Up N Running

Wonderful, knowledgeable staff, cool dog in the shop, great prices and the very best gear. Definitely my favorite shop!

Okay, I know you’re going to have to pull up a map to find where Valencia is (hint: it’s in that rather-​north place we call Butler County), but if you’re into the running scene at all, it’s going to be worth the half hour trek up Route 8.
(And I swear I’m not just endorsing this place because I love any shop that sells shoes and has a dog greet you. Although, you know, a cuddly pup never hurts. And Lazlo never gives me weird looks, no matter how many times I incorporate ballet barre routines into my process of trying on new running shoes.)
All of the staff here are amazing: they know facts about running gear that dudes who win the Boston marathon probably don’t. And they make it all user friendly. No clue what that weird thing you do while running on a trail, that you don’t do while running on the street is called? They do. And they know how to help you with it.
Great sales, too: I recently picked up an amazing pair of Vibrams for $ 30 off the regular price. (And in doing so, I found the running shoes this former dancer has been waiting her whole life to find!) They carry every style of running shoe you can imagine, plus compression gear, way-​cute running shorts, and now their own brand of gear: Lazlo Atheltic Brand — yes, that abbreviates to LAB, which just so happens to be Lazlo’s breed.
They run sales regularly and advertise them on both their Facebook page and their website. Speaking of their FB page — they’re very active in engaging their fans, and there are a lot of great discussions about upcoming races, general running info, and gear. They frequently organize group runs and walks.
I just love that any time I come to this store, I get personalized attention. I feel like, even though I only put in a few miles a week, my running and walking routine is just as important as a track star’s or an ultra-marathoner’s. While it’s a little out of the way for those of us who live in the city, the accessibility of the staff and their seemingly-​endless knowledge makes the journey well worth your time.