25–26 Jan 2025 274 days to go! #RunShow

Four more speakers announced for The National Running Show Birmingham 2020

Jordan Wylie

Jordan Wylie

The organisers of The National Running Show Birmingham have announced four more speakers for the event on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 2020 at Birmingham’s NEC.

Chris Nicholson, Alex Cook, Jordan Wylie and Allie Bailey are some of the latest names to join the first-class speaker programme at the award-winning show and they will be delighting and inspiring the audience over the course of the two days with their running stories, wisdom and tips.

Chris Nicholson The National Running ShowIn his first appearance at The National Running Show, adventurer Chris Nicholson will be sharing with the audience how a spinal cord injury that left him in a wheelchair has opened up doors and led him to push the boundaries of what is possible. Having had a promising rugby career cut short, Chris managed to re-discover his motivation by getting outside on the roads and trails. He now organises and participates in events and has achieved the fastest climb up Mount Snowdon with a team assisting him. He also completed the Virgin Money London Marathon in 2019. Chris is passionate about promoting inclusivity and helping others to believe that no matter their injury, they are still able to do so much. He is a firm believer and living proof that people can achieve great things by being positive and not letting anything hold them back.

Alex Cook The National Running ShowSports dietitian and endurance nutrition expert Alex Cook returns to The National Running Show to translate science into reality for all runners looking to maximise their performance. Alex is a UKA athletics coach and has been a competitive runner for over 20 years. With over 13 years’ experience in a variety of settings including the NHS and British Army, she now runs her own performance nutrition consultancy. Her clients range from amateur to elite athletes, and she supports both junior and senior athletes at county and international level. As a speaker at the show, Alex will be offering a valuable insight into how runners can meet their performance needs for their sport whilst ensuring they are performing in all aspects of life.

Jordan Wylie The National Running ShowFormer soldier Jordan Wylie is an extreme adventurer and bestselling author who is also one of the stars of Channel 4’s Hunted and Celebrity Hunted. Jordan has run through the most dangerous countries of the world, raising hundreds of thousands for charity, and this year he will attempt to be the first person on record to row the most dangerous stretch of water on the planet, the Bab El Mandeb Straits. As an epileptic who has been diagnosed with severe depression and chronic anxiety, Jordan knows all too well the benefits of getting outside and running for mental health. When he gets up on stage at The National Running Show in the new year, Jordan will be thrilling the audience with his variety of running endeavours inspiring others to be fearless in pursuit of their dreams.

Allie Bailey The National Running ShowSince taking up running seven years ago, Allie Bailey has run almost 100 marathons and ultras all over the world. Allie is passionate about promoting the benefits of running as therapy in the spheres of mental health and confidence building, and is a die-hard champion for female participation in the sport. She has recently founded Ultra Awesome, an online community that aims to inspire and support more people to take the step to ultra distance and adventure running. Describing herself as an ‘ordinary person with infinite possibilities’, she loves to talk about her experiences and is known for her raw honesty and captivating stories.

These four latest speakers join an impressive line-up of running heroes at The National Running Show Birmingham 2020. Confirmed speakers include Sally Gunnell, Linford Christie, Dean Karnazes, Kriss Akabusi, Jo Pavey, Steve Cram, Susannah Gill, Nikki Love, Lazarus Lake, Camille Herron, Nicky Spinks, Anna McNuff and Mimi Anderson.

The National Running Show is the UK’s biggest independent running show, offering runners the unique opportunity to try out and purchase the latest products and limited editions from big, well-known brands through to smaller brands not found anywhere else. The show expects more than 55,000 visitor ticket registrations for 2020, all of whom will be able to discover the latest kit, tech, nutrition and races from over 250 exhibitors, learn from inspiring speakers and improve their running technique thanks to the hands-on feature areas.

Mike Seaman, CEO of Raccoon Events, commented: “We are proud to welcome more fantastic speakers to The National Running Show Birmingham 2020. These latest names – Chris, Alex, Jordan and Allie – contribute to a superb speaker line-up over the weekend and we are incredibly excited to hear their stories and take inspiration from their extraordinary feats. The speaker programme has always been a huge draw at The National Running Show and this year promises to be the strongest line-up yet. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to the NEC in January!”

The third edition of The National Running Show takes place at Birmingham’s NEC on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 2020. Tickets cost £10 and are valid for both days. Go to nationalrunningshow.reg.buzz to purchase your ticket.

The National Running Show B2B Networking Dinner takes place at 7pm on Saturday 25th January. Go to nationalrunningdinner.com for information and tickets.

The National Running London takes place on 13th-14th June 2020. Tickets are currently free and are available at nationalrunningshowlondon.reg.buzz.