The 50 Best Running Stores in America for 2016

The Columbus Running Company in Dublin, Ohio, was named one of the 50 Best Running Stores in American for 2016. Another one of its shops in the Columbus area earned the Best Running Store in America award in 2014. Photo: James D. DeCamp

Walk inside the store of a running store and you’re bound to catch a glimpse of more than running shoes, clothes and accessories.

Your local running shop is bursting with inspiration. All you need to do is walk inside and spend time with one of the expert shoe-fitters and you’re bound to come away with more than just your next pair of kicks. Your local running shop is your one-stop shop for shoes and gear, not to mention information about local trails and races, good advice on how to treat running injuries, not to mention training programs and insights for your next race. And you’ll also leave with a heap of inspiration to reach your running goals, no matter if it’s running your first marathon, running a faster half marathon, losing weight or just getting fit enough to run with your friends a few times per week.

OK, sure, the running retail business has been in a whirlwind of change in recent years. New stores with modern designs, corporate conglomerations with national branding and purchasing power, the continued growth of e-commerce and deep discounting of excess inventory—both in stores and online—have created new shopping opportunities and experiences for runners. It’s super easy to buy that discounted pair of shoes in your favorite color right from your phone. But that’s not what we’d recommend.

RELATED: Reasons to Avoid Buying Cheap Running Shoes Online

We strongly believe in locally owned, community-driven running shops, both because of the passionate people, positive energy, local connections and pure inspiration they afford. Those stores and the people who work there are woven into the soul of the sport, where runners of all abilities can be connected with the passionate culture we all share.

Every year, Competitor magazine partners with Running Insight trade magazine to identify the 50 Best Running Stores in America. It starts with readers nominating their favorite shops on Competitor.com. Then there is a rigorous evaluation process, which includes runner nominations, mystery shopping to assess customer service, credit ratings from vendors, and assessments about local programs and community commitment.

RELATED: Price Isn’t Everything When Buying Running Shoes

When it comes down to it, the best stores in the country are the ones that are focused more on spreading the joy and passion of running than they are on selling running shoes, apparel and accessories. Which running shop was the best in the country for 2016? The winner will be revealed on Dec. 1 at an industry-only trade show in Orlando, Fla., and published online at Competitor.com.

In the meantime, we offer a glimpse of the top shops earning the 50 Best Running Stores in America stamp of approval for 2016 and the four finalists for 2016 Running Store of the Year.

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

The Final Four

One of these four shops will be revealed as the 2016 Running Store of the Year on Dec. 1 based on criteria that includes the retail environment, shoe-fitting, checkout process, community service and credit ratings from vendors.

Charm City Run

Belair, Md.

Fleet Feet Sports

Brentwood, Tenn.

Hanson’s Running Shop

Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Tortoise & Hare

Glendale, Ariz.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why You Should Shop at a Running Specialty Store

The 50 Best Running Stores in America

The stores listed below represent the list of 50 Best Running Stores in America for 2016 based on their outstanding service, strong business practices and general excellence serving their local running communities.

ALABAMA

Fleet Feet Sports

Huntsville

ARIZONA

Sole Sports

Tempe, Ariz.

Tortoise & Hare

Glendale, Ariz.

ARKANSAS

Rush Running

Bentonville, Ark.

CALIFORNIA

A Snail’s Pace

Brea, Calif.

Fleet Feet Sports

Aptos, Calif.

Fleet Feet Sports

Sacramento, Calif.

CONNECTICUT

Fleet Feet Sports

West Hartford, Conn.

FLORIDA

1st Place Sports

Jacksonville, Fla.

Runner’s Depot

Davie, Fla.

Running Wild

Pensacola, Fla.

Track Shack

Orlando, Fla.

GEORGIA

Game Changers

Richmond Hill, Ga.

West Stride

Atlanta

ILLINOIS

Dick Pond Athletics

St. Charles, Ill.

Fleet Feet Sports

Chicago

Geneva Running Outfitters

Geneva, Ill.

Running Central

Peoria, Ill.

INDIANA

Fleet Feet Sports

Fort Wayne, Ind.

Three Rivers Running

Fort Wayne, Ind.

KANSAS

Manhattan Running Co.

Manhattan

LOUSIANA

Varsity Sports

Baton Rouge, La.

MAINE

Fleet Feet Sports

Portland, Maine

MARYLAND

Fleet Feet Sports

Baltimore, Md.

Charm City Run

Belair, Md.

MASSACHUSETTS

Charles River Running

Norwood, Mass.

New England Running Co.

Beverly, Mass.

Whirlaway

Methuen, Mass.

MICHIGAN

Ann Arbor Running Co. 

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Complete Runner

Flint, Mich.

Hanson’s Running Shop

Grosse Pointe, Mich.

MISSOURI

Big River Running Co.

St. Louis, Mo.

Run 816

Liberty, Mo.

The Running Well Store

Lee’s Summit, Mo.

NEBRASKA

Lincoln Running Co.

Lincoln, Neb.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Runners Alley

Portsmouth, N.H.

NEW YORK

Fleet Feet Sports

Syracuse, N.Y.

NORTH CAROLINA

Bull City Running

Durham, N.C.

Charlotte Running Co.

Charlotte

Run For Your Life

Charlotte

OHIO

Columbus Running Co.

Dublin, Ohio

Dave’s Running

Sylvania, Ohio

Second Sole

Akron, Ohio

Up & Running

Dayton, Ohio

OKLAHOMA

Red Coyote Running & Fitness

Oklahoma City

RELATED:

PENNSYLVANIA

A Running Start

West Reading, Pa.

TENNESSEE

Fleet Feet Sports

Brentwood, Tenn.

TEXAS

iRun Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Luke’s Locker

Dallas, Texas

UTAH

Runner’s Corner

Orem, Utha

VIRGINIA

Fleet Feet Sports

Roanoke, Va.

Potomac Running

Burke, Va.

WEST VIRGINIA

Two Rivers Treads

Shepherdstown, W.V.

WISCONSIN

Performance Runnning Outfitters

Brookfield, Wis.

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