Marathon Sports

I’ve never written a review before, but this store is awesome. They have amazing customer service and are patient because they truly want to give you the best shoe for your needs. They are very knowledgeable of their merchandise and in matching the perfect shoe for your foot. If you need sneakers or workout gear, go here.

The one and only store I will buy my running shoes from in Boston! Staff is very knowledgable and performs a great running analysis on you to specifically pick a pair of shoes catered to your needs (support and training). I have purchased ~5 pairs of sneakers in the last couple years, lots of gu, ear buds, as well as apparel.
They also have a running club that meets at 6:30pm on Wed evenings; haven’t been able to make it here with work, but will definitely need to try it out!

I had a half-​marathon/​10k combo event coming up and I realized that my favorite pair of running shoes were just too run down (haaaa #punny). I did what most 20-​something-​year-​old would do and logged online thinking I could just order a new pair because it’s the Internet and the Internet has everything, right? (The answer I’m looking for is: Nope). To my disappointment, the Adidas shoes I had were discontinued so, angry with the Internet I strolled over to Marathon Sports.
Off the bat, the staff were incredibly welcoming. The sales person (who has now helped me twice and I still can’t remember her name… I’m so rude) was super patient, gave me a ton of different options to try, listened to my concerns, gave recommendations, and helped me find the perfect new pair of kicks to tackle my runs.
Then, a few days before the event (because I clearly plan ahead) I decided I wanted to invest in a pair of compression socks because I had a 6 hour flight a few hours after the half-​marathon. So, off I went — back to Marathon Sports. As luck would have it, the wonderful sales person was there again and spent maybe 30 minutes (if not more) with me going over the different types and making sure I got the right size.
I would highly recommend this place for any of your running needs. The staff is wonderful and genuinely try to help instead of pushing you to make a purchase you don’t necessarily need.

I came here to get new tennis shoes as per a recommendation from my trainer. I was pleased to enter a store that looked unique and reflected the Boston Marathon’s history. I was quickly helped by a young woman who really tired to understand my needs and showed me many different models of shoes. I was able to run around outside with each pair and really get a feel for the shoes before buying. I ended up leaving with a great pair of New Balance tennis shoes. I will definitely return here the next time I buy shoes.

Love this place. Boston Strong.

Today was my first time visiting Marathon Sports. My doctor sent me here to get some insoles to help with a ligament issue with my ankle.
I wasn’t expecting much when I went in. I was greeted and asked if they could help me find anything. I told them what my doctor had said, and someone promptly came and showed me where all the insoles were. That’s about all I expected.
Then a charming gentleman by the name of Kyle took it upon himself to help me choose the best insole. He examined my shoes and my arches, asked me a myriad of questions about the type of shoes I typically wear, and then brought out a number of products for me to try. I finally settled on a pair of Pinacle insoles.
This was a fantastic experience. Highly recommend.

Great place to get/​replace your running shoes in Boston — a little pricey ($ 100 – 150) range however. Shane did a marvelous job in asking some background questions, examining my gait and foot shape and then recommending different shoes. I tried on at least 5 – 6 different pairs and did a few test runs before deciding which pair I was happy with. With the gear on display, you can easily see this place caters for all kinds of people — beginners to pro runners. Will be back again in 6 months to change out my shoes!

It doesn’t get better than Marathon Sports on Boylston. Shane and his team are awesome and always deliver. Coming from NYC running stores I missed the running expertise and this store more than exceeded my expectations.

Ran in to grab a new pair of shoes for my very picky boss. The gentleman that helped me was very thorough and made sure I left with the exact pair of shoes that I needed. If you’re in Boston and need a pair of quality running shoes I highly recommend this place.

I wholeheartedly LOVE Marathon Sports, and doubt I will ever buy a pair of shoes from anywhere else again. (This covers all the Marathon Sports locations in the Boston area, as I’ve been to most of them.)
The best aspect is a knowledgeable and well-​trained staff, which you can say about so few retail stores these days. But whatever they do to keep their employees is great, because I would be lost without Marathon Sports. Their gait analysis and the time they take to talk you through the best possible shoes for you can’t be compared to any stores I’ve been to. Even if you get a gait analysis at other stores, few will be able to explain to you the intricacies between the different options you have. I always leave knowing I’ve bought the best pair of shoes for running.
I’m typically the type that is happy to grab a discount and a deal whenever possible, and I’ll admit, you won’t find many discounts here (although I do know you get a chunk off with Harvard Pilgrim insurance). You could hunt down a pair of good shoes at an outlet, a larger chain, or online, but you’ll have a much harder time figuring out which ones to buy that way. Running shoes are one purchase that are worth the extra few dollars to buy, it could actually result in you hurting yourself. I picked up a nagging running injury by buying from the Nike outlet, and I’m never doing that again. Have a professional point you in the right direction, it’s worth the extra $ 30 to avoid going to the doctor!

Nice place to get a pair of running shoes! Friendly group of guys.

This is the best place to buy sneakers in Boston. Shane spent so much time with me to help me find the best sneaker possible. He is incredibly knowledgeable and kind. I would recommend this store to everyone.

As a long time runner this is the only place I have gone into and actually felt like the staff knew what they were doing. There was a long line of them at the door and the next one would approach whatever customer came through the door and work with them to find the right shoe. The nice girl their had me try 8 pairs of shoes and run a few times outside all while checking my heel strike and form and recommended the right shoes.
This place also has some sentimental value to it being right on the Boston Marathon finish line so even if you are visiting it is worth a stop. Also they gave me a discount after being referred by a physical therapist which is pretty awesome. They also have some great nutritional items as well as tons of running clothes.
Whether you are a casual or elite runner go here for your shoes if you want the right ones and the friendliest experience

Signed up for my first ever race. After starting training it was evident I needed better shoes. I stopped in, and literally said «I’m running a race and need shoes.» They took it from there. Our sales agent (not based on commissions) watched how I walked, ran, treadmill and even outside. We tried on 3 pairs of shoes that matched her evaluation of my running (how I hit the ground, curvatures, slight angles) and sure enough, the next day, my finish time was faster by a few minutes. I’ve referred several people since. Loved them and prices are certainly reasonable for running shoes.

What a GREAT experience buying new sneakers! They begin by doing a running/​gate analysis of your walking/​running patterns (to see if you have an instep, etc.) & then recommend sneakers, let you try them on, run in then, & wear them for 30 days before you decide if you love them or not. This was a quick process & I really enjoyed it. I even got to see the runners coming in after their 21 mile marathon training run. This is THE PLACE to get your running sneakers & gear!

I walked in here on a sunny Saturday afternoon when downtown Boston was bustling and immediately got approached by Gordon. He asked what I was in for (running shoes) then asked what I typically run in (Ghost 6 that were literally beat into the ground). He said he ran in the same shoes and I knew then he would take good care of me. He asked my mileage, any injuries, and asked me to walk/​run so he could analyze my gait. He recommended some shoes and while they made my feet feel great, they were just beyond ugly so despite my superficial complaint, he brought out a few more, then even more in different colors and sizes until I was completely satisfied. I dropped a good amount of money on some Brooks Glycerin 12s and what I liked most was that I wasn’t haggled into any accessories. I went in, got wonderful service and walked out with exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again for your help Gordon!

I am not a runner. Hate running but like the heart and determination runners have in their sport. This store has the same heart, determination and knowledge along with a personal touch that you just don’t get in ANY other store (at least that I’ve been in).
Plantar fasciitis is what brought me in there and their assistance and ability to watch, diagnose my gait will make me return. My podiatrist recommended coming here and I am glad I did.
I bought several gift certificates for my kids so I know we’ll be returning soon. Looking forward to coming back to this compact but energetic store!

I prefer to do a great deal of internet research over asking for help. Not easy to do that for running shoes…
I really appreciated having someone explain how I was observed to walk and run, the shape of my feet, how much I run and my goals, and how that played into the recommendation for shoes.
Now I have shoes now that lets me run comfortably 5 to 6 days a week where I was struggling with some minor pain to do that with my last pair.
Skeptical at first, both in advice and cost, I now won’t go anywhere else.

Marathon sports is a favorite stop
for all my sports great needs… I love them!
Not only do they offer a variety of running shoes, they’re sportswear of every kind, energy gels,
GPS watches and official Boston Marathon wear.
The deal: the owner, Shane, will do your shoe fitting.
He is the most knowledgeable person,
about running shoes, that I’ve ever met.
Not only did his shoes reduce my injuries,
he helped me choose ones that improved my balance!

I’m surprised I haven’t reviewed Marathon Sports yet. I’ve been coming here for years and think it’s the bees’ knees.
If you are unsure of your running shoe needs, then Marathon Sports is the place to go. Their staff is well-​trained and will assess your stride from a barefoot walk in the store, then watch you take short outdoor jogs in the sneakers you’re testing. I may not always like what they recommend – I repeatedly end up with orthopedic-​looking shoes for my pronation and bad knees – but they end up being the right choice for my comfort and for avoiding injury. Sneakers are almost always priced at the manufacturer recommendation (i.e. Marathon does not mark them up). They have a great return policy if you buy a pair of shoes that ends up not really working for you.
Marathon also has a good selection of running clothes. I’ve gotten some really nice running tights here. The selection tends to be small, but well-​curated. Again, prices are on par with manufacturer recommendations, with the occasional sale.
The accessories section does not always have what I need; given the small size of this store, Marathon doesn’t carry the widest selection of items. Lately they’ve begun stocking Body Glide again, which was a specific item I couldn’t find there for some time. I usually will check Marathon first for items I want, and only go elsewhere if they don’t have them.
Basically, go here if you have any funky running issues and need smart shoe recommendations from people who know what they’re doing.