Hill Country Running

Although this post is untimely, I thought I’d high five the entire staff at Hill Country Running. I usually get my running shoes elsewhere, but thought I’d drop in and check out the selection. The store is really clean and nicely done. I didn’t find the exact fit in the shoe I thought I wanted and did not make a purchase that day.
I highly recommend looking at this store if you are in the market for quality running shoes.

I went in the other day to buy a new pair of running shoes. The girl who helped me was fantastic. I’d been fitted before, but wasn’t quite happy with my current shoe and wanted another opinion. She gave me a couple of options, both of which I really liked. I had made my decision and was ready to purchase, but after asking some additional questions she thought I might like another shoe better. Unfortunately, they did not carry the brand. I thought I’d give her suggestion a try at another store and if it didn’t work out, I’d come back to buy my first choice. I tried them on and loved them. I’ve been on a handful of runs since, including a half marathon and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase.
As another reviewer said, this is what customer service is all about. Although I didn’t make a purchase from HCRC this time, I’m here to give it, the sales person in particular, 5 stars. I will be back.

Have been to HCR before and today’s return visit was the reason I keep coming back.
Needed some new road shoes to set me up for this year’s goal, and Kyle watched me run in the store, discussed my foot strike and the likely shoe types to support it.
We tried five pair, no rush, lots of input on the finer differences between each model.
Shopping at HCR is what shopping in #Austin should be like: intelligent staff, no pressure and honest input about pros and cons.
Will be back again — mark me as a repeat repeat customer.
And be sure to ask if Kyle’s around when you stop by!

I just started long distance running and every time I ran 8+ miles, my knees were on fire for a day or two. I figured it may be shoes. HCR hooked me up with an awesome pair. The staff watched me run in the store and made a recommendation based on how they saw me run. After trying to a few pairs of shoes, I found one that I liked. They feel great when I run and my knees are just fine. I would highly recommend anyone going to their stores if you are wanting shoes for running or just for comfort. They know what they are doing and have a great selection.

The sales rep was extremely knowledgeable, nice and helpful. Took time and effort to find the right shoe for me.

I’m a non-​runner, just getting started. Stopped in New Years Eve to get a pair of shoes. The gal there was helpful, not pushy, watched me run through the store and on the treadmill. She did a good job of juggling multiple customers while she was the only one there. The service was great, and there was plenty to choose from in my size.
Prior to finding HCR, I had driven to Runtex because I knew the name and didn’t even know of another running store. Even though the RT website said it was open until 4PM on NYE, it was closed when I got there at 2:45PM. I google «austin running shoes» on my phone and found that HCR was just a few minutes away down Riverside. Glad I found it. I’ll be returning when I need something. May even try the running classes.

Years of shopping at RunTex has set me up for feeling like a heel when I go anywhere else. Recent runs to Lukes Locker, Lulu, and HCR make me feel like I should join the witness protection program. BUT I can’t hide in the shadows anymore. RunTex, thanks for your years of help, you put miles and miles in my life. I have to keep it fresh, share some love.
HCR is an awesome little store! I went in because I recently joined Jog-​A-​Dog and was on the search for a RuffWear leash. They were out of them, but I walked out with a 100 $ GPS watch I’ve been thinking about buying for my Marathon training. They have friendly staff, good selection, and they are full of information. Between here and Lukes, I might of found a new love.

These folks are fantastic.
I stopped in a few months ago after a yoga class to see the store, and planned on coming back another day to actually go through the process of getting fitted for shoes (I came in 15 minutes till closing time). I was greeted by the sweetest employee (Jessica? Jennifer?) who really didn’t seem to care that she was about to be done for the day, as she took the time to watch me run on the treadmill, presented me with at least 10 different pairs of shoes, and helped me narrow them down to the perfect pair. She was super knowledgable on the types of shoes they carried, and when we got into a convo about barefoot running, the other employee at the store even stopped over to lend some advice. I never once felt rushed, even though I was there well after they closed up shop for the evening.
I love my shoes, loved the experience of finding them, and I’ll recommend this place to anyone!

Last fall I decided to finally get serious about running. I had been doing the Couch 2 5K program off and on for a while and it was time to buckle down and actually finish the darn thing. I set my sights on the Schlotzsky’s Bun Run in April ’12, figuring I’d do it if I had an actual deadline. The first step was purchasing a proper pair of running shoes. I have not had good luck with athletic shoes in the past, because, like the rest of me, my feet are small but wide. I was nervous about going to an actual running store, but the reviews for Hill Country Running were encouraging.
Four stars right off the bat for the female employee (should have gotten her name!) not laughing her butt off at the idea of my chubby self running a 5k. In all seriousness though, she was really friendly and didn’t treat me any less for not seeming like an athletic type. She watched me run and determined that I overpronate (whoops). Based on that and my wide feet, she brought out a few pairs of shoes for me to try on. I was able to take a quick jog out back (you can also do it on their treadmill) in each pair to see which felt the best.
I chose a pair of Brooks; they are not exactly fashionable but they are so comfortable. I haven’t had any shin, ankle, or knee problems (knock on wood) while running, and I think the Brooks are a big factor in that. They cost around $ 100, so be prepared to make an investment, but it is worth it to run in a comfortable shoe. Even casual runners can suffer injuries; you need to consider your choice of footwear carefully.
The Bun Run was last weekend and I exceeded the goals I had set for myself. I really think my visit to Hill Country Running contributed to my success, as it was one of the first times I saw myself as an actual «runner.» I’ll definitely be back when I need my next pair of shoes.
If you’re new to running, don’t be intimidated — just go!

So I just started running every day this year for various reasons so I thought it was time to invest in a nice pair of running shoes because the ones I had were falling apart and made my shin hurts! After reading all of the wonderful reviews on this place, I decided to give it a try and it definitely did not disappoint.
Immediately upon entering the store, I was greeted by a friendly employee who asked me he could help me with anything. After telling him I needed new running shoes he first made me run with the shoes I had on to see how much support I needed. He told me that my knees and feet turn inward when I run so I needed a pair of shoes that had a lot of support on the inside. We tried out about 6 different shoes and he made me run with each of them to decide which one felt the best. I eventually settled on a pair of Saucony’s that were a little pricey but it is definitely worth it because I can now run longer with no leg pain!
The customer service is beyond phenomenal and I would definitely recommend this store to anyone looking for running gear.

These shoes are effing comfortable.
I went to Hill Country Running Company on Tuesday April 24^th 2012, at around 4:30 PM. No other customers were in the store, just 3 people to help me. I was helped by a nice woman with a Eastern-​European sounding accent who first watched me walk, then I tried on some neutral shoes, and then I ran in the neutral shoes. After running, she discovered I have a slight overpronation, so I tried on three different pairs of shoes to try how comfortable they were, and did short runs in each of them, while she watched.
I tried on three shoes, and the one I liked best actually happened to be the cheapest I tried ($ 110) vs the other ones ($ 120 – 130). These are probably the most comfortable running shoes I’ve ever owned. You owe it to your feet, ankles, and knees to get some shoes that fit correctly and help you have a normal running gait. I usually buy running shoes for about $ 50 so I was a little hesitant to buy more expensive shoes. But if you spread it out over the lifetime of the shoes (9 – 12 months) it is definitely worth the extra money to get a great shoe. I ran 4.5 miles around town lake, and my feet and knees felt great afterwards.
For your information, I got the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12 for $ 110. On Google Shopping the lowest price is $ 109.95 (as of this review).
Great store.

I bought a pair of running shoes from these folks a few days ago. The guys were friendly and spent a lot of time helping me choose the right pair. I was happy with the level of service, and I am happy with the new shoes.
I don’t have a sense for whether the price was competitive, but I didn’t feel like they were gouging me. And I got a 10% discount because I run with Gilbert’s Gazelles.

Does this place even need another 5-​star review? My girlfriend and I come from an extensive background in swimming, and we’ve decided to expand our workouts to include triathlons, so we’ve started going to sports stores around here. We wanted to have our gaits analyzed to ensure that we get the correct shoes, mainly to avoid injury and make running enjoyable. They have great employees that watch you run out back and on a treadmill. They then tell you whether you need a neutral running shoe, one to battle over-​pronation, etc. After that, they help you size your shoe correctly (most people are wearing an incorrect size for serious running), and they let you try on a run in as many pairs as you need to find the best fit and padding amount.
So, we went to Hill Country, went through all the paces, narrowed down between all the pairs we tried and chose some Saucony shoes. We thought that it would be worth it to get sized at least once, but when we got home and compared their prices to online vendors and big-​box stores, we found that we didn’t pay any extra for the service! You owe it to yourself, if you’re intensely running, to come in to get fitted for a correctly-​fitting shoe that’s a good model. It will better your times and keep you off of the doctor’s table.

Move over, Run-​Tex! Paul Carroza’s reign of running monopoly is officially over.
I needed a new pair of running shoes to start training for a race later this year and thought I’d give these guys a shot. I was honestly only planning on doing some tire kicking, but the salesperson was so helpful I ended up buying the shoes. The guy must have brought me a half dozen shoes until we nailed down what style was most comfortable for my stride and then I tried another half dozen in that style until I settled on the Asics I did.
The salespeople were all ears and smiles, wanting to know about me and races I’ve done and shooting the general running breeze. Definitely a fan!

These people know running shoes.
I went there not knowing a damn thing about my running style, feet, or shoes in general. The staff took a long time ex planing everything, which is exactly what I wanted! They have a good selection and decent prices. Keep in mind these are top tier shoes.
They pass out coupons all over town and at marathons so keep a look out before you are about to buy.
Ask for Ed!

The staff here are great! One of the best stores in Austin.
A new pair of shoes is like candy for runners. The staff at this store will make sure you get the best for your form!

Stopped in after reading a Talk thread and all these great reviews. They guy that helped me was great.
He did watch me walk, but I never got on a treadmill. Instead, I just spent some time walking around the store, checking out merchandise I can’t fit into.
For me, it’s weird spending $ 100 on a pair of shoes. My knees don’t think it’s weird at all. My lower back and my knees have been thanking me ever since my first day of wearing them. It really is money, and time, well spent.

Actually, I popped in here just for a Trigger Point grid massage roller. The first time I came in, they were out of stock but were able to tell me the exact day they were picking up new rollers. I returned yesterday and bought one.
Staff were very friendly and helpful. The rollers were available in two colours. I initially went for the orange. The gentleman helping me suggested the black, saying it would not show dirt so easily and therefore look cleaner in the long run. I realized he was right (you have to roll on the floor) and went with the black instead. A small detail, to be sure, but it spoke volumes about his approach to customer service — he took the time to help me make the best decision about the product I was buying. I really appreciated that.

I love this place. I’ve gotten my last 2 pairs of running shoes here and they continue to find the right shoe for me.
The people who work here are VERY Friendly. Last time I went, they let me test out the shoes outside and make sure they were what I was looking for. I talked to one of the guys about future running events and triathlons.
I definitely recommend this place for shoes and sportswear!

These guys are great. They keep things personal by asking your name. Nate helped me out, and he was a great genuine guy — just talking to you like a friend would. We looked at my old shoes and Nate brought out a shoe just to test what he thought my foot condition was (over-​pronating).
If you’re not a treadmill runner — which most of us are not — at least those that really run — they evaluate you running outside as well if you don’t feel natural on the treadmill.
When they asked how I found them, I told them Unilocal had awesome reviews. I went to Rogue once but they only had a display model of the shoe that I tried on and liked — it was going to be the following week before the next shipment was coming in. While I was talking to the guys, another customer told me that RunTex told them to go to Hill Country Running.
Save yourself the time from these other «running/​athletic» shoe stores, and go to Hill Country Running. Their prices are the same as the rest (or slightly lower than some. When you’re paying $ 100 on shoes, you want to feel good about the shoes and the people you’re giving your money to. These guys aren’t cocky or self centered — they honestly just help you out and wish you the best with your shoes. Good ol’ genuine people that you wish existed at more retail places.