Up & Running

Up & Running is pretty awesome. If you need anything running related, you better believe they have you covered. And not just that, they are really intertwined in the running community in El Paso and it’s super rare for them to not play some part in the competitive runs here.
U&R has a large shoe selection. I’m not sure how they select the brands they carry, but they have a lot of the ones I’m familiar with. The clothing selection is small and a little pricey, but it may be better quality than what I typically buy so it might be justified. If you go at the right time, you might see some brown bags on the tables outside… those are $ 5-​$ 10 and usually have a shirt in them from what I’m told. We go here a lot for gels and energy jelly beans. Both are at good prices.
There are a lot of packet pick-​ups done here so if you try to go too late you may see a large crowd. One really cool thing they do is displaying the t-​shirts from previous races… just look up!
U&R might not be the cheapest place, but it is definitely a one-​stop-​shop. The staff is great, all really informed about their products (and if they don’t know the answer, they’ll find out for you). Good place to shop for the experienced or inexperienced runner.

Great service. They spent quality time with me ensuring I had the right shoe for my training. When I needed to go back to find a better fit they were more than accommodating and very nice. I would recommend this store for all your running needs. Nothing else like it in El Paso!

Chris the owner took time out to help me try on a few shoes and even let me run outside with a few pair as he gave an honest assesment of my run style. It sure did help and my knees now feel great. They also organize a few local races which are always polished and in order. It almost feels like you are visiting another city with their groovy t-​shirt ceiling layout. Tops in service and the folks are always open to helping.

Up & running really does get you up and running! This place is great for the avid runner and the beginner. The staff is super friendly and always willing to help you out. Everyone is pretty much an experience runner so they know the in’s and out’s of what you want to look for in a shoe.
U&R has probably the best selection of elite running shoes at a pretty decent price. Yeah you could probably find running shoes at a lower cost at the mall but then you miss out on the expertise of the runners analyzing your gait and body mechanics. This really helps out on getting the right fit for your foot. And when it comes to exercising, your health is everything because one injury and your left waiting for your friends at the finish line while they get out and run.
The store has a really cool runners environment to it and I hadn’t noticed before but I did this time, they got old running event shirts up on the ceiling! It makes for an entertaining spectacle while shopping around.
Plus, they always got some kind of deal going on! Clearance item socks, «warehouse cleaning» shoe clearance, or end of season clothing. You name it! Plus they got gear for tri’s and Zoot suits for the swim. Oh, and ever wonder where you can scoop up a brag sticker? Well this place has em all! Stop by, or better yet run on by!

Up and Running is a great local running store with locations on the East and West sides of El Paso. I have only been into the store on the West side. It is very well stocked with shoes, clothes and running gear and the staff are very helpful and friendly. If you sign up for their email list, they will send you information and coupons.
I pretty much know what shoes I am going to buy when I walk in, but watched them help a friend choose shoes, and they seem to know what they were doing to recommend an appropriate model for her gait, etc. They will let you try a short run on the treadmill or sidewalk outside to test the shoes.
Finally, if you are a local runner, I recommend their Tuesday evening runs from the West side store at 6pm. Distances are usually around 3 – 6 miles, with an option to split off halfway for a shorter vs longer run. The group will periodically stop for the slower runners to catch up with the faster ones. They also do fun things after some of the runs, like wine tasting and a chocolate fountain for Valentine’s day.

Today was my first time walking into a specialty running store. Even after several races (5K-​½Marathon) under my belt, I’m not fully comfortable calling myself a «runner». I’m really no expert in terms of training methods, running shoes, running food, all that fancy stuff. I walked in there no knowing what I wanted or what to expect.
I was immediately greeted with a smile and was give personal assistance throughout my decision making process. This is probably the biggest difference from going to a big box store or a general shoe store; they’ve seen all sorts of craziness and have experience with all kinds of runners. The staff went to work by watching my feet as I walked across the store in my socks, and examined my current (old) Asics to find a comparable shoe in the store.
In the end, it was a close call between purchasing Brooks (foam support), and another pair of Asics (Gel support). I decided to purchase another pair of Asics… sticking to what I know and the shallow reason of the color combo. The staff who was helping me gladly answered my questions about taking supplements for joint pain etc. The whole time I was in Up & Running, I felt like I was in good hands.
Next time, I’ll be back to browse the other room filled with running gear, clothing, etc.