case prices change,” he said.
We asked our friends and partners over at Recover Brands how the instability and fluctuations in the marketplace affect what they do — and their business. They held off on making a formal statement as things are still changing by the day and hour, but did remind us that utilizing manufacturing halfway across the globe has never been a part of their operation. Their “HyperLocal” approach means keeping their supply chain as close to home as possible while drastically reducing their environmental impact. Naturally, their Made in the USA collections are not affected by tariffs whatsoever and they tell us they’re currently positioned to absorb the 10% tariff that on their Central American manufacturing.
Race Organizers Feel the Pinch
Since the pandemic, the costs associated with producing events have continued to creep up; from police protection and security, to food and beverage, to equipment rental and expo space. For race organizers like Tim Rhodes of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, tariffs could further increase costs for items like medals and other race swag. However, Rhodes is committed to shielding participants from these expenses—at least for now. “The strategy is to absorb any of that,” he said. Even so, he acknowledges that rising costs might force a second look come 2026.
Justin Ratike is co-owner of Sisu Events. They produce the Craft Beer Half Marathon, Running Scared, and other local themed events. He says it’s harder and harder for races to turn a profit – and to make additional donations to any nonprofit or charitable partners – as the cost of doing business continues to go up and diminishing sponsorship dollars. “It’s hard to raise prices,” he said, “but at some point you know you’re going to have to take a look at it.”
That’s definitely a concern for some runners, like Eric Smith who worries higher entry fees could put smaller races at risk. “Major events will likely manage just fine,” he said, “but smaller and mid-sized races might struggle to break even.
Will Charlotte Runners Change?
Local runners we talked with have mixed feelings about how tariffs may impact their running habits. One runner admitted they’d stocked up on a few extra pairs of shoes, just in case, while others we talked to weren’t ready to act on the constantly-changing news just yet.
Erin Vison said she’s taking a cautious approach. “I’m not planning to alter anything as far as race gear or races,” she said. Instead, she plans to track costs year over year to assess any significant changes. For now, she hasn’t noticed a major impact but remains in “wait-and-see” mode.
“I would prefer to live with running memories than a few extra bucks in my pocket,” Tarik Haniff told us. He said he’s focused on prioritizing experiences over savings. While he’s open to skipping some out-of-state races if costs rise significantly, he doesn’t plan to cut back on gear or nutrition. Comparing running expenses to his previous hobby of golf, Haniff noted that running remains relatively affordable.
Philip Sanford is president of the Charlotte Running Club. He said he’ll be keeping an eye on the trends and adjust his running budget accordingly. “The one area that concerns me a lot,” he said, “is new runners and runners with competing financial priorities.” If running gets too expensive, he worries it may create a barrier of entry that’s too tall for new or would-be runners.
So… Will Tariffs Make Running More Expensive?
While tariffs haven’t yet caused seismic shifts in the Charlotte running economy, their potential impact is casting a bit of a shadow on the booming local running scene. Runners may face higher costs for shoes and gear if manufacturers pass along price increases, but retailers and race organizers say they’ll try to absorb additional expenses – for now, anyway. For most, “wait-and-see” will be the new normal.
