Abstract
By focusing on risk management of trail running events, this study aimed to (a) identify
event organizers' risk and risk countermeasures, and (b) examine these relationships between the
risk and risk countermeasures. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with six event
managers engaged in risk management for the trail running events. The analysis, performed using
the modified-grounded theory approach, yielded three risk categories (safety, natural environment,
and social risks) and four risk countermeasures (risk avoidance, reduction, transfer, and retention).
Notably, safety risk was found to be associated with risk avoidance, reduction, and transfer. By
contrast, natural environment and social risks were related to risk avoidance, reduction, and
retention. These results offer practical implications for the risk management of participation-based
sporting events including trail running events.
