Got some last-minute holiday shopping to do for the runner on your list?
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Here’s the big question:
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👉 Do you buy online…or make a trip to your local running store?
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When you’re racing against the holiday clock, buying online can seem like the easy option—credit card, click, ship, done.
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But if you haven’t stepped inside a local running store lately (or ever), you’re missing out on the fastest, easiest, least stressful way to grab great gifts today.

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In fact, there are 3 BIG REASONS every runner should know about shopping at a running store… .
And you can’t put a price on what you get from the in-person experience.
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In this article, WeeViews co-founder and runner Nathan Reyes breaks down why heading to a local running store may be the best place to do your last-minute holiday shopping for the runners on your list.

 Here’s how I learned to appreciate what local running stores really offer… 

I’m “that guy.”

• The guy chatting with strangers in line at the coffee shop.
• The guy talking too loud at the bank.
• The guy who walks past two bars to get to the one where he knows the bartender.

And yes…the guy who somehow ends up buying running gear for half the people he talks to during the holidays.
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So when someone asked me:

I had thoughts. Lots of them.
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If you’re a runner, there’s a good chance you know the feeling:

• Your running club, your favorite routes, races, post-run hangout spots…they all become part of your routine, your friendships, your community.
• Shopping at a running store fits right into that experience.

Nathan Reyes

"Skip the big-box stores and online retailers, and shop at your local running store."

Here’s what I love most about holiday shopping at running stores:

• ✅Talking through a buying decision with an actual human who runs
• ✅Getting real shoe + gear recommendations for the runner on your list
• ✅Knowing the store owner or staff by name
• ✅Being recognized as a regular
• ✅Supporting a local business—especially during the holidays
• ✅Taking advantage of in-store deals, swag, and local race info
• ✅Getting your gift wrapped or shipped (yes—many stores do this!)

And honestly, who doesn’t love seeing Main Street lit up for the holidays?
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Full storefronts. No vacancies. People shopping local.
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It feels like community…because it is.

Let’s be real...No running store is making 100 percent locally-crafted shoes and gear.
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Inventory varies. Some products come from overseas. That’s normal.

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So you might wonder:

• “Why not just shop online where the selection is huge?”
• “Can a running store compete with online prices?”
• “What can a running store give me that an online cart can’t?”

Fair questions. Here’s the answer…
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Even if the exact item you’re hunting for isn’t made locally, or isn't in stock today...
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Your local store still gives you something online retailers can’t match. Check out these 3 BIG REASONS to shop at your local running store...

I stopped by Achilles Running Shop in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, looking for a new trail shoe.
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And like every runner hunting for the perfect shoe…I had questions.
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Lots of them.
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Enter Nikki Niemeyer, the store manager. An ultrarunner with multiple 100-milers under her belt. She answered everything, shared her experience, and steered me toward the HOKA Speedgoat.

• I tried on every model the internet junkies rave about.
• I got real-world advice from someone who actually runs trails.
• I walked out with the right shoe, so confident, that I returned later for a road shoe.

If you’re buying shoes or gear during the holidays, ask the running store staff:

• What shoe or gear they recommend
• How a shoe performs on road or trail
• What shoe fits your stride, strengths, or injury history
• The best local running routes
• What races they love
• How to prep for your next trail race, marathon, or even your first run

A local running store gives you the one thing your online cart never will:

• 👉 A real conversation with someone who lives the running lifestyle.

My advice: Shop local.

Here’s what you won’t see inside a running store:

• Piles of defective shoes
• Cheap knockoffs
• Random gear pulled from a warehouse bin
• Pages of questionable online reviews

Running stores stock vetted & tested gear only. You know...the stuff runners trust.
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Their inventory is curated, tested, and intentionally selected so you spend less time sifting and more time finding what actually works.

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 But there’s another layer of “quality” you notice the moment you walk in…the customer service. .
You’re greeted by someone who actually runs, knows the gear, and cares whether you leave with the right fit — not just whatever’s on sale or whatever moves fastest off the shelf.

• No bored teenager pointing you toward aisle 12. 
• No rushed employee juggling five departments.
• No guessing games.

Just real runners helping real runners. And that level of service is hard to find anywhere else, especially at big-box stores.
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 Less junk. Less guessing. More confidence that the shoes you take home will actually get you to the finish line. 
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My advice: Shop local.

This might be the most important reason of all.

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A running store isn’t just a store. It’s the heartbeat of the running community.
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Running stores:

• Sponsor and manage races
• Host clubs, events, and training groups
• Support gyms, coaches, podiatrists, massage therapists, and medical pros
• Give back to local charities and nonprofits

When you support a running store, you support the people who support runners.

• You see familiar faces at races.
• You hear about upcoming events.
• You get encouragement, motivation, and accountability.
• You become part of something bigger than your holiday checklist.

That’s the running community.

If you’re buying for a runner this holiday season, skip the endless scrolling, questionable reviews, and package delays.
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Walk into your local running store:

• Get knowledgeable help
• Talk gear with someone who actually runs
• Grab gifts the same day
• Feel good knowing you supported a local shop that supports runners

You’ll walk out with better gear, better service, and a better story.
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And your runner will feel it. I promise.
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Got some last minute shopping to do for runners on your list?
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Head to a local running store and make holiday gifting a whole lot easier.
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