The 50 Best Running Stores in America for 2015

A great running store is the cornerstone of a healthy running community. It not only provides the latest knowledge on shoes and gear, but also fosters a passion for the sport by building a thriving community around it. Only through exemplary customer service, insightful industry knowledge and well-organized provisions of run programs and events can a store be considered one of the best—especially in an era dominated by online shopping. A great store is so much more than just a place to buy gear.

Hence, every year Competitor magazine partners with Running Insight trade magazine to celebrate and identify these qualities in the 50 best running stores across the nation. The process begins with readers nominating their favorite shops on Competitor.com, followed by diligent evaluations executed by undercover shoppers.

Here we reveal the full list of 50 best stores and the final four in the running for Store of the Year, in which the winner will be announced on Dec. 3 at The Running Event trade show in Austin, Texas. 

RELATED: Insights to Excellence from the 50 Best Running Stores in America

The Final Four

One of these four shops will be revealed as the 2015 Running Store of the Year on Dec. 3 based on criteria that include best retail environment, shoe-fitting checkout process, community service and credit ratings from vendors.

Red Coyote Running and Fitness – Oklahoma City

West Stride – Atlanta

Fleet Feet Rochester – Rochester, N.Y.

A Snail’s Pace – Fountain Valley, Calif.

RELATED: Get to Know the 2015 Finalists of the 50 Best Running Stores in America

RELATED: Top Shops—Past Winners of The Running Store of the Year Honors

The 50 Best

Alabama

• Fleet Feet Huntsville

Alaska

• Skinny Raven, Anchorage

Arkansas

• Rush Running Co., Bentonville

Arizona

• Sole Sports, Tempe

California

• A Runner’s Mind, San Francisco
• A Snail’s Pace, Fountain Valley
• Fleet Feet Aptos

Florida

• 1st Place Sports, Jacksonville
• Fit2Run, Miami
• FitNiche, Lakeland
• Jacksonville Running Co., Jacksonville
• Running Zone, Melbourne
• Runner’s Depot, Davie
• Track Shack, Orlando

Georgia

• Big Peach Running Co., Atlanta
• West Stride, Atlanta

Illinois

• Dick Pond Athletics, Schaumburg
• Fleet Feet Chicago, Chicago
• Naperville Running Co., Naperville
• Running Central, Peoria

Indiana

• Fleet Feet Fort Wayne
• Three Rivers Running, Fort Wayne

Kansas

• KC Running & Sports Medicine Store, Leawood

Maine

• Fleet Feet Maine, Portland

Maryland

• Charm City Run, Maryland
• Fleet Feet Baltimore

Massachusetts

• Marathon Sports, Boston
• New England Running Co., Beverly
• Whirlaway Sports, Methuen

Michigan

• Gazelle Sports, Kalamazoo
• Playmakers, Okemos

Minnesota

• Fleet Feet Minneapolis
• Mill City Running, Minneapolis

Missouri

• Big River Running, St. Louis
• The Running Well Store, Kansas City

Montana

• Runner’s Edge, Missoula

New Jersey

• Haddonfield Running Co., Haddonfield

New York

• Fleet Feet Rochester
• Fleet Feet Syracuse
• Medved Running & Walking Outfitters, Rochester
• Sayville Running Co., Sayville

North Carolina

• Bull City Running Co., Durham
• Run For Your Life, Charlotte

Ohio

• Columbus Running Co., Dublin
• Second Sole, Akron
• Up and Running, Dayton

Oklahoma

• Red Coyote Running and Fitness, Oklahoma City

South Carolina

• Fleet Feet Mt. Pleasant

Tennessee

• Fleet Feet Nashville

Texas

• iRun Texas, San Antonio
• Luke’s Locker, Dallas

Utah

• Salt Lake Running Co.

Virginia

• Pacers, Arlington
• Potomac River Running, Arlington