Abstrakt:
In the years 2011–2012, the number of participants in the fifty most popular
running races in mountain areas in Poland was about seven thousand. The
main objective of this article was to determine how companies can use marketing
through sport in mountain running races. An online survey was employed to
collect data. More than two hundred runners completed the survey and sent
it back. Analysis of the data found the characteristics and elements which are
associated with running races in the mountain area and also identified preferences
in this sport. The results showed that mountain running races are associated
with difficulties to overcome, rich variety of landscape and numerous elevations.
For instance, such aspects may be used by the insurance industry. It is important
to create marketing strategies based on the opinions of participants in sporting
events, which allows companies to meet the mountain runners’ expectations.
Key words: running race, marketing through sport, product, advertising, research