I’ll never forget the first time I set foot in a run specialty store. It was 1990, I was a 22-year-old newbie runner, and I had just signed up for my first race — the Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon. All I knew when I walked into the store was that I needed a new pair of shoes and some clothes to get ready for the race that was happening in a few short weeks. What I got was something way more — a deep dose of wisdom and a reality check from the grizzled guy at the store, who had been running since before I was born.
From that day forward, running specialty stores have held a special place in my heart. You know it the moment you walk in, the smell of the rubber and foam, the bright colors of the clothes and the shoes and all the extra running stuff, and — most of all — the knowing, confident glances from the folks working there that are simultaneously helpful and smug, concurrently knowing and questioning, fully experienced and more than slightly curious.
Just over a year ago, I wrote in this space about my decision to leave education and dive full-time into running-related pursuits. At the time, I planned to occupy my time with coaching, writing, podcasting, broadcasting, and, of course, running. Over the past year, I have done all those things and loved every minute of it.
Along the way, however, I found myself in a part-time job at the iconic Phoenix, Arizona, run specialty store Runner’s Den. What started as a 15-hour-a-week side gig slowly blossomed into something I really enjoyed. Every day, people of all shapes and sizes from all walks of life came into the store, and I helped them. Sometimes successfully and sometimes not, but I realized that I really loved the work, and the work loved me. In fact, it didn’t even feel like work.
The author (left) with co-worker and friend Derek Rehill outside Runner’s Den. Photo: Robby Foster
To be brutally honest, I have never really liked retail shopping, and I certainly never envisioned myself working in a retail business. But, over my time at Runner’s Den, I realized that retail is not all sales and gamesmanship. In fact, at its core, it is really all about building and sustaining relationships — with the customers, staff, brands, and with the industry as a whole. And, in the process of building these relationships, I realized it is something that comes naturally to me and something that I enjoy.
So, next week, I am moving on from Runner’s Den to become the manager at the Sole Sports running store in Tempe, Arizona. Runner’s Den is owned by Sole Sports and, together with three other stores in the Phoenix metro area, represents the largest running specialty operation in the U.S. Southwest. Moving forward I plan on continuing to coach, podcast, write, broadcast, and, best of all, run. But also, I plan on bringing together 25 years of leadership experience and 35 years of running experience to make Sole Sports the absolute best version of itself — and just maybe, light a spark for some newbie runner out there, like my spark was lit all those many years ago.
Bottoms up!
A throwback photo from another much loved local specialty running store, the San Francisco Running Company, about a decade ago. Photo courtesy of San Francisco Running Company.
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week, appropriately, comes from The Shop Beer Company in Tempe, Arizona. Coffee Brown Nitro is like a chocolate coffee bar in a beer. Smooth, not too sweet, and just plain tasty, Coffee Brown is simply a great beer.
Call for Comments
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