Slingin' Shoes

Philadelphia Runner Owner Ross Martinson shares the lessons learned from 20+ years in business, including the differences between running urban and suburban stores and what he wishes he knew two decades ago. We are also joined by Dan Sullivan and Tony Macey of Skechers who discuss the brand's new super shoe and new athlete endorsers. 

Andy Kimerling of Westchester Road Runner tells tales of his 40+ years in the business and how his basement full of shoes allows him to keep his customers coming back for more. On the brand side, we are joined by Kevin McHale, VP Sales, Run Specialty & Omnichannel, ASICS America, who discusses the brand's collaboration with Bandit Running, its work with run club and how ASICS balances gro...

Joe Rubio of Running Warehouse talks about Chinese brands, his journey in the business and what he sees for the future. Abigail Hollie discusses The Running Industry Diversity Coalition's new career event taking place in Philadelphia in October. And our listeners sound off with their Chafes of the Week about how to cope with special discounts. We promise a provocative and entertaining episode...

Marathon Sports CEO Ben Cooke and store designer Holly Weise of 3 Dots Design talk about the recently opened trail centric store in North Conway, NH. The pair talk about the vision to bring the look and feel of famous UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc) to a run store. And the challenges in doing that: building a giant rock wall, working with brand partners and getting the kegerator to work. Ben also...

Two great perspectives on what makes run specialty work. From Tokyo, we are joined by CEO of ASICS America Kodama-san. He expounds on the brand's commitment to run specialty and discusses the changing running landscape in the United States and around the world. Our retail guest is Aleighsha Nichols, GM of Running Lab in Michigan, the reigning store of the Year. Aleighsha recounts her career j...

Mark and Chris deliver their hot take on the annual Best Running Stores List. And are joined by Genae Salinas and Emma Galeckas of TRE who explain how the list was developed and how they have adapted the criteria over the past two years. We also get into how business can be better for run stores in a candid discussion with Josh Higgins of OS1st. How can stores drive more traffic, increase frequenc...

Part 2 of our retailer interviews from the Altra spring/summer meeting. Matt Chandler of Run As You Are in Vancouver, BC talks about the store's innovative membership program,  and Chris Winter, GM of Reno Running in Nevada expounds on the critical topic of staffing. Chris shares his ideas on recruitment, training and what to do when it doesn't work out. All that, plus the chafe of the w...

This episode features two wonderful retailers: Dom Zambrano, 19 months into his ownership at Running Wild, and John Gignac, a store manager for Red Coyote Running and Fitness in OKC. Sandwiched in between these two retailers is Jen McLaren, president of Altra, who shares the strategy behind the brand's surging growth and its commitment to run specialty. Co-Host Chris Farley lets loose on his...

This episode includes two insightful interviews on careers in the running business. We hear from Dan Schade, GM of the Americas for On, who oversees the brand's business across the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Latin America and the Caribbean. He traces his career journey from slingin shoes at Fleet Feet San Francisco to joining On and contributing to the brand's growth. Dan shares how his exper...

Join us for a true Daily Double of an episode featuring James Batey of Flostate Running in Vashon Island, Washington and Dan Sullivan of Skechers. James has won more than $500,000 as a contestant on game shows and is hoping his next win is with a new running store on a small island outside of Seattle. Dan provides our listeners with an update on Skechers' growing commitment to performance. Th...

They say you could write a book about run retailing. Well Mike Cosentino did. The founder of Big Peach Running Co. does a deep dive on his Peach Partners growth plan and why language and terminology are essential to his stores' culture. We also hear from Deanthony White, director of Charm City Mobile, about how this innovative program literally meets customers where they are. And we get up cl...

As their store celebrates its 50th anniversary, Jon and Betsy Hughes of Track Shack in Orlando discuss how the business is moving on to its next generation of ownership through their son Christopher. The Hughes family shares the practical, personal and legal challenges involved in this transition and offer their lessons and advice for any store that is going through this process or considering it....

One guest. Dozens of stories and insights. Olympian Jenny Simpson dishes on her new role as Chief Running Officer at Fleet Feet and recalls getting her first pair of shoes at Track Shack in Orlando, where she was "raised on running." She also sheds light on her year-long cross-country road trip where she and her husband Jason ran with thousands of runners from Colorado and North Carolina...

Join Mark and Chris and four guests as we do a deep dive on sustainability and the running business in advance of Earth Day. Hear from Wayne Elsey, founder of Sneakers4Good, about how his organization helps shoes find a productive second life; Gain some wisdom and insight from Alicia Chin about her role with Altra, Smartwool and Icebreaker. Caspar Coppetti, one of the founders of On Running, share...

From the mountains of Switzerland to the hills of Texas, Slingin' Shoes features two uplifting conversations. Garrett Sage, owner of Irun Texas,  tells Mark and Chris what he learned managing an Amazon warehouse and why he walked away to work for Fleet Feet and eventually buy his own store. Our brand interview is with Caspar Coppetti, one of the founders of On, who recently assumed the co-CEO...

We celebrate Women's History Month with two women who are leaving their mark on the run business: Kathy Dalby of Pacers Running and Burke Beck of Red Coyote Running. The pair share what prompted them to launch the Empowerun Retreat and reveal how the event is an important forum to discuss the challenges women face not only in the business, but in their work and home relationships. Tune in for...

Dave Zimmer shares some of his greatest hits from 30 years as owner of the Fleet Feet Chicago franchise. He also talks about his plans to open a 10th store and the relationships, community, charitable giving and customers that keep him motivated. Spoiler alert: Dave also reveals who really developed the phrase "Running Changes Everything." Tune in and find out. 

Mark and Chris explore two very different stores: The Loop Running Supply in Austin, Texas and Whirlaway Sports in Methuen, Massachusetts. Ryan Hess from The Loop discusses his "new age running store," which blends the style and innovation of a fashion sneaker boutique with the community outreach and customer service of a running store. Ryan gives the scoop on the store's brand coll...

Co-hosts Mark Sullivan and Chris Farley battle the elements to bring you an interview with store owner Karen Roberts and Social Media Marketing Manager Erica Barrera of Get Fit in Amarillo,  Texas. The duo discusses how their social media marketing has helped grow the store to $3 million in annual sales. And Karen shares her plans to open a second store this month. Tune in for an educational, ente...

Eric Fruth, co-owner of Columbus Running Company, shares his three-leg stool philosophy: Retail, Races and Social and Training programs, and how they work together to drive business in his six stores.  Eric also discusses CRC's innovative Grasshopper youth running club program and how it builds customers of the future and boosts the store's youth footwear sales. A great start to 2026!

Captured live at The Running Event, we sit with Tom Taylor of Altra, who discusses how his brand comes to market at retail. Camila Siqueira from SportBrazil talks about how TRE helped her and her same named sister-in-law build their business. And Adam White of RC Outfitters in Peoria shares his very personal story of how he overcame his struggles with alcohol and regain control of his business and...

Co-Host Chris Farley of Pacers shares his top 5 tips for getting the most out of TRE and some of them will surprise you. Elle Cheung of Gazelle Sports, winner of a Running Industry Diversity Coalition Scholarship to TRE, discusses how her store translates DEI philosophies into action. And Stephen Pifer of Skechers reflects on his 20-year career in the running business and his goal of running a sub...

Family connections run through Episode 10 of Slingin’ Shoes which features interviews with Genie Beaver of West Stride in Atlanta and one of the founders of Altra, Brian Beckstead who remains an ambassador for the brand. Genie has a powerful connection to the running business through her uncle John McDonnell, who coached the University of Arkansas to 40 national titles and shares the story of atte...

Hear the story of how slinging bottles of Black Velvet in 7-11 led to Harry Chandler joining the run specialty business and ascending to leadership roles at Charlotte Running Company, the Running Industry Association, and the Running Industry Diversity Coalition. Harry also talks about the Charlotte Run Hub and how it serves his store’s community. We’re also joined by Kristy Morris of Sneakers4Goo...

Episode 8 Under is a special golf celebration where we discuss The Skechers World Champions Cup, an international team competition featuring senior golfers from Europe, Asia and the United States.  Our guests include PGA Golfer Peter Jacobsen, sports marketing executive Charlie Besser, the founder of Intersport, and Ben Stewart, VP of Performance Footwear at Skechers. Jake Morrow of Golf magazine...