Running Etc

Phenomenal experience! Went in looking to purchase new running shoes and has an idea of what I wanted in mind. I was immediately greeted at the door by Doug, then met upstairs by Carol to check my gait and find me a shoe. She bought out the Brooks Pureflow 4. I tried them on, ran a little and was sold. Due to the staff’s knowledge I was in and out of the door within 20 minutes; and that is solely because I decided to look around and purchase other items. One of the best shopping experiences I’ve ever had. I will definitely be back before I leave the area! Thanks!

I stopped in Running Etc. over the weekend to purchase a running water bottle and couple GU packets for a trail race I had coming up.
The prices are reasonable and they had exactly what I was looking for. The staff was so friendly and I stayed for awhile just chatting.
If you need anything running related, I definitely recommend checking out Running Etc. I can’t wait to join them on their group run on Thursday!

Dont judge me by me saying this, but I was hoping that they had sneakers for things other than running. I have a high foot and do alot of high impact aerobic activity except running and thought I could come here for a good pair of sneakers that give me a cushion with arch support.
They only had either one or the other, not both. The salesman suggested I try sports authority or dicks sporting goods where they would have a better variety of that style of shoe.
Its too bad cause I really hoped they could help me. Sidenote, the salesman could do a better job at only helping one customer at a time. When i was there he started servicing 2 other people when i was still talking to him.

They had my sneakers before any other running store in the area! I must say the BEST customer service you can imagine. They truly went above and beyond to make sure I got the shoe I wanted! This was my first time I’ve bought sneakers there and definitely will not be my last. Indeed, I will be a life long customer! :o)

From the moment I walked in the door the staff was friendly and willing to help. I had been having trouble with shin splints, and also needed a new pair of shoes. The gentlemen who assisted me, found shoes that would be better for my over-​corrective gait, and also gave me advice on my form and stride. We tried on several pairs – the salesman really pushed to make sure that I found exactly the shoes I would want. Further, he spent a lot of time to tell me about local running trails and opportunities for a novice runner such as me. I never once felt rushed, in fact, I stuck around to chat for about 10 minutes after my purchase. After 2 weeks, my shins are feeling much better, and I am able to enjoy my runs. Very impressive. The shoes may cost a bit more than you would pay at foot locker, but the employees here will ensure that you get what you need for your style and experience with running. I will be back.

Very passionate and knowledgeable staff. Glad there are running stores like this in the Virginia area!

GREAT customer service! I am a novice in the world of running but they were super friendly, didn’t put on airs, and were very accommodating to me as a shopper with a young child. They accurately assessed my foot issues and found a good sneaker for plantar fasciitis. AND they found me shoes that were on sale. They didn’t upsell me or offer me gadgets and gizmos that I didn’t need. It was honestly a really great experience, especially on the heels of my trip to another area store (see my other review) where the employees just could not have been bothered. I will definitely return to Running Etc when I am in the market for a new pair of running shoes and will recommend it to my area friends.

Very nice quaint store located in my favorite town, Ghent. The staff is fairly nice and willing to assist you with any needs. They have almost anything you need! I was able to leave with a nod and a smile, and a few items :)

This is the nicest locally owned running shop I’ve ever been in. Two floors of running bliss. I came in because they were having an end-​of-​the-​year sale on clearance shoes and happened to have one of my favorite models on clearance. I ended up with a different pair than what I had intended to buy– $ 46 for a shoe that retails at $ 120! I’m sure I’ll like them; I’ve always been a big Adidas fan.
I love the layout of the place. The first floor is all apparel and gear, while the second floor has shoes and socks. I really, really like how they have a special section upstairs dedicated to discontinued models that are on clearance. They even list the sizes that are in stock for each of the models on clearance. Super convenient for someone like me, who knows the shoes and doesn’t need any special attention. That being said, I could see that individualized attention was being provided to others who needed it.
They have some cool posters and maps of popular running spots and routes near the store, things that add to the running vibe. I’ll definitely make a point to stop here when in the area.

We love this place. They do a great job on checking your gait to fit you into the right shoes, but they also do a great job understanding your budget and try to find the best shoe in your price range. Both our kids have moved into that bubble area where they don’t really fit kid shoes or adult shoes anymore. The guy found my daughter a small women’s shoe on clearance for a great price. My son was more difficult in a men’s 7. The guy tried to find a color neutral women’s shoe. The fuzzy tongue on one was too much though. In the end we could only get a $ 120 shoe on my kid’s feet and I just had to say no to the price. The guy understood and didn’t seem put off by all his help not making a sale. He wanted us to find something right for our son. My other love of this place is the clothing selection. I’m a larger size but they carry the Moving Comfort brand who goes way up… to 3X size and this store carries both shorts and shirts whoohoo! They have the electronics as well… gps/​heart rate monitors. I don’t trek to Norfolk often but when we do, we most always stop in here to see what’s on sale and get more shoes. Highly recommend if you need to get a good fit for a running/​walking shoe.

I love running ect. I have never found great running shoes until I ventured to Running Ect. The service is impeccable and you never come away dissatisfied. They have a lot of options to choose from.
The staff work with you one on one to help you find the right shoe for you. They have you run for them and they look at your feet to ensure that the shoe matches your arch and foot size.
They categorize the shoes based on the different types of shoes, like if it is lite weight or heavy. They also have shorts, shirts, running sleeves for your calves and socks.
If you are looking for shoes that rock your world and make running easy on your body definitely go here!

I have been going to this store for 7 years now, and even though I’m not a local anymore I still try to make a visit when I’m home. Running Etc fit me for my very first pair of running shoes, and from then on I was sold. Their customer service is great, and if they still have the Lucky Shoe Wall it’s a great find for discontinued shoes. I used to go on group runs out of the Colley Ave store and was always impressed with how nice everyone was – no matter their pace. Go here! You won’t regret it.

My nine year old has decided she wants to run. She already runs, a lot, but she was talking about more serious distance running. I decided that a solid pair of running shoes was in order. Children can get running injuries just as easily as adults. In my opinion, the two Running Etc. stores are the only local homes to experts. They always have staff there who are trained in observing your run and appropriately matching you to a shoe that fits your style.
We went on a Saturday after lunch and they were slammed. There was barely room to move. There were about 3 kids there getting fitted for track shoes, in addition to adult runners. We were greeted and waited patiently. Our sales rep could not have been nicer. She watched my girl run, then brought out an assortment of shoes. She waited patiently while every shoe was tried and tested, providing insight and suggestions. Having experienced some new/​recent foot pain from my own excercise I was also analyzed and I got a new pair too!
Yes, both pairs are less expensive online. I don’t really care. I will continue to go to Running Etc. and buy shoes there because I appreciate the personalized service they provide. It’s a dying art people!!! Most shoe stores don’t even have staff that can properly measure your feet, much less recommend different shoe styles based on an analysis of your run.

Doctor said get your daughter some running shoes (slowly recovering from ankle surgery and hereditary clumsiness) so based on the recommendation of a complete stranger while we were shopping somewhere else, we carried ourselves to Ghent.
Quick help as soon as we walked in. The woman that helped us, spent a lot of time with us, watching the kid walk to see what she needs, and to be sure that the shoes she was trying were the best option for her… and my apathetic 16 year old with a (reasonable) aversion to the horrific neon that is running shoe fashion wasn’t the easiest to work with. But she found the least ocularly offensive version she could, and we all left happy, even the kid (well…happy-ish, anyway).
She’s been wearing them and says she is feeling the difference, so it makes spending a bit more than I like to spend on ugly shoes worth it.
Kudos.

Super find in Norfolk. Selection is great (all high-​end shoes, so nothing less than $ 70 or so), Staff is excellent (knowledgeable, patient, friendly). They provide gait analysis (they watch you run in your current shoes, your socks, and in all the potential shoes). They give you their opinion, they don’t seem to push one brand over another (I tried on Saucony, Asics, Nike, New Balance and Adidas) and they have a LUCKY WALL which is their sale wall with limited sizes. I got lucky. A nice pair of New Balance 1080s for $ 99. Very happy.
Life others have said — the gait analysis is so helpful. Such a different experience from going to a mega sports store, where you’re lucky if the salesman knows the difference between a stability shoe and a flat.

I’m an avid runner but have been encountering some injuries and slower paces lately, so I stopped in to chat. Not only did they provide a free gait analysis, but my sales associate spent at least 45 minutes with me, talking about training, stretches, and shoe support systems while recommending different shoes and asking me to try them on and run the store in them.
By the end, I walked out with a new pair (in a different brand, and on sale, at her recommendation over some twice as expensive because I ran better in them), a brochure for a race she thought I’d enjoy, and an invite to both their mailing list an run group training sessions. What more cane you ask of a running store?

Personally — I’m not a running gal. In my mind the only things that should be running are the refrigerator and other house hold appliances.
However, my 19 year old son LOVES to run and has been in cross-​country every year. Needless to say, this is one of his favorite stores.
Over the years I’ve bought him many running shoes here and other running products.
My only issue with this place is that their personal customer service is TOO good. Hahahaha — what I mean by this is that they spend so much time helping each and every customer, even though they have one or two people running the store, that many times my son and I have had to wait over 20 minutes just to ask a question. And then when they finally do get around to helping us 10 minutes later, then it takes another 30 minutes for my son and the clerk to figure out the best shoe.
So, a quick stop at Running Etc, just doesn’t exist unless you go there knowing you’re not going to buy anything. Besides that, their products seem to be very high quality.

I am very very very pleased with Running Etc. First, the place was bigger than I imagined. Heck, I didn’t care for what was on the shoe wall or what was for sale — it was the service I received.
I’m not in the market to buy new running shoes so when I stopped by this place today to «window shop» I had no expectation to purchase anything. Well, turns out that I ended up spending money anyway…
Everyone employee, I would say at least five people, greeted me. One employee was working with a kid on picking up a new pair of shoes and they were having an extensive conversation to find him a perfect pair. Two associates offered to help me on both the upstairs and downstairs level.
I had a simple question regarding compression leg sleeves in preparation for this weekend’s Disney Half Marathon and the sales associate spoke to me for five minutes asking various questions to help me determine if using the sleeves would be beneficial. That impressed me more that he was probing as oppose to just trying to push me to buy something.
An overall great experience for a simple purchase. I did opt for the pink leg sleeves by the way. I told the sales rep it was so I can stand out in the most awkward way possible. All brands of shoes are available and their prices seem to be in line with the national shoe store chains.
So when it is time to make the move to buy a new pair of kicks I’ll certainly give this place my business.

My favorite running store in Hampton Roads. I always go here when I need new shoes– they have a great selection and the people are super nice and knowledgeable. Last time I stopped by I was suffering from a major case of indecisiveness, but the girl was ridiculously patient and keep bringing out box after box for me. I would tell her the most vague comments (e.g. «they just don’t feel right») and she was like a little shoe detective trying to find my perfect pair.
What else is awesome about this store? Cute running clothes! For both sexes! My boyfriend wears his «running is a mental sport… we’re all insane» shirt like a favorite pair of jeans.
I wish I lived nearby so that I could join their weekly runs. Darn tunnel.

When I was first starting out, running seemed simple. Just strap on some shoes and go. Then I made my way up to 10 miles and my knee was not having it. I had no idea how important good shoes and gear were before this point. I learned my lesson the hard way, having to nurse an injury. I’m pretty sure many other people do the same thing. I wish I had started out by going to Running Etc. first.
First thing, get good shoes! The staff will analyze your gait and recommend shoes for you based on if you over pronate, under pronate or are neutral. I selected some Asics and tried them out on my next run. My feet were miserable and burning. Even though I had worn them, Running Etc took them back. I tried a pair of Mizuno Creations next and it was like they were meant for me.
There are always many runners in there who will offer you advice and share tips. They have a great selection of merchandise. it’s a bit expensive and you could order some of the things online for cheaper, but you’re paying for the service. If you’re a beginner or a top athlete, they’ve got what you need.