The 50 Best Running Stores in America for 2015
Our annual review of running stores across America reveals the final four and 50 best in the country.
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