Run, don’t Walk to Road Runner Sports!

Road Runner Sports opened their first store in Canton last November followed by the second store opening in West Bloomfield this past April. The stores are part of a partnership with Road Runner Sports Headquarters in San Diego, a national and online store chain and the largest running and walking store in the United States. Alan Whitehead who owns Kona Running Company based in Northville, holds seven annual race events for runners and walkers in the area. Alan owns both Road Runner Michigan stores.

“I was originally an avid runner participating in approximately 13 to 14 road races per year then elevated my race distance to half marathons and marathons,” says Whitehead. “Then I joined the Detroit Free Press Marathon race staff in 1999 and became race director of the Detroit Thanksgiving Parade Turkey Trot and also established a new race in Northville called the Solstice Run.”

Road Runner Sports offers many brands of running and walking shoes along with apparel, nutrition and even recovery products. We offer major shoe brands such as Nike, Asics, Brooks, Adidas, Saucony, New Balance, Mizuno, Hoka, Reebok, Merrel, Pearl Izumi, Altra, and Newton.

We also offer a free analysis of your feet and can design and produce custom insoles (orthotics) in the store. We have 90 day guarantee on all shoes and merchandise plus a VIP Membership Program which offers a year round 10% discount. Group Training Runs and Sports Yoga Classes are also offered at the store.

Canton was chosen as a new location because the Plymouth-Canton-Livonia area did not have a running specialty store. Canton is a highly educated community that has residents that are involved in fitness and athletics. Since the opening of the store, business volume has tripled.

“We conduct monthly charity benefit events at the store plus free Adventure Run events. These monthly runs benefit a different charity each month,” explains Alan Whitehead. “We are starting a new Ice Cream Social every month and a Pizza Night. The free Adventure Run events are held on the first Thursday of each month at both stores. Local Canton and West Bloomfield area sponsors are utilized for the store charity events, with food and gift certificates used or purchased from those local Canton retailers.

Visit RoadRunnerSports.com and KonaRunningCompany.com or call 248-345-6168 for more information.