runaround
running & lifestyle

Runaround now matches brand discounts.

All of them.

Healthcare discounts. Military and first responder discounts. Teacher discounts. Brand promotions. Online offers. If a brand we carry is offering you a legitimate discount directly, bring it to us. We’ll match it.

Will every brand love that policy? Maybe not.

It may even make us look like a “bad partner” to some of them.

But I think it’s worth talking about what partnership is supposed to mean.

For years, specialty running stores like ours have invested in these brands. We put their shoes on our walls. We train our staff on their products. We pay people to spend time with you, listen to you, measure you, watch you walk and run, and help determine which shoe actually makes sense for you.

We sponsor the races. We support the schools. We donate to the fundraisers. We show up in the community.

Then, increasingly, the same brands that call stores like ours “valuable partners” market directly to the customers in our own communities with discounts and promotions that encourage them to buy directly from the brand instead.

That doesn’t feel much like a partnership.

And I understand why customers use those discounts. I would too. If you’re a nurse, teacher, first responder, member of the military or anyone else who has earned a discount, you shouldn’t have to give that up just because you want to shop locally.

So we’re taking that decision off the table.

Get fit here. Get our service. Get our knowledge. Support the people who employ people in your community.

And get the same price.

If matching those discounts makes Runaround a bad brand partner, I’m willing to have that conversation.

But I also think our industry needs to be willing to have the other conversation:

What does it mean to call an independent retailer a “partner” while spending millions of dollars marketing around them and directly to their customers?

We love the brands we carry. We want them to succeed.

We just believe partnership should work both ways. …

Did I ever think I’d be standing in Leadville, Colorado helping time one of the most iconic races in the world?

No way.

This weekend I got the opportunity to be the right hand man for one of my best friends as we helped time the Leadville Trail 100.

100 miles. Thousands of people involved. An entire mountain town built around getting runners from a starting line, over Hope Pass, and back again.

And somehow, Runaround got to play a small part in it.

When we started Runaround, I had no idea where this business would take us. We just loved running, loved our community, and wanted to build something around it.

Over the years that has turned into putting on races, timing events, hauling equipment all over the place, working ridiculous hours, solving problems on the fly and getting a front-row seat to some pretty incredible moments in this sport.

This weekend was one of those moments.

Standing under that Leadville finish line, next to one of my best friends, it was hard not to stop for a second and think:

How freaking cool is this?

Running has given me and Runaround far more than I ever could have imagined.

Pretty grateful to still be along for the ride. …

Real shoes. Real feet. Real guidance.
Come do the research with us.

RUNAROUND AND FIND OUT. …

Bring your team, bring your parents, bring your goals. The Runaround Cross Country Festival is TOMORROW NIGHT! Still haven`t signed up? It`s not too late! We`ll be at the MSSU (Tom Rutledge) XC Course from 5-8pm. Test new shoes, prepare for the upcoming season, and earn exclusive discounts on site! Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MO/Joplin/RunaroundXCKickoff …

The Runaround Cross Country Festival is your one stop shop for all things XC. Join us on August 14th from 5-8pm to try new products, get expert advice from our team and Brand Reps, and earn exclusive discounts to shop on site! It`s not too late to join, sign up here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MO/Joplin/RunaroundXCKickoff …

We’re not just looking to fill a position. We’re looking for the right person.

At Runaround, we believe without the love, it’s just shoes.

That means we aren’t looking for someone to stand behind a register. We’re looking for someone who genuinely enjoys people, loves learning, and wants to make a difference in someone’s day.

We’re especially interested in someone who:
• Enjoys building relationships.
• Loves serving others.
• Is dependable and values consistency.
• Wants to grow with a team instead of just finding their next job.
• Believes that helping someone move better can truly change their life.

This position could be a great fit for:

• A stay-at-home parent looking for meaningful hours while the kids are at school.
• Someone returning to the workforce.
• A retiree who still enjoys staying active and connecting with people.
• Anyone looking for a long-term home where relationships matter more than transactions.

Experience in running isn’t required. We can teach shoes.

What we can’t teach is a genuine desire to care for people.

Our team is built around three core values:
Empathy. Confidence. Curiosity.

If those words describe you, we’d love to have a conversation.

If this sounds like someone you know, please tag them or send them our way. …