Why British Athletics Is Dying (And What Needs to Change)

Описание: British athletics is in trouble — but not for the reasons you think.

Running has never been more popular in the UK. parkrun is booming. Social run clubs are everywhere. Strava is thriving. And yet traditional athletics clubs are struggling to recruit members, coaches, and young athletes.

So what’s gone wrong?

After receiving an email from England Athletics pointing to a video from Steve Cram outlining five “pillars of change”, I watched it — and what I saw perfectly summed up the deeper issue. Poor digital communication. Outdated structures. A culture that hasn’t moved with the times.

In this video I break down:

• Why traditional running clubs feel stuck in 1985
• Why parkrun has succeeded where clubs haven’t
• The shrinking competitive talent pipeline
• The cross-country distance equality debate
• What’s happening with Power of 10
• And what genuinely needs to change

This isn’t an attack on volunteers — many have given decades of service to the sport. But British athletics needs cultural reform, not just marketing tweaks.

If we don’t bridge the gap between recreational runners and competitive pathways, where does the next Keely Hodgkinson or Josh Kerr come from?

I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts.

Is your club thriving or struggling?
Does cross-country need equal distances?
What would make you join a traditional club?

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments.

If you enjoy this kind of discussion around grassroots running, parkrun, and the future of UK athletics, consider subscribing — and if you’d like to support Film My Run, you can become a channel member from just £3 per month.

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