The 50 Best Running Stores in America for 2012
These shops go out of their way to do everything for local runners.
These shops go out of their way to do everything for local runners.
What makes a great running shop? Sure, it’s one that correctly fits you into running shoes that match your foot shape and running gait, but it’s much more than that. Is it a shop with a treadmill and high-speed cameras for gait analysis? Or one with a cool local wall of fame that honors local runners? Or the one that organizes local races or has the best happy hour fun runs?
The top shops in America — according to you, our readers and connoisseur of all things running — are the ones that offer exemplary customer service for every type of runner, organize training programs, group runs and local races, and provide knowledge and insights about the latest trends, the newest gear, proper running form and local trails, plus can answer endless questions about racing, training and injury prevention. In other words, it’s a shop that goes out of its way to do everything for local runners.
RELATED: Fleet Feet Syracuse Named Top Running Store In The U.S.
“The goal is to take down all of the barriers that people perceive they’re going to run into when they start running or when they come to a run specialty store, make it a comfortable, engaging experience for them and let them get hooked,” says Matt Helbig, owner of Big River Running in St. Louis, one of four finalists for the 2012 Running Store of the Year award. “And we all know how easy it is to get hooked on running.”
Every year, Competitor magazine and Running Insight identify the 50 Best Running Stores in America. It starts with consumers nominating their favorite stores through www.competitor.com. Then those stores are put through a rigorous evaluation process, which includes mystery shopping to assess customer service, credit ratings from vendors and assessments about local programs and community commitment. The 50 Best Running Stores in America and the Running Store of the Year were honored on Dec. 5 at The Running Event, an industry-only trade show in Austin, Texas.
2012 Running Store of the Year
Fleet Feet Sports Syracuse
East Syracuse, NY
www.fleetfeetsyracuse.com
The 50 Best Running Stores in America
1st Place Sports
Jacksonville, FL
www.1stplacesports.com
A Snail’s Pace
Brea, CA
www.asnailspace.net
Bandanna Running
Boise, ID
www.bandannarunning.com
Big River Running (finalist for Running Store of the Year)
St. Louis, MO
www.bigriverrunning.com
Blue Mile
Indianapolis, IN
www.bluemile.com
Bob Roncker’s Running Spot (finalist for Running Store of the Year)
Cincinnati, OH
www.runningspot.com
Boulder Running Company
Boulder, CO
www.boulderrunningcompany.com
Capital Run Walk
Raleigh, NC
www.capitalrunwalk.com
Charm City Run
Timonium, MD
www.charmcityrun.com
Columbus Running Company
Columbus, OH
www.columbusrunning.com
Dick Pond Athletics
Schaumburg, IL
www.dickpondathletics.com
Elite Feet Brighton
Brighton, MI
elitefeetrunning.com
Fit Right
Portland, OR
www.fit-right-nw.com
Fleet Feet Sports Baltimore
Baltimore, MD
www.fleetfeetbaltimore.com
Fleet Feet Sports Chicago
Chicago, IL
www.fleetfeetchicago.com
Fleet Feet Sports Davis
Davis, CA
www.fleetfeetdavis.com
Fleet Feet Sports Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg, MD
www.fleetfeetgaithersburg.com
Fleet Feet Sports Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
fleetfeethuntsville.com
Fleet Feet Sports Schereville
Schereville, IN
www.fleetfeetschererville.com
Fleet Feet Sports Tucson
Tucson, AZ
www.fleetfeettucson.com
Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
www.fleetfeettulsa.com
Fleet Feet Sports Hartford
West Hartford, CT
www.fleetfeethartford.com
Garry Gribble’s Running Sports
Kansas City, MO
www.garrygribbles.com
Gazelle Sports (finalist for Running Store of the Year)
Kalamazoo, MI
www.gazellesports.com
Heart & Sole Sports
Albuquerque, NM
www.heartnsolesports.com
Jacksonville Running Company
Jacksonville, FL
www.jacksonvillerunningcompany.com
Luke’s Locker
Dallas, TX
www.lukeslocker.com
Maine Running Company
Portland, ME
www.mainerunning.com
Marathon Sports
Cambridge, MA
www.marathonsports.com
Naperville Running Company
Naperville, IL
www.runningcompany.com
Natural Strides Running
Woodstock, GA
www.naturalstrides.com
On a Shoestring
Bradenton, FL
www.onashoestringinc.com
Pacers Running Store
Arlington, VA
www.runpacers.com
Playmakers
Okemos, MI
www.playmakers.com
Potomac River Running
Burke, VA
www.potomacriverrunning.com
Red Coyote Running
Oklahoma City, OK
www.redcoyoterunning.com
Rhode Runner
Providence, RI
www.rhoderunner.net
Run On!
Dallas, TX
www.runontexas.com
Runner’s Den
Phoenix, AZ
www.runnersdenaz.com
Runners High ’n Tri
Arlington Heights, IL
www.runnershigh-n-tri.com
Running Fit
Ann Arbor, MI
www.runningfit.com
Running For Kicks
Palos Heights, IL
www.runningforkicks.com
Salt Lake Running Company
Salt Lake City, UT
www.saltlakerunningco.com
Sayville Running Company
Sayville, NY
www.sayvillerunning.com
Shu’s Idaho Running Company
Boise, ID
www.idahorunningcompany.com
Sole Sports
Tempe, AZ
www.solesportsrunning.com
Sole2Sole
Visalia, CA
www.sole2soulsports.com
SoundRunner
Branford, CT
www.soundrunner.net
The Finish Line Running Store
Allentown, PA
www.finishlinerunningstore.com
Three Rivers Running
Fort Wayne, IN
www.3riversrunning.com
Tortoise & Hare Sports
Glendale, AZ
tortoiseandharesports.com
Track Shack
Orlando, FL
www.trackshack.com
Whirlaway Sports
Methuen, MA
www.whirlawaysports.com
Ubuntu Award presented by Balega
JackRabbit Sports
New York, NY
www.jackrabbitsports.com
Just Do It Award Presented by Nike
Stefanie Blozy, Fleet Feet Hartford
West Hartford, CT
www.fleetfeethartford.com
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