Running Niche — Local services in St. Louis

I'm NOT a runner- I have hEDS & was recommended trying running shoes, as many of us often are!

As stated above, for numerous reasons I was advised to switch to running shoes. Specifically the Bondi 8. I was reluctant to spend that kind of money online without being able to try them on. I first visited another popular running place in the area (which I will not name, feel free to speculate). While they were not outwardly rude or unkind to me, since I had stated upon entry that I was NOT seeking shoes to Run in, I did not overall feel very welcome from that second forward. I can't explain it, but I got the "polite yet annoyed" vibe. I tried on the shoes, they didn't feel quite right, so I left.

Later in the week, I noticed this place close by, so I stopped in. I met Jennifer & explained my situation yet again. Almost immediately she had follow-up questions about what I needed out of the shoe. I wasn't a runner, but I felt welcome! That, although we didn't necessarily share this same hobby, she still genuinely wanted to help me find the right shoes that would work. We went through several pairs of shoes before FINALLY finding something that met my specific needs.

If you are NOT a runner, but you need shoes more for podiatry or musculoskeletal reasons & you are seeking to avoid the aesthetically unpleasant orthopedic shoes, please consider shopping here before visiting a bigger running chain. The prices will be the same (they pretty much all match the current brand trends), and the service will make a tremendous difference. I know the anxiety that comes with being surrounded by able-bodied folks, & I did not sense that edge here. Every staff member here was incredibly friendly & I did not feel subtly judged, as I had elsewhere. You're also supporting a smaller business, which makes an impact! When the time comes for new shoes, I will be visiting...

Bob and Jennifer were so incredibly helpful today! I have been to other local running places - where my experience was positive, but the difference was, I kept getting up-sold the "Shoe of the moment" more often than not... I was, also, fighting for someone's attention and they seemingly only had time to show me three pairs of shoes. Bob and Jennifer gave me such personalized attention today, they spent an hour and roughly 12 pairs of shoes, watching me run, properly fitting my shoe, determining my running style and only showing me shoes that would be good for me in all sorts of brands- even some that I have never tried before... They checked to make sure the shoe fit correctly once it was on my foot, asked questions - assessing how the shoe felt. Recommended socks.

I definitely received highly personal attention here, love the shop, wide variety of items and two very knowledgeable runners. Runner's race snacks, sunglasses, roller/massage products, socks, recovery sandals, long running shirts... Oh, and dog friendly if your pup is on a leash!! As a Purina employee who has two dogs - I love that!!

Ladies, you can, also, find the no-bounce sports bras here including the Enell!

Shop local - this is truly mom & pop with personalized experienced and I am extremely happy with my new pair of shoes and have a bit of renewed faith about getting back out there are running after being on the DL for so long.

Go visit Bob...

Far and away the best running store in the city! In fact, I hesitate to simply label it as a "running store" - it is more than that, it's truly a hub of the running community.

First, the store part - a truly amazing customer experience. Bob and Jen spent lots of time to make sure I got the pair of shoes that were right for me, a pair that fit my preferences and price range. Also, their Running Niche t-shirt is now maybe number 1 in my rotation.

As for the running community element, I seriously recommend their Lydiard Training program. I chose to sign up for 18 weeks of Lydiard training for a 2021 marathon, with Bob as my coach. I've run for 18 years and this plan really revolutionized my approach to (and reinvigorated my love of) running. Also gave me a 1.5 minute PR, and dropped my time 16 minutes from my previous marathon. Bob was super supportive and attentive throughout... as a coach he sets some pretty firm guide rails (haha), but he was sincerely invested in me achieving my goal. I've also met great other runners through the program, and feel connected to the running community here.

The owners care a lot about their store and about running, and it ripples out - so grateful...