It’s been a milestone few weeks in the running world.  From Kenyan Sabastian Sawe’s boundary-breaking sub-2 hour marathon in London on April 26 to Global Running Day on June 3, the sport has been front and center around the world over recent weeks. The nation’s run specialty stores have been there for it all.

Hosting watch parties and group runs. Organizing races and seminars. Serving non-runners and competitive athletes alike. Running stores remain champions of activity, connection and healthy living in their local communities.Running Insight senior writer Danny Smith highlights some spirited acts, accomplishments and noteworthy news from the nation’s run specialty retailers.

Rallying Around a Local Business
On May 6, an early morning fire severely damaged Haskell’s, an iconic food and drink spot on Minnesota’s Lake Minnetonka. Dozens of servers, bartenders, cooks and other staff members suddenly lost their workplace, which remained closed more than a month later. 

The Lakes Running Company (in photo above) rallied around its Excelsior, MN, neighbor, donating 10 percent of its net sales on May 14 to support Haskell’s employees. The running store also hosted a tip jar on its counter. The local Lions Club, meanwhile, offered to match up to $5000 of donations received at The Lakes Running Company and other local businesses participating in the neighborly effort. 

Athletic Annex University Champions Education
In Carmel, IN, outside of Indianapolis, Athletic Annex recently hosted Athletic Annex University, a four-part educational series designed to help individuals enhance their running and walking journeys.
 
Each of the four sessions dove into a key pillar of performance – strength, cross training, injury prevention and proper fueling – with local experts sharing essential resources to help athletes enhance their training. Sessions included a group run/walk followed by presentations and Q&A.

“Whether you’re chasing a PR or just getting started, this series is built to help you run better, longer and healthier,” Athletic Annex said in promoting the series. 

Tuesdays with Dick Pond Athletics
Like Athletic Annex, the St. Charles, IL, location of Dick Pond Athletics similarly put education on the menu with its Tuesday Night Lecture Series. The three-part series included a talk from Jerry Hayes, season 7 champion of “The Biggest Loser,” as well as programs on safety for women runners and stretching and injury prevention. 

Swags Honors its Founder
Over in Louisville, the sisterly duo leading Swags, Allie and Layney Vincent, recently unveiled the Swag Hartel Generosity Initiative. Honoring the philanthropic, community-minded spirit of Swags founder Swag Hartel, the initiative creates opportunities for movement and reflects Swags’ commitment to using sport as a force for good.

The initiative features three pillars: youth access, which includes providing shoes and gear so young athletes can participate in running; community support, in which Swags partners with local organizations to expand access to running and wellness; and global impact, which includes advancing education, nutrition and sustainable farming initiatives in Kenya. 

“Together, these efforts reflect our belief that when people are given the tools to move, opportunity follows – locally and around the world,” the Vincent sisters said.

New stores, moves and more

Brian and Janene Urichko, the owners of Fleet Feet Fort Myers, recently opened their second shop in Florida – Fleet Feet Naples. Elsewhere in The Sunshine State, Fleet Feet Jupiter officially opens its doors on June 25.

Can’t Stop Running Company celebrated the opening of its new Minster, OH, location with a ribbon cutting event on May 8. The following week, Runners Den welcomed the first customers into its new store in Burlington, Ontario.

After more than eight years in Eau Claire, WI, Blue Ox Running recently moved its shop three miles to a larger new space in Altoona, WI. Peak Running (in photo above) similarly moved to a bigger space in May, shifting its Burr Ridge, IL, location to a larger and refreshed storefront next door. And on May 30, The Running Well Store celebrated the grand opening of its relocated store in Lee’s Summit, MO.

Finally, welcome to the run specialty game Flostate Running – a new running store located on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound.

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.