Summer 2024 brought the run specialty marketplace plenty of excitement. Some was typical of mid-year – running shops celebrating Best Running Store nods, back-to-school sales, preparation for fall marathons, compelling footwear debuts and excitement for another cross country season.
But Olympic energy definitely carried the day, especially given thrilling races from Stade de France and the inspired spirit the Games create. Au revoir, Paris! You did well.
Amid it all, the nation’s run specialty stores kept pace, delivering their characteristic blend of creativity and community-mindedness to ensure continued enthusiasm reigned. To wit, check out another edition of The Running Spirit:
Darien Running Company puts carbon-plated footwear on the menu
Demo runs are nothing new, but the Darien Running Company amplified the traditional demo run and spotlighted some of its most ballyhooed footwear in the process with its Plates & Pizza event on Aug. 8.
The Connecticut-based running shop brought eight footwear vendors together for one night to showcase their carbon-plated “magic shoes” that promote heightened efficiency, improved speed, reduced fatigue and increased running economy. After demo-ing different carbon-plated models at Darien High School, participants returned to the running shop for pizza and refreshments.
“It’s a win, win, win: learn about the benefits of carbon, log a few miles with your friendly local running store and enjoy a slice of pizza afterward,” the store announced on Instagram.
Going for a ‘Bingo’
In Flower Mound, TX, the upstart Trailhead Running Supply retail shop debuted Trailhead Bingo to deliver some added motivation. The 25-square bingo sheet included 24 distinct challenges and one free space. The tasks ranged from quirky (run naked, as in without a watch) to noble-minded (donate a gently used piece of running gear) to adventurous (explore a new trail) to simple (tag Trailhead on social media).
According to Trailhead GM Drew Flowers, Trailhead Bingo was designed to make getting outside in the Texas summer heat more fun and “to keep everyone moving.”
Those who completed a bingo during the month of July earned a limited-edition Trailhead buff while those who blacked out their entire card earned a $10 store credit and a chance to win a $100 Trailhead gift card.
“Given how much everyone’s loved it, we’re thinking of bringing it back during the winter when we could all use a little extra push to get out there,” Flowers says.
The Lakes Running Co. goes loungin’
Many running stores across the country broadcasted running events from Paris on televisions in their stores. In Excelsior, MN, The Union Place Athletics Lounge at The Lakes Running Co. created a lively spot for viewing competition punctuated by an 82-inch screen.
On Aug. 5, The Lakes hosted a “Silky Wilky Watch Party” to cheer on local boy Matt Wilkinson, who represented Team USA in the 3000m Steeplechase. Wilkinson’s brother, Adam, previously worked at The Lakes.
Terra Running inspires little artists and highlights youth footwear
Years ago, my daughter was beyond thrilled to participate in Merrell’s Future Shoe Designer Contest, which tasked youngsters to send in a colored photo of the brand’s Altalight youth shoe. The winning design was then applied to a pair of Merrell footwear, while the winning artist received an actual pair of the footwear based on their design as well as a $450 gift card.
In a move to heighten awareness of its growing selection of youth footwear amid the back-to-school season, Tennessee-based Terra Running Company crafted a similar contest for its customers. Young artists could pick up a Terra Ted coloring sheet at the shop or download one online before applying their creativity to the page. Terra promised to display the colorful creations in its store while one random winner earned a free pair of footwear.
Runaround Running & Lifestyle gets its pickleball on
On Aug. 9-10, Runaround Running and Lifestyle presented Pickleball-R-Palooza. The inaugural event at Landreth Park in Joplin, MO, included doubles brackets for men’s, women’s and mixed teams, open play times, a family fun zone and food and drink from local vendors.
“Our whole goal in having a fitness specialty store in Joplin is to get people together and moving and this pickleball event is something else we can do beyond running to promote fitness and community,” Runaround owner Erik Bartlett says.
Pickleball-R-Palooza is also one of a series of events Bartlett and his team are producing alongside community partners to bring a publicly accessible running track to Joplin, a city of 52,000 in southwest Missouri.
Where should I run in Portland? This store supplies answers.
If I ever make my way out to Portland, OR, again – hopefully soon – I know I’ll be visiting the Portland Running Company’s Instagram page to plot my running routes in advance of the adventure.
With its ongoing #WhereToRunWednesday series on the social media platform, the 29-year-old running shop spotlights some of the area’s premier running spots, from paths winding through state parks to trail loops in the shadow of Mount Hood. Portland Running Company’s no-nonsense look at these venues includes a quick list of pros and cons for each route as well as information on the surface, distance and running directions.
While social media is a powerful megaphone for run shops to promote their products and services, it is also a place for running stores to share their knowledge as a community service and solidify their standing as the local resource for running in their area. With #WhereToRunWednesday, the Portland Running Company reminds us of just that.
Run shop openings
New running shops continue to pop up across the U.S.
- Two Arizona-based running shops expanded with new locations. Sole Sports opened a new shop – its fourth – in Gilbert, AZ (in photo above), while Cadence Running Company debuted its second store at the end of July in Queen Creek, AZ.
- On July 31, running retail veteran Craig Segal welcomed his first customers into The Outpost Running & Walking Co., his new shop in Little Silver, NJ. Segal previously spent 12 years leading Runner’s High in Freehold, NJ.
- In Springfield, PA, the Winters family opened a new Fleet Feet location, while Michael and Jenafer McCauley launched a store in North Augusta, SC, to complement their existing location in Augusta, GA.
- In late June, Fit2Run continued its rapid growth with the opening of a store at the Altamonte Mall in Altamonte Springs, FL. It’s the 35th store for the Florida-based operation.
- And in Flowery Branch, GA, Abby and Zack Loggins brought their existing Runners Fit store under the Big Peach Running Company umbrella. The conversion marks 12 stores for the growing Big Peach enterprise headquartered in Atlanta.
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.
