April Fool’s Day might have brought some jokes, but the sincerity of run specialty shops across the country continues to shine. Run shops delivered their characteristic blend of community touchpoints and clever programming as spring overpowered winter’s traditional wrath.
Running Insight senior writer Danny Smith highlights some spirited acts, accomplishments and noteworthy news from the nation’s run specialty retailers.
Plogging 911
In the aftermath of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Newport, RI, Run Newport teamed up with sister store Sprezzus and the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District to clean up debris left along the parade route. The emergency plogging event on March 17 led to the collection of 63 pounds of trash.
“Newport runners don’t need much convincing. They show up ready to make a difference,” Run Newport co-owner Adam Stadel beams.
Adding to a high school’s athletic closet
In March, Rochester, MN-based Minnesota Treads donated about 20 pairs of running shoes to John Marshall High School, which runs an athletic gear closet for student-athletes.
“I don’t want kids who want to participate in sports not participate because they can’t afford it,” Minnesota Treads owner and Marshall High graduate Brock Quimby says.
It’s not the first time Quimby and his running shop have supported his alma mater. He has given the 1500-student school shoes and apparel many times over the years and directed $800 to Marshall’s resource room following last Thanksgiving’s Great Gobble 5K.
Running after rejection
On the morning of February 26, some 200,000 runners hoping for a spot in the New York City Marathon learned their dream of running 26.2 miles through the Big Apple this November 1 had been dashed.
True to its glass-half-full, tongue-in-cheek form, Brooklyn Running Company responded by inviting “the rejected, the undeterred and the still very dangerous” to its Lottery Rejection Party. Runners gathered at BRC’s Park Slope location on March 4 to share miles, cold drinks and warm company alongside plans for what’s next.
Helping high school harriers reach their potential
Leveraging local expertise and community connections, Jus’ Running in Asheville, NC, hosted a runners’ workshop for high school athletes featuring Miriam Salloum, a physical therapist who specializes in runners, and Brent Bookwalter, a mental performance coach and former U.S. Olympian in cycling.
At the free event on March 22, Salloum discussed drills to practice balanced running form and improve efficiency as well as in-season core strength work to reduce injury risk. Bookwalter, meanwhile, introduced applied mental performance skills like mindfulness, focus and visualization to help athletes realize their running potential.
A notable award for a Connecticut running store
A big congratulations to Megan Searfoss and CT Run Co., as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently recognized CT Run Co. as Connecticut’s Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year.
“This award encompasses your spirit of entrepreneurship and diligent efforts to create jobs, expand the gift of running to everyone as well as building welcoming spaces that promote wellness and connection for all,” SBA deputy director Moraima Gutierrez said of CT Run Co. in the award announcement.
Searfoss opened CT Run Co. as Ridgefield Running Company in 2014. Eight years later, the running shop earned Store of the Year honors at The Running Event. Growing to three stores across Connecticut, Searfoss rebranded the business to CT Run Co. in 2024.
In honor of World Down Syndrome Day
Sticking with CT Run Co. and highlighting its inclusive vibe, the running store teamed with Adidas and The Prospector Theater to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21 and the launch the Adidas Supernova Rise 3 Adaptive. The event included a short film about the creation of the modified running shoe followed by a demo event, Prospector Popcorn, refreshments and giveaways.
Honoring first responders
On Feb. 24, Georgia-based Fleet Feet Peachtree City hosted a First Responders Night to celebrate those who serve their local communities. The evening event featured food, drinks, raffles, freebies and more while inviting first responders to go through the store’s fit process and enjoy a 15 percent discount on their purchase.
New running stores, remodels and moves
Runners and coffee aficionados in and around St. Petersburg, FL, can unite under one roof now with the debut of St. Pete Running and Coffee. The new shop is the sister store to the St. Pete Running Company flagship helmed by the coffee bean-loving team of Janna and Cody Angell.
On April 4, Swags jumped over the Kentucky-Indiana state line to open a store in Jeffersonville, IN. The new Hoosier State shop joins Swags’ two existing locations in Louisville, KY.
Fleet Feet’s store count continues to rise and is fast approaching 300. Fleet Feet Savannah (GA) recently added a store in Okatie, SC, Fleet Feet Albuquerque opened a shop on Albuquerque’s Westside, the Fleet Feet Chicago collective led by Dave and Lisa Zimmer welcomed its 10th store with the introduction of Fleet Feet Libertyville in the Windy City’s northern suburbs and Fleet Feet Miami debuted a shop in Coconut Grove, FL.
On March 8, Charm City Run officially opened the doors to its newly renovated space in Columbia, MD. Charm City celebrated the remodel with a ribbon cutting and fun run.
And over in northeast Ohio, Second Sole had a busy start to the year. In addition to introducing a new store in Wooster, OH – its eighth location – Second Sole also moved its location in Lyndhurst, OH, down the road a half mile for improved visibility. In a fun twist, the new Lyndhurst location’s checkout area features a salvaged a decades-old sign from one of the original Second Sole locations.
Have a compelling event, project or initiative to propose for a future Running Spirit column? Contact Running Insight senior writer Danny Smith at [email protected] with details. You can also follow Danny on Instagram @runspecialtyinsider.
.jpg.medium.800x800.jpg)
