Running Etc

My home away from home. Sigh. There’s really nothing more beautiful than the running store? Running, ETC is locally owned. They are super friendly and treat their customers like family. When I first came in to this store I was overweight and had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I felt super self conscious but Mark went out of his way to make me feel at ease. No question is ever too stupid. They have pretty much everything you could possibly need. They also offer various classes on training, injury prevention, and nutrition. Go see them!

Mama has a new pair of shoes!
I’ve been running on and off for the better part of 30 years now (mostly off) and have been going to the Ghent location since I moved to Tidewater in the 90s. In my heart of hearts, I’m still that girl who frequents the local stores on Colley but in reality I live in the suburbs and found the Va Beach store to be more convenient to where I live and appreciate the spacious parking lot for my stroller toting SUV.
I was worried about the shoes I’ve been running in for this latest bout of adding running to my weekly schedule — they are two years old (I know — see the on-​and-​off comment above) and I bought them before I was pregnant so I thought perhaps one or both of my feet or gait or all of the above had changed.
We went in on one of the two Sundays the stores are open (their anniversary weekend and the weekend before Christmas) and was pleasantly surprised to hear that they were having their anniversary sale. The salesman, Drew, watched me walk and run on their in-​store runway and let me know that pregnancy had not changed my gait. He measured my feet and we found out that my right foot grew a tiny bit and both feet got a bit wider. He asked me about the shoes I liked and didn’t like, and brought out a selection for me to try on ranging from last year’s model of the shoe I’d been runninng in to a top of the line version of another brand. Just like me, my feet are creatures of habit and felt great in the new model of shoes I already had, albeit a little bigger and a a little wider size. The entire time I felt like he was truly interested interested in finding me the right shoe rather than making the sale, which was awesome.
Are they pricier than buying at a discount store or online — yes, but their customer service was top notch and their selection of wares was truly anything a runner’s heart desires. And I like supporting our neighbors running local stores!

Let me start by saying I was interested in the Hoka running shoe and decided to stop in on a Friday night. I got there at 7:00 and noticed that the sign said they close at 7:00. I was told to just go on in there were people in the back. I was met by Shannon and told her what I stopped in for and that I understood that it was past closing. She told me not to worry and spent 30 minutes with me trying on a few pairs of running shoes. Shannon was having a pair sent over from another store because there was none my size.
I returned on Tuesday and Mark took care of me by watching me run to find the perfect shoe for my running style. I tried on several pair and decided to go with the Hoka one one Bondi 4.
This was one of the best experiences I’ve had buying shoes. Mark took a lot of extra time with me and talked a lot about different races in the area and outside the area that I may be interested in.
The shoes were no more expensive than in other shoe stores. I have found the place to go for all my running needs. I could not be happier with the product I purchased nor the people that helped me purchase them.
I would highly recommend Running Ect to anyone looking to start running or those that are seasoned veterans.

This is a bit of a stale review as we made a shoe purchase in October. However, I wanted to wait and see how the shoes held up and worked before I could review them
Running Etc. was highly recommended by several of our friends when my eleven year old son began to develop pain in his knees and ankles after runs. We have a close personal friend that works at the Ghent location. She was one that said that we should check them out.
On a Friday night we set out to the Virginia Beach store off of Laskin Rd. I used my GPS because I was unsure where it was. That led me on a chaotic drive all around the area when almost giving up we finally found it in the large strip South of Laskin beside Kelly’s.
The store is on the corner as I recall, easy to find with great signage. The parking lot was clear and the sidewalks were clear. The large glass windows and door were well maintained and clean as well. This is always a great start.
We went in and began to look around. The retail clothing portion is up front, the checkout is to your right and the shoes are in the rear. I found the store to be super organized and clean, that always impresses me about any business. They sell everything running related, so if you are a runner this should be a terrific find if you have not shopped here.
It took no time at all before a pretty young female associate approached us and asked to help. The problem was explained and she went right to work measuring my son’s foot, then having him walk the run way… it’s there laid out area to view customers and how there feet land to make recommendations. It was quickly diagnosed that he was walking with an over protrusion. The three types are over, under, or neutral. There is also a much more high tech tread mill with a monitor they can utilize too! This needs to be reserved for ages 12 and up due to potential of a fall.
Then came the selecting shoes portion which took much longer. They have all the major name brands, but depending on your diagnosis they may not have the exact type you desire. After trying on a few different types it was decided that the Brooks worked fine and he liked the color. During the sales process a few men also assisted us since there were no other customers. There was never any rushing us, the focus the entire time was on the customer experience.
Checkout was easy and it ended up the shoes were on sale which was a bonus. The shoes were no more than what you would pay else where which surprised me too. As soon as we exited the lights went out and I looked at my watch and they had went over closing a bit to accommodate us, but never said a word about closing approaching. This sealed it at a full five starts for me.
The shoes have not been my son’s most favorite, but when he runs there has been no pain in the ankles and knees that he had before, so they did the job. This is a runners/​joggers paradise, everything you could want under one roof. I would return, I would recommend.

I went searching for a new comfortable pair of well fitted running shoes. When I arrived Mark helped me. I showed him how my current shoes had broken down and he watched my natural gait as I walked and jogged. He took time with me and showed me several different types of shoes as well as taught me how to lace my shoes to help with the slipping in the ankle.
I ended up buying two pair and I would deffinately recommend going to this store if you need good shoes and great customer service! Thanks Mark

My experience at this location was less than pleasant. First off you can buy the same shoes they carry online fir 30% cheaper or more! What they do offer is a knowledgable staff. Well that stuff must have been on break because the young girl who «helped» me acted annoyed and actually said they had no shoes that fit what I wanted. I helped myself and got a pair of Nike Trails that were perfect. I bought a second pair online since I knew the size and saved 50.00! My suggestion, go in, try on shoes, than buy online! Try not hiring elitist running snobs!

Another pair of running shoes and another great experience! Thanks again running etc!

I LOVE THIS PLACE. They have the best variety of quality running shoes and other running related gear! Staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. They conduct a free gait analysis so they can get you in the best shoe! They have an aweomse web site that lists all of the local race dates/​times and even have a free injury clinic once a month. I wish I could rate them higher, cause I definitely would!!!

I went there looking for a certain brand and was shown the shoes and assisted, asides from that my salesman really didn’t care about fit or anything else, pretty much, you want these, take them. Now everyone was helpful or nice, but I was very disappointed as I had never spent so much money in shoes, and was hoping for a professional opinion before dropping my credit card.
I still recommend the store for selection.

My salesman took the time to really help me find the perfect shoe. I didn’t over pay and felt very taken care of. Go here!

This is the local running shop that should be in every city. Having lived all over the US there are a few things that I expect from a local running shop. First they need to have employees that are knowledgeable on the shoes and gear that they sell. The staff is exceptional here for this. I say staff because no single member has all of the answers but they are smart enough to either look it up or talk to one of the other more experienced people at the shop and find the answer.
The second part is that they need to either carry the products that I want or be able to order them. Here again they excel, the selection of shoes is strong, carrying all of the major brands (asics, brooks, etc.) plus a small variety of brands that are harder to find like Hoka and Newton. The clothing variety is not bad, but I can find tech clothing everywhere. They do have an excellent selection of nutrition products and can actually explain the differences between them.
Bottom line: this is a friendly and helpful shop, prices are MSRP for most of their stuff, but they usually have some on sale. If you are new to running or dissatisfied with your current shoes, go here they will help you figure out which shoe fits best for you.

I went to Running Etc. a few years ago when I first started running and I got a pair of shoes that I loved and that fit me well. I bought several pairs and wore them until I could no longer find them (running shoes go out of commission every few years).
So last year I went to Final Kicks and was talked into a really expensive pair of shoes, but I thought the sales person must know what he is talking about since he works at a store especially for runners. While wearing the most expensive pair of shoes I had ever bought I ended up getting severe knee problems, shin problems and a heel spur. I thought it was my age. Little did I know I was wearing completely wrong shoes.
So a few weeks ago I went to Running Etc again to look for a new pair. Immediately the sales person saw that my shoes were completely wrong for my feet and my strut. I got a pair of shoes that were not only cheaper, but much more conducive for my body structure.
Although I am still trying to fix the damage that the old shoes did to my body, my new shoes are helping a lot. The staff at Running Etc are so helpful and knowledgeable that I don’t know why I went somewhere else. They have everything you need to run and more. A+ business.

I traveled to Virginia Beach for work and forgot to pack running shoes. A quick Google search led me to Running Etc. I had never been «fitted» for running shoes before, and the sale associate helped me to find shoes that fit the way I run. This involved me doing laps in the store, first without shoes, then with the variety of pairs I tried on. It was a great way to find the shoes that fit me best and felt most comfortable. I ended up buying a pair of nice comfy Nikes, and I even picked up a few pairs of running socks.
My experience here was fabulous, and I’ll definitely be back when I travel to Virginia Beach next!

The only place in Hampton roads you should be buying your shoes at. Everyone who works here is an expert on running and not somebody just getting you the pair of shoes you asked for. They will assist you with any problems you might have with running and offer great sound advice.

I can’t believe no one has reviewed this location yet!
Running etc. is THE best place in town to get your running gear. They watch you run, and will steer you towards the best shoes for your pronation type. The staff is always helpful and friendly… and they carry some really great stuff. The store stocks brands like Asics, Saucony, Brooks, New Balance, and Nike. They carry everything from shoes and socks to jogging strollers and apparel. They carry all sorts of accessories, and even have sports beans, goo, etc.
They support a lot of local races and charities, which is great! I love coming here and supporting my local businesses rather than letting Dicks and Sports Authority take all my money :)