Core Running Company

I LOVE this store! I always get my shoes from here unless I’m out of town and in a jam. Dave is so helpful and so knowledgable about the different running shoe options. They make sure that you’re in the right shoe for your foot, and that’s super cool, most stores don’t do that.

I love this place! Dave is amazing when it comes to shoes. He leaves no stone unturned when selecting the perfect shoe for your feet and purposes. I won’t go elsewhere.

The guys there are really nice and attentive. Also very informative and helpful. One of the guys there walks around bare foot! Just a very comfortable, easy-​going, and laid-​back place with people that like what they do! =-)

I went in, told him I’m training for my first marathon, and he immediately seemed genuinely excited to help me and got to work assessing my arches and stride. Great customer service and VERY helpful. He explained every process and what shoes worked best for me personally, then took the time to have me try on and test out several different brands and sizes until I found the perfect one. I’ll definitely be going back!

Great place David really knows what he’s doing I’ve only been running for about a year and was recommended to core from a coach that I know I really like the shoes he recommended he doesn’t push you to buy his shoes he just guides you in the right direction. Very happy over all with service

This place is the bomb-​diggity! I wish I earned more money as a teacher to be able to afford buying more than one or two pairs of shoes here. But man, the shoes that I’ve bought here fit perfectly and feel like cushiony, cloud-​like goodness on my over-​worked feet.
The first time I came in, I spoke with the shoe expert on hand. He had me walk up and down the small length of the store to examine my gait and see if I had any pronation or other difficulty with my stride. Upon seeing how I walked, he recommended a few shoes for me to try on. I tried several different shoes on, and the gentleman was very patient to bring out different sizes and styles. I finally settled on a pair of aqua-​colored Brooks Launch. They have been perfect for me for both walking and running, and because the guy who works at Core fit me well, there have been no problems with discomfort. He made sure that the size was big enough, explaining that, upon the impact of running, I would need a larger size than I was accustomed to.
I went back a few months later to check out some shoes for the hubby. That’s when I met Dave. There is no doubt this guy loves what he does and has a passion for helping people. He also watched me walk and stand to see how he could best fit me. Yes, I went in for my husband, but couldn’t help checking out a few pair of shoes for myself as well! I learned so much about my foot talking to Dave. It was a slow morning, so I spent almost an hour chatting with him, which he didn’t seem to mind at all.
A week later, I brought my husband in while Dave was working. It was the busiest I’ve ever seen the place, but Dave was still as attentive as the last time I spoke with him. My husband has flat feet, so Dave, again, examined his gait and how he stood. After that, he recommended a few shoes for my husband to try on. He found the perfect pair, not too gaudy, in the «clearance» pile in front of the display of shoes.
Don’t ever forget to check the clearance items, because the pair that my husband bought were $ 45, 50% off of the cost of a normal pair of shoes at the store. Dave only stocks the good stuff, so you won’t be looking at shoddy, cheap pairs of running shoes. I remember my husband saying, «Man, at the mall, all the shoe salesmen wouldn’t pay any attention to you. This place is awesome!»
A few days later, I went back for my second pair. I got a bright pinkish-​red pair of Nike Free shoes. I’m already very happy with my purchase. Also, if you ever find a pair of shoes there that you like, but they don’t have the size for, you can order it with them and it’ll come in in less than a week, usually.
It feels great getting great customer service, and also supporting an awesome local store in San Marcos!

Visited the store today, and was as impressed as I could be. Dave was so helpful and took time to find the right shoe for me. He gave me so much information about my feet that I didn’t even know, and also offered advice about jogging. You can feel the passion once you’re in the store. I will absolutely not go anywhere else when I need a new pair of running shoes. Core Running is the best!

I agree with the other reviewers on here. The owner is fantastic and straightforward. He measured my feet and watched my gait and told me I’d been buying the wrong shoe size for years (he’s totally right.) He picked out a few shoes for me to try on and even warned me when I unknowingly picked out the most expensive pair. BUT, it’s been two years of waiting tables and working out in those shoes and they don’t show any signs of wear and tear. He even gave me a 10% discount for being in the service industry.
I will never buy cheap discount shoes again.

If you care about your feet, stay the hell away from the outlets. David and his staff know how to properly fit shoes and take care of customers. They carry a variety of great shoes and quality accessories. Their Balega Hidden Dry socks are my favorite socks and perfect for hot Texas summers!
(Though this may seem like some sort if ad, it’s not. I’m a real person, really shop there, and just can’t say enough great things about it. We’re lucky to have a shop like this in San Marcos.)

If you have back problems, foot problems, knee problems (etc) or you’re just looking for a comfortable pair of running shoes this place is well worth the price of a shoe. You can get a crappy pair of Nike’s or New Balance’s from Academy/​Foot Locker or you could spend $ 20 extra and have a pair of shoes that will not only last but reduce your chance of injury
Love,
A very satisfied customer

I went here on Sunday to get my first pair of good running shoes. Dave (I think that’s who helped me) really knew his stuff! I told him that have knee problems while running and he watched me jog and walk in every pair that I tried on. He was super friendly as well.
This place gets 5 stars for customer service. Dave’s passion for running really shines and you can’t help but become excited as well.

I visited Core on a recent Saturday to be fitted with a new pair of kicks. I prefer running shoes to any other style shoe because our long dog walks (usually about 4 – 5 miles a day) are brisk and often involve a bit of jogging. Hopefully, as the pup grows older, more than just a bit.
I’ve been wearing Saucony ProGrid 3s for about two years, replenishing them on the cheap by buying new pairs on eBay. But recurring foot pain had me ready to go with a different shoe.
The store was blessedly empty when I arrived, and owner Dave introduced himself. He’s attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. He observed my stance and my stride to check for pronation or other problems. I explained what kind of pain I was having, and my walking and running habits. He brought out some different options. Even as the store filled up with other customers, Dave remained attentive while still giving plenty of time and room to make my selection.
Curiously, he brought out a pair of narrow (B width) Brooks, theorizing that a narrower shoe may help manage my pain. They felt snug but good, so I took them home.
So far, so great. But here’s where Core Running earns its fifth star.
That first night, I took the shoes for a walk in the ‘hood. Probably covered a couple of blocks before I concluded that they just didn’t fit. I don’t know what I was thinking back in the store, but these bad boys just weren’t working. So I brought ‘em home, wiped off the soles, boxed them back up with the receipt, and used my old pair until I had time to return the Brooks.
When I went back the following Sunday, Dave was off, but one of his employees, Neal, was working. I explained the situation and Neal took the shoes back without blinking. This kid is a recently minted Texas State business school grad headed to the Air Force, and is a real asset.
What I appreciate is that I felt completely welcome and valued in this store. Despite being a triathlete and ultra-​marathoner, Neal was thoroughly dialed in to my specific needs and took my patronage seriously. He listened to my experience and foot pain specifics, and materialized from the stockroom with a pair of Nikes and Sauconys — both of which featured an offset that reduces the amount of uplift under the heel (and provides for an easier transition from heel to toe). When I finally zeroed in on the Sauconys, Neal encouraged me to take them for a spin around the block. I did, and I bought the shoes.
It’s been a couple of weeks and I’m thrilled to say these shoes are comfortable and required all of four miles to break in. I’ve been meaning to stop by to thank Dave and Neal personally, but until I do, the review will have to suffice.
In a world of big box retailers that purchase shoes in huge volumes, stores like Core need to provide every customer with exceptional, personalized service if they hope to survive and thrive. As it happens, that’s exactly what Core does. (This is in stark contrast to my first and last visit to Run Tex.)
Run-​Tex is over. We’ve reached the finish line, and Core wins.

I could go on forever about how awesome this store is! And what makes it so awesome is Dave, the owner. He is friendly, patient, helpful, and knowledgeable. Dave walks the walk and talks the talk. A rare find these days.

I have not stopped telling people about Core Running since I bought my shoes there 3 weeks ago! Impeccable service and attention to their customers. Dave (the new owner) is the one who helped me out. My chiropractor recommended that I come here to buy new running shoes. I am a first time runner who has flat feet, pronates, and has a jacked up left shin. Dave took the time to explain in detail the issues that I have with my feet, the anatomy of my feet, and how certain shoes will help and correct my problems. He had me run around the store in a few pairs of shoes until we found the ones I was most comfortable in and were correcting my issues. He took the time to show me technique and warm ups to correct a form problem I have with my left leg in the store! He even offers to all his customers FREE training support! He told me that if I had any questions or issues in my training to send him and e-​mail or come in and he would work with me on them! I know that RunTEX in Austin charges around $ 80/​month for that service.
I was running in nearly 8 year old shoes before I bought my new pair. Be prepared to spend a higher amount then if you went to a big department store. The prices are not inflated, he just sells a better quality of shoe, with a smaller selection. If you are a current runner or a new runner, you should definitely go to this store to have happy running feet.

Nice place and a great addition to the square. The staff is really knowledgeable and recommended some good shoes but I ended up purchasing them online since my size wasn’t in stock for the shoes I really liked. Wish they had more women’s size 10.5 in stock!

I finally mustered up the courage and went to a «real» running store. I’m a relatively new runner, and am slowly working up to my first half marathon. I met the new owner, Dave, and he was just great. He put me at ease and was very knowledgeable. He had me run in the store, try several shoes and settle on the perfect pair! I’m glad San Marcos has such a great running store. Best wishes and continued success to Dave and Core Running.

Just wanted to mention Core Running has a new owner — Dave — and it seems like he is picking up right where Greg left off. There are new store hours (the store is now open 7 days a week!) and it seems like they are re-​arranging some of the product in the store. I look forward to seeing what changes happen for the fall.

Core Running is great. I didn’t even consciously realize that there were absolutely no running stores between Austin and San Antonio.
The guys here are super friendly and the owner Greg is seriously invested in the San Marcos community. The Wednesday night runs are fun and doable for just about every skill level, with super fast guys leading but doubling back to check on all participants. It’s awesome to have a friendly social run where you can also challenge yourself.
The prices on shoes here are more reasonable than I was expecting. You could get the same shoe for the same price at big athletic, but why would you when you could come here? The Core staff will evaluate your gait and try to recommend shoes based on what you really need, not what will fill their cash register. They’re also almost always having some sort of sale on clothing, shoes, or gear. I bought my most recent pair of shoes here and a pair for my mom as well.
Core Running is also involved in many of the local races. They’ve helped put on the Wimberley 4-​miler, the Dash for Dawn, and more recently, the Fireworks 5k. These guys really appear to be in it for the long haul and they’ve really solidified their presence in San Marcos.

I’m not a hardcore runner. All I know about shoes is if they feel good on my feet or not. I run enough however that I decided to put more money on a pair of shoes than I ever have (around here most of our money is spent on our kids growing feet).
Greg helped me find the right shoe after a quick walk up and down the length of his shop. Turns out it was about a half size too big which my toes discovered after a few mile run. I was worried that since I had worn them it’d be hard to exchange them. Boy was I wrong. Greg swapped them out no problem and ordered me the right size. He even let me use the Unilocal check-​in/​t-​shirt offer when I picked them up.
They offer great run groups every Wednesday and are very involved in the community. From one business owner near the square to another these guys have what it takes to stick around. Keep your money local and go checks these guys out!

CORE running knows what they’re doing.
As an avid runner who has competed in events from 5ks to ultramarathons, and everything in between, I know when I see a quality running store.
When you walk in the selection may look limited– they don’t have a TONS of different products like some box stores. This is great in my opinion. When I began looking around I saw product that wasn’t available in big retail stores– CORE only carries what seems to be the ‘elite’ runners products– except at great prices. They always seem to be having a sale of some sort. And great deals on store shirts.
The staff also rattles off all the details about any kind of shoe they have. They give you a quick look at your running style/​body type and put a shoe in your hand.
I’ve found that I can only visit when I have money to spend.
It makes me wish I had that store as my personal closet.