Runners High ‘n Tri

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. I’m a chiropractor and I often refer to them for my patients that need to be fitted for proper running and/​or walking shoes. I am a runner myself and have used them often to purchase shoes. They are very patient with making sure you are 100% satisfied with the type of shoe you decide to purchase. They also have a wide selection of energy bars/​cookies/​gels that are very useful during longer runs. They always remember me by name! I would definitely recommend them!

Wonderful experience at this store! The staff is not only knowledgable, but genuinely concerned with your ability to CRUSH IT out there in your training and races!
They ask great questions, attempting to understand your history of injuries and races. A strong team spirit is evident. They consulted amongst each other like a big group of amazingly nerdy shoe wizards!
Runners High N Tri exemplifies why I support Local every opportunity I get. They have created an atmosphere of passion and knowledge, I have never felt at any mid-​large size athletic store.
Warning (digressing into minor small biz ramble): Beyond this they host packet pickups and community events for races all throughout the land of Suburbia. For a small biz to sacrifice their personal time chatting with runners and supporting our goals shows HUGE commitment to the running community, they don’t have hoards of employees at every beckon, they are just your local shop. Needless to say, this store is awesome!
I will continue passing the other stores on my way to your store! Bravo and much thanks to you, the running magicians of Runners High N Tri!
Genuinely,
A Growing Running Addict

Went in for some help with my Garmin. Kathy Loy was THE BEST! She took the extra step to call Garmin for me and help me with everything. Went above and beyond. Every time I go in the store they greet you by name and take the time to assist in anything everything!

I have been running and working out for years. I have bought shoes from just about everywhere — Foot Locker, New Balance Store, Nike Outlet Stores, etc, etc, etc.
No experience has been as great as this store, and I didn’t even buy shoes. My wife went in to look for shoes. She got great service, great advice from the couple who own/​run the store. And great advice.
My son was not considered a nuisance, as with most stores who don’t know how to handle kids in their stores. They had toys around the store to keep the kids entertained and encouraged him to play.
I have some trouble with my foot and asked some questions. They presented me with a couple of solutions. Inserts for my shoes and sleeve for my foot. I took both and my foot feels better.
Now great service is not always expected, but it is appreciated. Owners know that they don’t stay open if they fail in customer service, not the corporate company, their store. These owners take customer service to a high level and their pride shows in the store and their knowledge.
Here is where they get the fifth star from me. I bought the foot sleeve and forgot it in the store. I didn’t check the box before leaving and came home with an empty box. My mistake for not checking. I called and asked about it. I don’t live in area and could not pop up to get it.
They could of given me a refund. They could have said «Sorry, no luck. We didn’t find it.»
Nope, they put a new box with a new sleeve in the mail and I had it within days.
I will be back to buy shoes and other equipment.
PLEASE GO THERE TO BUY SHOES AND EQUIPMENT.
They are not a large corporate store.
Buy local and support your neighbors.

Great place to buy running shoes! They were very knowledgable and approachable. Great selection of shoes. Found shoes almost immediately that were perfect.

This place is amazing. After my local running store closed I didn’t think I’d find another like it until a friend told me about this place. They get you the right shoes and have excellent customer service. The last time I went I got a huge discount on the shoes and they gave me new insoles to keep my old shoes trail ready. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who likes running and needs gear!

It is so refreshing to find a shoe store that has friendly, knowledgeable people that care about your needs. They’re patient as well for those of us who aren’t sure what we need and need to make an exchange or two. :)
This is my new go to running store and I live 15 miles away!

Great staff and inventory, I’ve known Mark a long time and have run quite a few marathons fitted with shoes he has recomended. They know what they’re doing and are VERY friendly and knowledgeable.

Between my wife and I, we have fifteen plus shoes from Runner’s High over the years. Yes, we and been buying them since before the Tri.
The time they have spent with us over the years making sure the shoe fit is perfect is what has lead me to recommend them to people from all over Chicago to go see them if you have any question on how to find a shoe that fits.
As long as I need running shoes they will be coming from Runner’s High.

I’ve been coming to Runners High ‘n Tri since I moved to Arlington Heights 5 years ago. I keep coming here because the staff is both knowledgeable and friendly. If I have a question or a problem, they take the time to listen to me and work to find a solution to my running needs. Other times when I know what I want and I’m in a hurry, they quickly get me what I need.
I also like that they take the time to get to know the regulars plus they support local events and running clubs.
Even though I’m sure I get save a few bucks by buying my shoes online, I always come back here. On-​line stores aren’t going to be able to answer my questions about an ache in my foot, or let me know that my favorite shoe has changed and maybe I want to try something else. I run 4 to 6 marathons a year, so trust me, I go through plenty of shoes! This store is worth coming back to!

Great store, great staff. There are many options when looking for running gear. The staff here will spend time aiding the new runner or helping the veteran up their game. They are kind, patient and helpful and they’ll always have my loyalty

I love Runners High n Tri! They have always helped me with new shoes and other things like GU and goggles. They are close, great easy parking and wonderful staff. I will always go to them with all my running, swimming and training.

Runners High ‘n Tri is the only running store in the entire Chicago area that I go to! Mark and Pom are two of the nicest people I have ever met. They are also two of the most knowledgable and passionate people when it comes to all things running and tri related. Also if it is not in their store they will get whatever it is you need to further your running goals. Awesome people and business!

This is the go to place for one stop shopping for your running and tri needs. Mark has been in running and tri since the 80’s and knows his products and how to use them.
I met Mark in 1984 in Kona as a terrified Ironman starting line rookie. He assured me it would be a great day and I would be fine.
18 Ironmans and 140 marathons later wearing his products I have to say Mark and this store are the greatest.
Shop local !

Great store with a decent variety of quality running shoes and all the other gimmicky shit that goes along with any specialty running shoe store. But the staff here rubbed me the wrong way today. I come in with my 2 year old kid and I’m on a mission to try on some Glycerin 12’s. I’m an avid runner so I have an idea of what works and doesn’t work for me. I heard Brooks had some new Glycerin’s so I wanted to try them on and possibly purchase some.
I was greeted by a tall skinny older guy with gray hair who I perceived to be the manager or owner of the store. I told him right away that I wanted to try on the new Glycerin’s. He then asked me the most absurd question imaginable:
«Are you planning on purchasing some shoes today?»
Holy shit! Keep your pants on dude! I am in a running shoe store, I’m tall and skinny just like you. I am currently wearing a $ 100+ pair of running shoes and I just named a running shoe that I wanted to try on. So, uh, yeah! I MIGHT purchase a shoe here IF they fit and feel right. This is a retail shoe store right? The kind where you try on shoes and either buy them or don’t buy them depending on how it goes? I mean, I forgot my crystal ball at home. I didn’t know I had to make a decision at the door.
I realize that this dude probably has cheap yuppie shitheads coming in all day long to try on 5 – 10 pairs of shoes only to leave the store and buy them on Zappos. I’m not that guy. If I’m in your store and you aren’t an asshole that assumes I’m just there wasting your time and you allow me to try on the shoes that I’m interested in and they feel right I’ll buy them from you! Even if you charge more than they do online! Because that kind of customer service is worth something! But instead you were just an asshole that asked me where I purchased my current shoes to see if it was a brick and mortar store. Sorry, it must suck to work retail. I guarantee you, it sucks even more when you do it this poorly.
So if you go in to Runners High N Tri all doe eyed and stupid and want them to «analyze your gait» (as if they’re qualified), put you in a pair of stability shoe because you «pronate», plus you’re gonna need these special socks, and some superfeet inserts and some foam rollers and some gels. You are this guy’s wet dream. And preferably you could tell him you want to buy all this stuff without trying any of it on.
If you are the kind of guy that is just wasting the store’s time trying on shoes to go buy them on Zappos then I personally think you’re an asshole.
Unfortunately for Runner’s High N’ Tri, I’m neither of those people. I am the dick that leaves scathing Unilocal reviews for clueless businesses. A helpful hint: treat each customer like you want to keep them and maybe you will. Meantime I’ll be shopping elsewhere.

What a pleasant shopping experience! I was in the market for a pair of running shoes to get back into running and left the store with an amazing pair of shoes.
The owner talked to me about my style, goals, etc. and explained why he was choosing the shoes he had me try on. When I asked questions, he answered them honestly. No pretense or snotty attitude, just good down to earth, common sense dialog and I appreciated that.
I highly recommend making the trip to purchase your running supply needs, they have it all and you will be satisfied with your purchase.

I came in to visit my Grams last weekend and wanted to continue my training for a half marathon in a couple of weeks. I immediately felt warm upon entering the store with a family owned feel. I spoke with one of the owners about some new running shoes and received excellent customer service and attention. The owners really have a love for running and fitness and it shows in their customer service and knowledge of the merchandise. 17 Ironman finishes from one of the owners… WOW!
I am new to the sport and am seeking to do a sprint triathlon in April. I just finished my first trail Ragnar last month and am really excited to continue moving forward. The training advice that I received along with the merchandise was priceless! How often do you get to pick the brain of someone that has so much experience with the sport? I asked for some deals on triathlon biking/​swimming shorts and received a pair for half off! After purchasing some Nike Pegasus shows I went on Amazon to find them only 5 dollars less which is quite amazing for a small business.
Great find and I would recommend this store to anyone I know!

Short Story: They know their stuff! A+ Customer Service!
Long Story:
1. LOCATION: It is conveniently located close to the parking lot, and they also have street parking.
2. STORE: The place is clean and organized. things are easy to find.
3. ATTENDANTS/​CUSTOMER SERVICE: The staff know their stuff. Seriously!!!
When I first started running a little over a year ago, I didn’t know what kind of shoes was best for me. I just new I needed new running shoes. I walked in there with ZERO knowledge of my running form, feet size, and feet shape.
— The attendant was very helpful, and very patient in helping me select the best shoe for me. I think i tried out at least 10 different kind of shoe before we could narrow down which one was right for me.
— The attendant also made me run up and down the street just to see how i look running with those shoe. After that, she also gave me tips on my running form and how i can correct it.
4. PRICE — At initial sticker price, their shoes may seem too pricey than your average Foot Locker or Sports Store. But then you realise: (1) These are REAL running shoes. Not some mass produced shoe from china. (2) You cant beat the customer service. Where else can you get an attendant to spend 45 minutes with you, to help you pick 1 pair of shoes? (3) They do have sales and discounts. I believe they offer AAA and Military discounts.
— This last time, the owner gave me a discount on my shoe –which made it cheaper than buying the shoe online.
5. YOUR HEALTH MATTERS TO THEM — I cannot stress this enough. These people really do care about your health when you are picking shoes. They are not there to sell you what ever gets them the biggest commission. They are there to help you run at your best, and help you not get injured. I mean thinking about it! Would you rather have a cheap pair of shoes, and then get injured while running, or would you rather pay a little extra for a quality pair of shoes made specifically for your type of feet –that will help you get more fit?
Overall: I will definitely come back here again whenever I need new running shoes.

I’m just starting out running and the main reason I haven’t before is because I was getting shin splints all the time. I signed up to do the Bacon Chase 5k because of the bacon, but I wanted to actually run the 5k so it can cancel out some of the negative effects of the bacon. so per a friend’s suggestion and because of all of the 5 star reviews, I decided to check this place out since I wanted to make sure I got a good shoe that would help me avoid any leg problems.
I walked into this store not knowing what to expect, but I thought I was going to be paying out the nose for a pair of running shoes. Everyone greeted me immediately when I entered the store and Kathy helped me out picking out a pair of running shoes. I told her about my shin splints and that my feet are a bit irregular and regular shoes don’t fit me so well. this was not a problem for her. she spent a good amount of time trying to find a shoe that would fit my feet properly and support my legs. she’d analyze the way I’d walk in them and even took me outside and watched me run to make sure that they were the right shoes for me. she even let me go run for a bit to try out a few different pairs of shoes to see if they felt good.
so after about 45 min of trying on shoes and taking them for short runs, Kathy finally found the shoes that fit right and felt good running. I was expecting to be shell shocked on the price of the shoes, since at no time did we discuss price while we were trying on shoes. I thought I would be spending $ 150+… ok, so in the end I did spend $ 150+, but the shoes itself were $ 110, and then since my feet are somewhat odd, I needed to buy inserts also, and they were $ 50. Kathy tried to find me shoes without inserts, but what worked and felt the best were a pair of Brooks with inserts. since she wasn’t able to find a shoe for me without inserts, she gave me 10% off, which was awesome!
the customer service and expertise on running here was awesome, prices aren’t too bad either and this is a place I’d highly recommend to any newbie and experienced runner.

I enjoy running. Sometimes. I often relish the 30 – 45 minutes trotting about my neighborhood and few things make that time more enjoyable than good tunes, nice weather and brand spankin’ new gear. Even a new pair of running socks will get me in the mood.
Thus, you can imagine my delight when I walked into Runner’s High ‘n Tri. They have just about everything a running, triathlete or fitness enthusiast may want. And while you won’t find *everything* fitness related here, they sported some great brands that will ensure you’re ready for a race. Even if you’re just racing down your street.
Staff is extra friendly and knowledgeable — and is more than able to fit you with a proper pair of running shoes. As for other merch, you’ll find sports bras from Moving Comfort (*the best IMO*), clothing from Nike, Prana and more, socks from Balega, endurance snacks and tons of other goodies.
When I’m ready for my next pair of running shoes, I definitely plan to come back here and support this sweet local shop.