The Running Center Of St. Louis

I dabble in the occasional run and recently noticed some issues with plantar fasciitis. So when it was recently time for new running shoes, I knew I needed to do more than just pick a cheap shoe off Amazon.
I poped into The Running Center after my workout at Orange Theory Fitness a few weeks ago and had a great experience.
It felt like I was being helped by an old friend.
They don’t carry Mizunos, but truth-​be-​told, I’m not as much of a fan of that brand as I used to be.

Staff are very experienced runners and know a lot about fitting shoes and running in general. Hardly if any staff turnover. They let you run outside the store to try out. Do not carry Mizuno. Have New Balance, Adidas, Nike, Brooks, Asics. All discounted 10−20% better than other running specialty stores. They always remember their customers too. Offer 20% discount on apparel w shoe purchase. I have returned shoes there before when hardly worn. They stand behind their products.

My experience here has been marvelous, I have learned so much from the owner on such a short amount of time. You will be walking out of the store with happy feet and feeling like an expert on your new shoes. I recommend this store to anyone who needs new running shoes for walking around everyday or workouts.

I had a very good experience here. The salesman was very soft-​spoken, friendly, and knowledgeable. I left with a great pair of shoes, and they were a bit cheaper than the prices that I’ve seen at other area running stores, which is what drew me to this store to begin with. The salesman was able to assess my running issues and pinpoint which shoes would work best with my feet.

Having done my research online, I walked into this store with a specific item already in mind. I needed a specific trail running shoe — they didn’t have it, but they had the non-​trail version of it to try on. They helped me determine my correct shoe size and gave me really good advice on fit and mechanics. They ordered the shoes for me and they arrived a few days than expected! So far I’m loving it!
So, the shoe selection isn’t the greatest. It’s not a chain. I am happy with the service I received (they were runners and very knowledgeable), so from now on I’m buying local and family-​owned!

First off, I gotta thank my wife for taking me to a place that specializes in running shoes. Up until then, my shoe criteria started and ended with whether the shoe was on sale, and in my size. I never put much thought into just how a crappy shoe could ruin my day…
Now, I’m not a runner. Even when I used to run, I still wouldn’t consider myself a runner. However, I do love to walk long distances. A nice Saturday would be to listen to a book while walking a 10k. So for me, a good shoe is important.
The Running Center is a small shop in Rock Hill, and I really feel like the staff cares about the customer’s individual needs. They understand how the body moves, and what kind of shoe would be appropriate for each person. They are not the least bit pushy, and they give you as much time as you need to make an informed decision. Financially, you are paying for quality, but it’s really not too bad.
It’s not the first store of its kind, but it is the store that I have always felt comfortable in. The store is clean, and they choose their product carefully. The atmosphere is very friendly, and it is always fun to come in and watch them work with actual athletes who take running seriously.
Do yourself a favor and give them 20 minutes of your time. Have them watch your walk and see what they recommend. I think you’ll have a good experience, and no pressure.

This little store is a terrific place to find running shoes. The staff here are very knowledgeable and have great advice for finding the right shoe. The one time I went the Asics that I wanted were on SALE and that was very exciting. They also have lots of running gear for affordable prices as well. I would definitely return!

This store kind of let me down. I went there to get new shoes while training for a half. The guy was EXCELLENT at helping me pick out new shoes. He even let me go for a run outside. I ended up buying socks and new gloves… they were really personal and the price was right.
BUT! Unfortunately, the second time I went back looking for new shoes to train for my fall marathon. The guy who helped me the first time pawned me off to a girl who wasn’t much help. I explained to her what I was looking for and she said well… which ones look good? She pinched my big toe and said those look good and sent me out the door. When I asked about socks she was equally useless. I’m in need of new shoes again, but I’m going somewhere else.
Having said that, they don’t try to rip you off– the price is definitely good so they get an A-​OK.

This was the first running store I went to here in STL and it was an OK experience. They have a pretty good selection of standard running shoes, socks and gear. The guy who helped me watched my biomechanics while walking and told me the things that I needed to watch while buying a shoe. He was right on (slight over pronation and lower arch), which made me feel better about listening to him.
The people there seem to know what they’re talking about and I got an OK vibe from everyone, but I just wasn’t totally into the whole experience. When I asked for opinions about some foot trouble I’ve been having recently, the guy helping me didn’t really pay full attention to what I was saying. He was, however, very patient with the fact that I tried on about 10 pairs of shoes before I ended up with a pair to buy. And he knew a fair amount about the different shoes too.
A few days later, I actually ended up returning the pair I bought after wearing them around my apartment a bit and realizing they were absolutely not the shoes for me. They have a great, full-​refund return policy for a week after purchase and they didn’t give me any trouble or hassle upon the return. Return policies are super important to me when it comes to running shoes, so they get two thumbs up on this one.
I’ll probably never go back here unless I’m in need of some random running gear and I’m in the area. I just didn’t experience that «connection» I was looking for with a running store. Yes, I do realize how hokey that sounds, but no, I can’t help it.

Not bad! I came here looking for a stick (massaging apparatus to work out the kinks in my legs) and found it for a pretty good price.
The friendly sales associate seemed to be a runner himself, and he gave me very good tips on preventing shin splints, etc.
I don’t know if I’d come here for shoes (Fleet Feet has my heart!), but for running accessories, this might be my new go-​to place.
Oh, and they have an extensive selection of GU! Gotta love that.

No more hurty knees, yesssss!
They don’t try to oversell you – a rare find these days. The knowledgeable and friendly staff will find you a shoe to perfectly fit your funky biomechanics.