Running Insight 2.15.18

THE NEWSMAGAZINE FOR RUNNING SPECIALTY RETAILERS / RUNNINGINSIGHT.COM

A FORMULA4 MEDIA PUBLICATION

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RUNNING INSIGHT

VARSITY SPORTS ‘POPS UP’ IN BATON ROUGE

BY DANIEL P. SMITH

V

arsity Sports owner Jenni Peters readily admits that opening a holiday pop-up shop in a Baton Rouge, LA, lifestyle center was a risk, albeit a calculated one. But now, with three months of experience in her back pocket, she’s game to take the plunge again.

“After all, if you don’t take a few chances in business, you’re standing still,” says Peters, whose four-store, Louisiana-based operation captured the 2017 Run for Good Award presented by Saucony at

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Running Insight is published twice each month, is edited for owners and top executives at running specialty stores and available only via email.The opinions by authors and contributors to Running Insight are not necessarily those of the editors or publishers. Articles appearing in Running Insight may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the publisher.

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The Running Event. In September, Fort Worth, TX-based Trademark, owners of Perkins Rowe, an upscale shopping hub in Baton Rogue, contacted Peters asking if Varsity Sports might be interested in a permanent spot at the mixed-use destination.

“They especially wanted someone local,” says Peters, whose Varsity Sports Baton Rouge outlet is located about 10 miles away from Perkins Rowe.

While Peters didn’t have much interest in that overture, she did accept Trademark’s subsequent offer to run a three-month holiday

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Editor-in-Chief......... Mark Sullivan: msullivan@formula4media.com Managing Editor............. Cara Griffin: cgriffin@formula4media.com Publisher......................Troy Leonard: tleonard@formula4media.com BACK ISSUES runninginsight.com

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RUNNING INSIGHT

Varsity Sports ‘Pops Up’ in Baton Rouge (continued) season pop-up in a Perkins Rowe storefront between Anthropologie and a high-end salon. For Peters, the thought of being in a marquee local shopping area, across from one of the world’s largest Christmas trees and amid holiday cheer, proved intriguing while Trademark’s reasonable terms, including flexible requirements around store hours, cemented the deal.

“They made it hard to say no,” says Peters, describing the deal as “a good one for both sides.”

From area rugs to upholstered armchairs, the Varsity pop-up was outfitted with elements characteristic of the retailer’s other locations in historic houses.

The Pop-Up mimicked the programming found at its other locations, hosting fun runs, live music, medal engravings, packet pickups, yoga sessions and more to drive traffic and a community feel.

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Birth of a pop-up Inheriting a blank 1,650-square foot box, Peters worked to put Varsity Sports’ stamp on the space while also minding the budget. She and her team created a shoe wall from recycled pallet boards and worked with vendors to reduce costs. Brooks helped with co-branded temporary dressing rooms while Powerstep supplied stools and benches. From area rugs to upholstered armchairs, Peters also outfitted the stores with elements characteristic of Varsity Sports other locations in historic houses.

Peters then pulled inventory from Varsity Sports’ four other Louisiana-based units and brought in new product, careful not to overstock the pop-up store and aware that her existing stores would absorb any remaining inventory after the temporary store’s close.

Knowing staffing would be thin as well, she recruited knowledgeable, energetic runners to slide into off hours at the store, effectively creating a seasonal workforce to complement her experienced staff.

For the store’s grand opening the first weekend of November, Peters placed tents in front of the shop and broadcast its arrival on Facebook Live.

On its first Saturday, the pop-up recorded 78 transactions, a surprising result that calmed Peters’ nerves.

“Even though I thought it was a smart, calculated risk, you still never know how something like this will go,” Peters says.

Over the next three months, Varsity Sports mimicked the programming found at its other locations, hosting fun runs, live music, medal engravings, packet pickups, yoga sessions and more to drive traffic and create a community feel. As is Varsity Sports’ well-known custom, the pop-up also handed out a free Varsity Sports t-shirt with every shoe purchase.

“The byproduct was just as we had hoped: exposure and sales,” Peters says.

Reflecting on a new experience The Varsity Sports pop-up closed on Jan. 24 and Peters terms the exercise a success. The store neared the monetary goal Peters set at the beginning while Varsity Sports’ holiday season sales in Baton Rouge – albeit over two stores rather than one – jumped 16 percent over the same period in 2016.

“It delivered ROI and definitely made money, though not boatloads of money,” Peters says of the pop-up, noting that sales dropped off a bit more than expected in January after a hearty holiday shopping season.

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RUNNING INSIGHT

Varsity Sports ‘Pops Up’ In Baton Rouge (continued)

Varsity Sports hosted events, including community runs, at its pop-up, similar to what it would do at its other store locations.

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venue as well as the positive alternative a pop-up store represents compared to a vacant storefront, Trademark representatives have told Peters that the JENNI PETERS p op -up concept is VARSITY SPORTS, OWNER something the company is looking to cultivate in other centers. She believes other property owners will embrace the concept as well.

For Peters, a future pop-up shop is something she will “absolutely consider” as an ongoing strategy, perhaps even transforming from the hunted to the hunter as the 2018 holiday season approaches.

“I’m open to looking at New Orleans with all of its different alternatives,” she says. “I see an opportunity to build mystery and energy around where the next pop-up might be.

“I’m not necessarily interested in anything long-term, but the pop-up concept gives a small retailer like us a chance to be in a big arena and, in this particular case at Perkins Rowe, the advantage of being there in its busiest season.”

And with the three-month Perkins Rowe experiment now complete, Peters feels better prepared to capitalize on future pop-up opportunities, holding a better sense of the inventory, staffing and marketing needs necessary to fuel a successful effort.

“Now, I have a little better feel for what it’s all about and can move forward with more strategy and thoughtfulness,” she says. n

“The pop-up concept gives a small retailer like us a chance to be in a big arena.”

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RUNNING INSIGHT

‘Making’ More Runners A Solution to Declining Participation Do you want to increase the number of runners and walkers in your area? Do you want to generate more loyal customers?

There is an entrepreneurial organization, PHIT America, which has three programs that will benefit everyone in the running and walking industry.

PHIT America is a 501(c)(3) national charity led by Sports Industry Hall of Fame inductee Jim Baugh. Learn more about PHIT America (PHITAmerica.org), in the article to your right.

PHIT America has developed three effective and efficient ways to get more Americans physically moving and running.

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1. PHIT America Go! Grants With The Morning Mile Program Creates New Runners & Consumers PHIT America GO! Grants were launched three years ago and have resulted in more than 200,000 kids getting active through school-based physical activity programs. PHIT America Founder Jim Baugh is excited about this program.

“GO! Grants are a winner,” said Baugh.

“And now, we have a special program, The Morning Mile®, which creates runners and walkers. Students and their families get 30 minutes to run every day before school and they come out in droves! Many elementary students run over 600 miles per year. The entire family becomes consumers for the running industry.”

Fitz Koehler, M.S.E.S.S., Founder of The Morning Mile, explains the program.

“Morning Milers love starting each day with fun, fitness, music, friends and rewards.

Participation rates are enormous with 65%97% of most student bodies participating through the school year,” reported Koehler.

“The program is in every type of school from preschool through high school and has never failed. We are in over 250 schools and Morning Milers have run over three million miles.”

The Morning Mile is a turn-key program that is easy to implement while offering tremendous marketing and PR opportunities for retailers, manufacturers and everyone in the running industry. PHIT America and The Morning Mile staff do the vast majority

of the work. You tell PHIT America where you want your programs, PHIT America and The Morning Mile staff thoroughly vets each location and then implements the program.

“All you really have to do is ‘adopt the school’ and then take advantage of the vast social media and marketing opportunities,” says Koehler. “And, the cost per child to create a new runner and consumer is usually less than $5 per student. Simply said, the GO! Grant Morning Mile Program Gets Kids Moving & Running Early…Gets Them Active & Running for Life.”

There is more information on this program at phitamerica.org, or contact Alliance@ PHITAmerica.org.

(Continued on page 10)

WE A R E ALL B ORN TO RUN. To date, Saucony has donated over $1 million to organizations keeping kids healthy and active. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to run their world. saucony.com

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RUNNING INSIGHT

PHIT America (continued) The Number of Runners & Walkers Is Declining n Total Participation 1+ Times

n Casual 1-49 Times

Other Physical Activity Issues

n Core 50+ Times

Runners

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Walkers

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Less-active Americans spend far less than active Americans U.S. kids ranked 47th out 50 countries in fitness Less physical activity = more healthcare costs 48% of all schools have no PE

Source: Physical Activity Council by Sports Marketing Surveys, Inc., 24,000 Americans

2. PHIT America Month, A National Marketing And Events Campaign To Get America Moving And Running In May of 2018, you can be part of thousands of events and activities to Get America Moving. PHIT America will promote these programs and activities through marketing, public relations and partnerships with industry organizations.

“We have to get Americans moving,” said Baugh.

“Our country has become so sedentary. In fact, 81 million Americans are total couch potatoes. They are not active once in over 100 different activities or sports. The only thing they are moving consistently is their fingers when using electronic devices. And, this inactivity problem is getting worse.”

To get more Americans more active, PHIT America Month will be marketed by the BrandAmp, a top marketing firm, and industry partners. They will promote that there are thousands of ways to Get Moving.

Running and walking will be featured activities. They 10

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Source: Physical Activity Council, 24,000 Americans

are two of the top four activities in America. There will even be a virtual walking event, the PHIT America Virtual Fun 5K. When you visit PHITMonth.org, you will see a full list of activities to get active as well as tools, such as apps, to encourage and track physical activities. Sports celebrities will promote our events and the industry will be provided with many tools to promote PHIT America Month events.

Event providers will be encouraged to make PHIT America their ‘charity of choice.’ Funds raised will be used to expand PHIT America GO! Grants with the Morning Mile program.

“PHIT America Month is a win-win for everyone,” concluded Baugh. “America gets more active and healthy. The industry has more active participants.

And, PHIT America can expand its GO! Grant program which will result in more kids being active.”

To get involved with PHIT America Month, contact Alliance@PHITAmerica.org.

© 2018 Formula4media LLC.

RUNNING INSIGHT

PHIT America (continued) Future Consumers Are Much Less Active

81.4 Million (27.5%) Of Americans Are Totally Inactive

Percentage of Kids Who Are Active Three Times a Week:

6-12-Year Olds

Number of Totally Inactive* Americans

28.7%

28.3%

27.8%

26.9%

81.4M 26.6% 24.8%

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

13-17-Year Olds

41.1%

70.4M 2007

2016

The Inactivity Rate Has Increased

40.4%

40.5%

39.8%

39.3%

27.5%

38.4% 25.4%

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

* In 50+ of the higher aerobic activities. Source: Physical Activity Council by Sports Marketing Surveys, Inc., 24,000 Americans

Join the PHIT America Alliance and help us pass the PHIT Act. Alliance@PHITAmerica.org.

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3. The PHIT Act Lowers The Cost To Enter A Race, Enroll Your Kid In A Sports Program Or Buy Sports Equipment Imagine customers using their health savings (HSA) or flexible spending accounts (FSA) to sign up for a 5K or marathon. Or for signing up for a sports clinic or league…or even a fitness class.

The PHIT Act will do this. PHIT America is working with Congress to expand the classification for pre-tax medical accounts. We are confident we can pass the PHIT Act. And, you can help, too. Go to PassThePHITAct.org to contact your members of Congress to pass the PHIT Act! Joining the PHIT America Alliance will help us pass the PHIT Act and accomplish our mission. Contact us at Alliance@PHITAmerica.org.

Who Is PHIT America?

Launched in 2013, PHIT America has attracted the support from more than 100 companies, many from the sports and fitness industry. Its mission is to improve

2007

2016

*Not Active One Time In the Past Year In Any Of 104 Different Activities!

the health of Americans through increased physical activity.

PHIT America focuses on four areas to accomplish its mission: 1. PHIT America GO! Grants jump-start children’s physical activity through school-based programs 2. PHIT America Month gets America Moving through events nationwide 3. The PHIT Act lowers the cost of being physically active 4. Educating Americans through news articles and a 30-minute documercial on the issue of physical inactivity in America and the PHIT America response/ solution The CEO of PHIT America is Jim Baugh — a member of the Sports Industry Hall of Fame, former President of Wilson Sporting Goods and longtime advocate for increased physical activity for better health…and a healthier sports & fitness industry. n Learn more at PHITAmerica.org.

© 2018 Formula4media LLC.

RUNNING INSIGHT

WALKING ACROSS AMERICA

Something as Simple as a Smile

Retail on the Road ON THE SECOND DAY OF THIS YEAR I BEGAN WALKING across America. My inspiration to take such an adventure reaches back more than two decades — to a moment in the early ’90s when I was sitting in a barbershop, waiting for a haircut. Fresh out of the Army, I was still rocking a high-and-tight. No barber in town could hook it up as well as Hassan, coiffeuse extraordinaire. His shop was busy like usual, so I searched for a magazine to mindlessly thumb through until it was my turn.

I found a National Geographic from April 1977. Inside was an article about Peter Jenkins, a regular guy who had walked from the Atlantic to the Pacific. When I finished reading the piece, I sat there stunned. “Wait. You can walk across the USA?” I said out loud. And since that crystallizing moment in my early 20s, I’ve been planning to do the same doggone thing Jenkins did. And with each passing year, my internal dialogue never changed: Now’s not a good time.

I’ll do it next year. Maybe. But that got old. And so did I. So this time around I finally said “yes” to a 25-year-old “maybe.”

And now here I am, a month into my 3200-mile trek. I’ve already had life-changing experiences with gracious strangers I’ve encountered along the way. Folks who have helped me realize that journeys like this transcend the individual. And even though completing a transcontinental walk is my ultimate goal, the endeavor is not just about me. It can’t be. Such explorations are too big for any one person to call their own.

So what’s all this got to do with specialty retail?

Well, I’d argue that my walk is simply a metaphor, like retail, for the bigger picture of life. If I am open to it, my daily mileage may affect how I think about something like the customer service experience.

This doesn’t mean I am seeking out material from which to learn. No. All it means is that, like my slow-paced walk across the USA, good retail requires mindful living. I may be scooting along the side of the road, kicking up dust, and eating way too many cans of beans, but I am also consciously appreciating the mundane. Fully realizing it’s the small things that matter the most. A quality retailer does the same.

Take, for example, a smile or a warm greeting offered to a stranger.

If my default was to be stone-faced, I wouldn’t have met that guy in a wheelchair while we both waited for the light to change. Nor would I have been gifted with his story or had the genuine exchange we had (that lasted three or four blocks). Meeting him enriched my day, possibly my life.

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“When I see someone doing what you are doing, I dream of what it would be like to do it. Then I spend the next few days, weeks even, considering all you’ll see, all the people you’ll meet, all the interesting experiences you’ll have. And in that way, I’m right there with you,” he said. “Nothing we do is in a vacuum. You and I, even if we never cross paths again, are on this journey together.”

Another time I noticed a woman eyeballing my backpack. I could only imagine what she was thinking. So I acknowledged her and wished her a good day — and that was enough for us to strike up a conversation about the walk. She asked the usual gamut of questions, Where you going? Why? How long will it take? Where do you sleep?

Aren’t you afraid? But then the small talk went deeper. It became obvious she was considering her own lofty goals.

“One of these days I’m going to be in the Olympics. Track and field,” she said. “Now I know what you are thinking, I’m too old. But really, I’m not. Plus, I’m super fast. Just trying to get my life back in order so I can focus on the track.”

Starting the next day, she promised me she’d start working out again.

Now don’t misunderstand, I am not suggesting that our exchange will alter the course of her life. But she and I had an authentic human encounter. Rare these days. Rarer still in retail. And when this sort of connection happens, both parties are lifted up in ways that may prove to be the catalyst for the possibility of something bigger.

Like a dream realized.

I hadn’t smiled at these folks, or been open to a little chit chat, I’d have missed out on their respective stories. Which is to say, I’d have blown the chance to truly connect. n About the author: For the next six months I’ll be walking across America.

Taking a southern route to stay out of the snow (hopefully), while letting my 3 m.p.h. life absorb the country at a slower pace. I’ll visit curious nooks between bigger cities on the map: from Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Austin, Shreveport, Little Rock, Asheville, and eventually the Atlantic seaboard. Along the way I’ll meet interesting people and learn their stories. I also plan to stop at run retail shops within range of my trajectory. Not only to stock up on anti-chafe items, new socks, and some nutrition, but also to enthusiastically exclaim, “I walked all the way from Santa Monica, California, to come see you!” If your shop is along my route, I might drop in. And it won’t be a secret shopping sort of visit. No way. It’ll be more of a celebration of our paths crossing. Your business and my endeavor coming together to shine a light on why we do what we do. For passion’s sake. Then, when I have a minute to write about my journey for Running Insight, I’ll include my visit to your shop. Tell a bit of your story so other retailers get to know your business better. Specialty retail, like this transcontinental walk, is fueled by genuine human connection — which is, undoubtedly, something that will benefit every business. www.mywalkinglife.com

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RUNNING INSIGHT

NB Declares Independence in New Campaign “Fearlessly Independent Since 1906”

L

ast week New Balance rolled out a new global brand platform, “Fearlessly Independent Since 1906.” The campaign taps into what the brand refers to as its “heritage and nonconventional values.”

The campaign features several brand ambassadors and showcases each individual athlete’s independent style, determination and persona. The group includes middle distance runner Brenda Martinez (pictured at right), as well as the likes of baseball player Francisco Lindor, soccer player Rose Lavelle, lacrosse player Paul Rabil, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and skateboarder PJ Ladd.

The platform includes a new visual identity system with distinct typography and iconography across all of the brand’s global communication and distribution channels.

“At New Balance, we firmly believe that our marketing must be a reflection of our organizational values and realize our brand’s DNA through authentic content that inspires both individuality and confidence. As a privately held company, New Balance has traditionally made purposeful choices like maintaining a limited portion of our domestic manufacturing that defy convention and demonstrate both courage and independence,” says Chris Davis, New Balance Vice President of Global Marketing. “In all that we do, our goal is to lead with character, create product with unparalleled quality and innovation, and set new, elevated standards in our global communities.” n 16

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CLICK TO VIEW A CLIP FROM THE CAMPAIGN

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RUNNING INSIGHT

The 50 Best Running Stores in America Nomination Deadline Is Approaching

M

arch 7th is the deadline for Nominations for The 50 Best Running Stores in America awards sponsored by Running Insight.

The 50 Best Running Stores in America Awards will be presented at a dinner on Friday, June 22 at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis as part of a three-day celebration of the winning stores that will include conference sessions, networking and meetings with key brands in attendance.

“We created this new format to honor and recognize the best stores in the country and bring them together to share ideas and talk about the future of the channel,” said Mark Sullivan, editor of Running Insight. “This will be a special, valuable event for everyone who attends.”

Nominations should be submitted via email to nominations@50bestrunningstores.com. (Include store name and brief summary in the email.) For more information, visit: 50bestrunningstores.com.

Stores can nominate themselves and are also encouraged to share the nomination link with their customers so they can submit nominations, as well. Nominations opened on February 1 and to date several thousand have been received.

Once stores are nominated, they will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire providing details about their store and involvement in their local communities.

Nominated stores will be mystery shopped in March and all data will be processed and evaluated

in April. Winning stores will be notified in early May and invited to The 50 Best Running Stores in America awards, which will take place from June 21-23, 2018 at the Minneapolis Hilton. Formula 4 Media, publishers of Running Insight and producers of The Running Event, elected to hold the 50 Best Running Stores in America awards in Minneapolis to make it convenient for brand sponsors to attend the awards as well as the Fleet Feet conference which takes place June 18-21 at the Minneapolis Hilton.

The 50 Best Running Stores in America awards will be a three-day event, which will start Thursday, June 21 with a welcome lunch and business sessions led by Parker Karnan of Karnan Associates. The event will also feature several networking events and competitions includNomination ing a combination run and Deadline Is scavenger hunt called The Fast and the Curious that March 7th. will be produced by host retailer Mill City Running.

Attending retailers will also be able to visit with 25 sponsoring brands in pre-scheduled meetings.

Sponsors include: Aetrex, Altra, Aftershokz, Balega, Brilliant Reflective, CEP, Coros Wearables, Darn Tough, Diadora, Drymax, FuelBelt, Hoka, MediDyne, OS1st, Reebok, Salomon, Sorbothane, Spenco, Trigger Point and Under Armour.

Companies interested in sponsorships should contact Jeff Nott at jnott@formula4media.com n

NOMINATE A STORE NOW Email your nomination to nominations@50bestrunningstores.com Be sure to include the store name in the email subject line, and a brief summary of why you’re nominating them in the email.

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION

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© 2018 Formula4media LLC.

Nominations Open!

Recognizing stores for their achievements in community support, customer service and in-store experience.

NomiNatioNs CLosE maRCH 7 2018

m ores.co t S g in n un 50BestR

Send nominations to nominations@50bestrunningstores.com.

Be sure to include store name and a brief nomination summary.

Awards Celebration: June 22, 2018, Mill City Museum, Minneapolis, MN CONTACT INFORMATION

Jeff Nott/Director jnott@formula4media.com 516-305-4711

Mark Sullivan/Retail msullivan@formula4media.com 646-319-7878

Christina Henderson/Nominations chenderson@formula4media.com 516-305-4712

RUNNING INSIGHT

UA’s Mountain Running Series Enters Second Year

R

Under Armour athletes including YiOu Wang and Cody Reed are expected to compete in the 2018 Under Armour Mountain Running Series.

WANT TO TAKE YOUR STORE TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

For registration information: UAMountainRunning.com

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© 2018 Formula4media LLC.

Photos: Myke Hermsmeyer

ace dates and locations for the second annual Under Armour Mountain Running Series, which takes place at three mountain resort locations, have been announced. UA’s trail running series, presented

by GORE-TEX Products and held in partnership with POWDR, is designed for both professional and amateur runners. The 2018 series kicks off on July 14 in the Rocky Mountains at Copper Mountain, followed by an August 25 race in Vermont at Killington Resort, and finishes off at Mt. Bachelor near Bend, Oregon on September 15. The races are run in a single-day running festival format with a “basecamp experience.” Race distances at each location will include 5K, 10K, 25K and 50K. A $5,000 prize purse will be distributed across the men’s and women’s podium for the top three 50K finishers at each race in the series.

Under Armour Outdoor athletes, including YiOu Wang, Kelly Wolf, Kyle Dietz, Bryan Tolbert, Cameron Hanes and 2017 UA MRS 50K defending champion, Cody Reed, are expected to compete in 2018.

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RUNNING INSIGHT

Running Shorts Ragnar Partners with Big City Mountaineers The overnight running Ragnar Relay series has chosen Big City Mountaineers (BCM) as a charity partner for three trail races in 2018. The races are set for Snowmass, Colorado (June 8-9), Rainier, Washington (Aug. 24-25), and Northwoods, Wisconsin (Sept.

21-22). Teams running for Big City Mountaineers will raise funds for under-resourced youth to participate in transformational wilderness experiences through BCM’s youth programs.

Ragnar teams running for BCM will consist of eight runners, each committed to raising $500 for BCM’s youth programs.

Snack Time for Honey Stinger Honey Stinger, known for its honey-based nutritional products, is launching a new line of snack bars to its growing product line. As a new category for the

brand, Honey Stinger snack bars are designed to serve as “a post-workout reward, summit snack, or guilt-free dessert.”

The Organic Cracker N’ Nut Butter Snack Bars contain nut butter, with 5 grams of protein, mixed with organic honey and sandwiched between two sea salt multigrain crackers, covered in organic dark or milk chocolate. The new snack bars contain 9-12 grams of sugar, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and are USDA Certified Organic and Kosher Certified.

Organic Cracker N’ Nut Butter Snack Bars will be available in three flavors, Cashew Butter & Dark Chocolate, Almond Butter & Dark Chocolate, and Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate. The bars will be available for purchase in boxes of 12 (MSRP $26.40/ box or $2.20/bar) and will be available beginning in April.

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800.838.3906 12/14/17 1:14 PM © 2018 Formula4media LLC.

2-Time UTMB Champion Rory Bosio

RUNNING SOCKS 2018

artwork: Dennis Mukai

THE BEST SOCKS ARE

MADE IN USA

DRYMAXSPORTS.COM

RUNNING INSIGHT

Running Shorts (continued) Compression 3.0 with CEP The CEP Team is excited about the launch of its Run 3.0 compression apparel.

Included in the collection is a full length tight, a ¾ length tight, and a run short.

Notably, the full length tight offers the best CEP has in active compression technology. CEP’s Run 3.0 full length tight has a medical grade compression profile that the brand says increases blood flow and support from the ankle all the way to the hips.

Upgrades in the Run 3.0 compression apparel from the previous season’s Run 2.0 apparel include new patterning and seaming for a “second skin” fit with a soft feel. The tights have a rear zipper pocket and a hip pocket, as well as reflective elements that enhance visibility in low light.

All CEP products are made in Germany in a medical factory.

‘Undyed’ Editions Adidas Running has introduced a new “Undye” pack, a selection of running shoe silhouettes in all white. The Undye styles include the UltraBOOST All Terrain, pictured above, MSRP $240. Other styles in the offering include the UltraBOOST Laceless ($200), UltraBOOST X ($180) and AlphaBOUNCE Beyond ($120). The Undye sneakers use a low-impact manufacturing process that requires less water.

MARCH

MARCH

TH

ST

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U.S. CAPITOL WASHINGTON, D.C.

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UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK CITY

SPONSOR • DONATE • JOIN Join NDSS in Run for 3.21, a 250-mile historic run from Washington DC to New York City.

The run will bring together a team of athletes in the Down syndrome community, working together to run, non-stop, from the steps of the U.S. Capitol to the United Nations. This amazing run will culminate in a presentation at the UN on World Down Syndrome Day, which will showcase our mission as the leading Human Rights Organization for individuals with Down syndrome.

Contact Jess Kuss jkuss@ndss.org | (215) 605-7034

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www.ndss.org/run-3-21

© 2018 Formula4media LLC.

New Pastel Fitness Socks

cepcompression.com

RUNNING INSIGHT

Running Shorts (continued) JackRabbit Opens 10th Texas store JackRabbit has opened a new store in the Montgomery Plaza in Ft. Worth, TX. JackRabbit now operates 10 stores in the Texas, including seven in the Dallas/Ft. Worth market. JackRabbit also operates two locations in Austin and one in Houston.

The 8,800 square foot Ft. Worth store will feature a full assortment of running and training footwear, apparel and accessories.

“We are very pleased to become a part of the Ft. Worth running and active lifestyle community. It is one of the most vibrant and active running markets in the country” said Bill Kirkendall, JackRabbit CEO. “Ft. Worth is a continuation of our aggressive growth in the state of Texas.”

JackRabbit currently operates 62 stores in 17 states along with its ecommerce platform at jackrabbit.com.

JackRabbit is owned by CriticalPoint Capital, a private investment firm based in Manhattan Beach, CA. Tyler from the newly opened JackRabbit store in Ft. Worth shows off some of the store’s On Running apparel in a Facebook post from the store.

HEAT up

your massage game in 2018!

Microwave ready. No assembly required.

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™

© 2018 Formula4media LLC.

SWEAT THE RUN, NOT THE RIDE HOME. RUN’S DONE, SEAT’S COVERED. Run’s Done Seat Covers protect your car seats from post-run sweat, dirt and odor. Easy to use, quick drying, antimicrobial and machine washable with a universal fit. Soft on the front, superior grip on the back. Specially-designed non-slip grippy dots firmly secure the seat cover on leather, vinyl and cloth car seats.

Stays put. No straps! Non-slip grippy dots prevent sliding on your car seat.

RUNSDONE.COM 1-877-762-5001

The Premier Conference & Trade Show for Running Specialty Retailers

THE RUNNING EVENT 2018 ®

November 27- 30, 2018 • Austin Convention Center & Hilton Austin

2017 HIGHLIGHTS

Conference Trade Show Best Store Awards Indie 5K Struktur Lab @ The Running Event Plus more activities... ®

• Opening Night Reception • Sports Bra-Fitting Salon • Retail / Vendor Speed Meeting Lunch

Exhibitor Contracts Now Available Contact: Troy Leonard/Show Director: tleonard@formula4media.com or 352-624-1561 or your account representative

therunningevent.com