Local, independent running stores are the backbone of Canada’s running comunity. From product knowledge to community involvement, our local run shops shape running culture across the country. Together, ASICS Canada and Canadian Running are going from coast to coast, exploring Canada’s top running shops and bringing you along for the ride.
Nick Walker has been part of Frontrunners since he was in high school, back in 1997. At the time, he was a sponsored runner. But eight years later, he was still in love with the sport of running, and bringing new people into it—so he and his friend Mark Nelson worked with the original owners at Frontrunners to open Frontrunners Westshore in Victoria. For him, it’s family.
The locally owned and operated store has been in business since 2005, and it’s only grown since then. Walker is as in love with running as he was as a 13-year-old racing track and cross-country, but his passion for sport has expanded, and instead of focusing on an elite running community, his goal is to simply spread a love of movement.
“We have events geared toward learning to run a 5K, 10K, half-marathon or even a marathon, and we have an incredible group of leaders and co-ordinators,” says Walker. They host clinics as well, for runners to learn new skills, like trail running. “At the moment, we have about 350 people in our different groups, which is just so incredible. It’s overwhelming. If we all come together, we have to split up into different pace groups and different locations, so we don’t overwhelm areas.”
“We’re as community-oriented as possible, whether that means we’re supporting local events or local youth teams, and we’ve been very fortunate that on the island the community has been tremendous in supporting us over the years,” says Walker. “We still have lots of grassroots athletes that we support the way the store supported me as a teenager, and we support tons of charitable organizations and sports teams. We have a program called Shoes for Youth, which helps provide shoes for underprivileged kids, so they can have proper fitting shoes and be able to participate in sport.”
As with many run shop owners, online retailers have forced Walker to be creative about what makes the in-store experience better than buying online. For him, that means working with local podiatrists, orthopedists, physiotherapists and chiropractors, along with other medical referrals from the local foot, ulcer and diabetes clinics. “We see a need to help keep adults active,” he says. “We see a lot of people who come in who can’t walk, but once we get them a pair of shoes that fits properly and feels good, they’re able to start becoming active again. We’re literally changing someone’s life with proper footwear.”
Frontrunners staff are as varied as the clientele, with 40 members of the team and a huge array of running experience. “Some of them have been with us for almost 20 years,” says Walker. Some are pure runners, some run casually, some barely run at all, but are active in other ways. But all are shoe-obsessed. Because when you buy a running shoe, you’re not just getting a piece of fabric and foam, you’re leaning into an identity. You’re choosing the kind of runner you want to be. “In a one-hour shoe fit, you find the person’s entire life story,” Walker jokes.
At Markham, Ont.’s Running Free, choice and service are everything
Finally, Walker believes that running belongs to everyone, and his goal is to make the shop as welcoming to everyone as he possibly can. A glance at the Frontrunners Instagram profile shows that he means it: the logo is layered on top of a Pride flag. “We know that people can find run shops intimidating, but we want our community to know that we’re open to anybody and everybody,” he says.
