Brooks: Why should runners visit your local running store?

Josh and Kara: To engage in the running community and to shop local. Local companies do better for their employees, for the environment, and for their community. Plus, we offer technical expertise, we treat people with respect, and we have fun!

Brooks: What do you love about the Maryland running community?

Josh and Kara: It's gritty, it's diverse, it's sticky. People have pride in small business here. They care about the fabric of their community and the small businesses that give it personality. We are honoured to serve the runners and walkers of Maryland.

Fleet Feet Nashville, Nashville, TN

Christi Beth Adams found her way to Fleet Feet Nashville store ownership via an employee program.

“I actually came into the company as an employee right as the existing store in Brentwood was turning 4 years old. Turns out, the work was a natural fit for me and the woman who started the store was wanting out. I didn't have the money to buy it from her outright, so I thought that was the end of it. Fortunately for me, Fleet Feet created an employee to ownership pathway, and I was one of the first folks they offered the position to. I said yes and three long, hard years later, I bought the store and became a bona fide run shop owner,” she said.

Christi Beth has now owned Fleet Feet Nashville for 20 years.

Brooks: How is your local running store important to the community?

Christi Beth: I've always considered our shops to be more like community centres: a place for learning and connecting. It's a natural fit to work alongside of incredible run groups like Girls on the Run, Black Men Run, Achilles, Amputee Blade Runners, and Black Girls Run. It's also important to us to be good stewards of the resources we have at our disposable — like returned or donated shoes. We take shoes in like-new condition and donate them to local non-profits.

Brooks: Why should runners visit your local running store?

Christi Beth: Because everyone needs more of what we've got! Again, not so much the gear — though we've got that — it's more about the encouragement and good vibes. If you want to be your best self physically, mentally, and spiritually, we can be a part of that journey.

Brooks: What is your favourite part about the Nashville running community?

Christi Beth: I do think we share a similar mindset with how we handle hard things physically and emotionally, and that creates a common bond that transcends age, body type, race, gender. As we like to say at Fleet Feet Nashville: ‘All people. All paces.'

Runners Athletic Company, Central Michigan

Runners Athletic Company owner Bill Thompson grew up in Flint, Michigan, where he ran high school track and cross country.

“All my middle school, high school, and college running experiences led me to working at a running store, where I realized how much I enjoyed the aspect of helping others with their running goals. From there, I had a plan to open my own running store and with the help of my family, I made that dream a reality,” he said.

Brooks: How is your local running store important to the community?

Bill: A community running store is a place where we provide a personal connection. People can come to us for information, education, and support for their passion of running as well.

We make the time to give back to the communities we are a part of — in order to have a business in the community, you have to give back to that community.