Why do you need a great running store? Shoes are shoes right? Just go to your local sporting goods store, get something that looks cool and go running.
If that system works for you and you have never experienced shin splints, Plantar Fasciitis, Runner’s Knee, missing toenails, stress fractures, ankle pain, calf pain, hip pain, or even back pain, then good for you.
This post is not for you, and you are a very lucky and fortunate individual.
Now, if you are like the rest of the human race, you have probably experienced one or more of those issues. I am not going to say it was definitely your shoes fault, but it could be. The best way to find out and curb these injuries is to get properly fitted at a Specialty Running Store.
What's Ahead
How to Identify a Run Specialty Store
Not all stores that sell running shoes are Run Specialty Stores. Department stores, general sporting goods stores, and discount shoe stores have running shoes, but are not speciality running stores. But it’s not what’s inside that matters the most, but whom.
Usually Run Speciality stores will have only running related merchandise. Not always, as many have begun to branch out a little into related sports and exercise, such as biking, swimming, cross fit, and pickle ball. The key is the training the staff has to find the right shoes, socks, apparel, and products for you.
3 Things that Make a Running Store Great
Great Running Store Thing Number 1 is Great Staff!
Staff knowledge and customer service skills are paramount to operating a great running store. While they will never be perfect, they will be well versed in all of the products they sell, and care more about finding the right things for you, rather than the most expensive.
They should be able to fit you properly for shoes by doing a gait analysis. This means that they can identify potential support needs by how you move while walking, running, and performing basic movements.
Its Running, Not Standing
It is not a good sign if they use the fancy scanner as the only step in the fitting process. The scanner is suppose to be a supplemental tool. I have seen so called “professional fitters” using only foot scans before, speak a bunch of malarky about some pressure points and then start grabbing shoes.
For the record, foot scans only see what your foot does while standing, standing isn’t running.
Great Running Store Thing Number 2 is Professional Connections!
This doesn’t mean pro runners, influencers or contract killers. No, hear we are talking about having good relationships with local Coaches, Massage Therapists, Running Clubs, Chiropractors, Personal Trainers, and of course Physical Therapists.
Even the best running store cannot meet a runner’s every need, but they should know where you can go. Also these professionals will recommend the running store to find the right pair of shoes for you whatever your needs are. Having long established connections with well respected professionals means that store knows what they are doing.
Great Running Store Thing Number 3 is Diverse and Reputable Products
Now is a bit tricky. Depending on a stores size and how old it is, it may have trouble getting some of the more established brands at first. Also sometimes the worst running stores will have all of the super popular brands.
The key is to not focus on the shoes.
They should have a good shoe selection, but what about everything else? Runner’s have needs, and we like options. Do they only carry one kind of apparel, massage tool, water bottle, or foot beds (aka inserts)?
Ideally they should have at least a couple of brands and few options within each category. They will not have everything, cause that’s impossible, but you should feel satisfied with the choices in front of you.
If they provide good and diverse product choices besides shoes then you know they are thinking about the entire runner experience. If they have a bunch of shoes and then just one choice of a massage tool, then they just don’t want to be bothered.
Bonus Thing is Don’t Trust a List
Recently I have been lucky enough to visit some stores that have done quite well in getting ranked in promenade lists for being the best running store. And I am so dissatisfied that I will not go back.
Bad Store 1
One store I walked around the entire sales floor and never saw an employee. I honestly don’t know if someone was there.
Bad Store 2
Another has the worst return policy I have ever seen, and actually will charge you $25 to stand in their scanner if you don’t buy shoes. And the information they give you from the scan is nothing. It was literally making me upset.
Most of these lists are made by popularity rather than do they do the job right. Some on the list are truly legit and amazing running stores, and I don’t want to take anything away from them. But some stores are just ruining it.
Great Running Store: You Decide
Finding a great running store also depends open who you are and where you feel comfortable. Every great running store should possess the three things above, but most important is how it will make you feel when you are there.
The last important thing for a great running store is for you to feel like you belong.
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