Growing popularity of the Cheetah Run 5k in recent years...

It's always interesting to look at the numbers taking part in local races and seeing if they show any trends. The one question is if we're near the peak of a running boom or if there are still signs of growth?

The Cheetah Run in Fota Wildlife Park is different from other 5k races in that it takes place in a unique location. Because of the narrow paths in the park, the numbers are limited to about 900 every year.

The chart above shows how long it takes for the 900 entries to sell out every year. In 2022 and 2023, it took over a month to sell out. Contrast that to 2025 when it took just one day.

If the above numbers are anything to go by then it suggests that we are still in a growth phase.