Talk about a wild few months for the nation’s run specialty shops. From a dynamic cross-country season, fall marathons and The Running Event to Turkey Trots, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, run specialty shops were plenty busy across the fall months and into the winter. Running Insight senior writer Danny Smith recaps some lively and noteworthy activities at running stores across the U.S.
Running shops respond after Hurricane Helene
After Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast in September, running stores stepped up in various ways to propel recovery efforts.
In Florida, the St. Pete Running Company donated 10 percent of store sales to hurricane relief, provided numerous pairs of footwear to folks hard hit by the storm and served as a donation drop-off site for cleaning supplies, food and other necessities.
In North Carolina, Keith and Emily Davis of Fleet Feet Winston-Salem helped organize Project: Back on Their Feet, which saw the donation of approximately 2500 shoes and 5000 pairs of socks to middle schoolers and high schoolers affected by Helene.
And in South Carolina, Run In teamed with local partners to provide one hurricane-impacted family a complimentary three-day, two-night escape from the chaos. In addition to lodging and food, the nominated family also received new clothes and footwear from On and Run In.
“The whole idea was to give someone a vacation from life and we had so many deserving candidates,” Run In owner Dane Simmons says.
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Fleet Feet Charleston supports military vets
Earlier this year, Fleet Feet Charleston in South Carolina teamed up with Let’s Walk, a local organization that connects clients who might benefit from physical activity and social interaction with a volunteer walking companion. Each month, the Fleet Feet store outfits a different U.S. military veteran with shoes, socks and insoles they can use on their Let’s Walk excursions.
“Our Fit Specialists have really been moved as they talk with the veterans about their lives and experiences,” Fleet Feet Charleston marketing coordinator Jennifer Roberts says.
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Lab Monkey Freedom Run at Grounded Running
Early in November, 43 rhesus macaque primates escaped from their enclosure at a Beaufort, SC-based research facility. Grounded Running quickly turned the headline-grabbing news into a spirited philanthropic event.
On Nov. 17, the Beaufort-based running store hosted the Lab Monkey Freedom 5K to support Born Free USA, a national charity dedicated to rehoming monkeys. Within 24 hours of announcing the $20 fun run, Grounded Running had over 500 registered participants, many of whom showed up on race day dressed as monkeys, lab technicians and zookeepers.
To enliven the event, the 5K race featured a “rabbit” monkey – and prizes for anyone who caught him. In addition, the event’s host site, Shellring Ale Works, unveiled a special beer to commemorate the day – an imperial stout infused with bananas.
Running Etc. continues a holiday tradition
Before the Thanksgiving holiday, Running Etc., which operates stores in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA, launched its annual pajama drive. The multi-week collection effort included a Dec. 4 fun run along the festive Virginia Beach boardwalk to support Pajama Jams, a local nonprofit that distributes new pajamas to underserved children at area elementary schools.
The Outpost recognizes excellence
Encouraging local athletes to push their limits, embrace challenges and set an example for others, The Outpost Running & Walking Co. honored one local harrier as its Cross Country Performer of the Week throughout the fall campaign. Each winner received a Nike backpack emblazoned with The Outpost’s snazzy logo.
“By shining a spotlight on these athletes, the initiative not only rewards excellence but also promotes the values of perseverance and dedication that define cross country running,” says Craig Segal, who opened The Outpost in Little Silver, NJ, last July.
Black Dog Running Company plays holiday gift matchmaker
To brighten the holidays for local children, Black Dog Running Company in Myrtle Beach, SC, unveiled an Angel Tree in its showroom and invited locals to participate in the Fostering Hope Gift Program. The Angel Tree was covered in tags featuring a local child’s name and a wished-for item. Black Dog Running then served as a drop-off site for the presents.
New stores, relocations and expansions
Recent months saw a flurry of new store openings. In the Fleet Feet enterprise, first-time owner-operators Tom and Nikki Debole debuted Fleet Feet Queen Creek near Phoenix while Fleet Feet-owned Marathon Sports opened a new retail location in Reading, MA. It’s the 24th Marathon Sports location in New England.
Can’t Stop Running Co. celebrated the launch of its third location in October. The new Minster, OH, store joins existing Can’t Stop Running units in Piqua and Celina.
In Texas, the Midland Athletic Company introduced a sister store in Odessa called The Athletic Company at Parks Legado, while Oakland, CA-based Renegade Running traveled 370 miles south to open its second location, a chic store on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, multiple run shops relocated existing stores, including Blue Sky Endurance in Mount Pleasant, SC, Robert’s Running & Walking Shop in South Charleston, WV, and Palmetto Running Company in Bluffton, SC. The Charlotte Running Company recently debuted its new Riverwalk location in Rock Hill, SC, which features an eight-tap beer and wine bar as well as a 3000-square foot patio overlooking the Catawba River and the Carolina Thread Trail.
And finally, SoleRoots Running Co. (in photo) in Carrollton, GA, celebrated the expansion of its storefront with a ribbon cutting event on Oct. 28.
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.
