With COVID-19 causing the temporary closure of many stores and businesses, these are difficult times for everyone, the running industry included. Big-box stores can handle a month or two of closures, but many smaller shops—the ones you love—can only survive with continued support from the running community. Though runners can’t go shopping in person right now, we can still shop online to help ensure that as many of those retailers as possible will be able to re-open when life returns to normal. 

The Runners Shop in Toronto

These businesses are now fully dependent on their online sales, and some are even delivering shoes, clothing and other gear locally. If you could use a new pair of running shoes or any other running-related items, check out the list below and see if there’s a store near you that you can support. Small gestures like this will give local running retailers a better shot at making it through this global health crisis.

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If you’re well-stocked for gear for now but still want to help, consider buying a gift card to help out your local run shop. Consider it an investment for the future, when you will inevitably need a shoe upgrade, and every little bit helps. These stores have always been there for us runners when we need them, and now it’s our chance to return the favour.

ASICS pledges support for local retailers

ASICS Canada has committed to help local run shops across Canada during these difficult times. From today until summer 2020, ASICS pledges 100 per cent of its advertising efforts with Canadian Running to promote shopping local. This means when readers click on any ASICS advertising on the Canadian Running website, they’ll be directed to a local run shop’s e-commerce website in their community. In partnership with ASICS, we at Canadian Running hope you will continue to support the backbone of the Canadian running community, your local run shop.

Note that as COVID-19 restrictions ease, some shops may be open for in-store shopping. Please check online for information.

Note: If you are a running retailer and would like to have your store added to this list, please email us at info@runningmagazine.ca.

British Columbia

Garrison Running Co (Chilliwack–in-store shopping only, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Sunday)

Distance Runwear (Vancouver, North Vancouver)

Forerunners (Vancouver, North Vancouver)

Vancouver Running Company (Vancouver)

LadySport (Vancouver)

Rackets & Runners (Vancouver)

The Right Shoe (Vancouver)

The RunInn Delta (Delta)

Runners Den (Port Moody)

FitFirst Footwear (Burnaby)

Frontrunners (VictoriaNanaimo)

Peninsula Runners Company Inc. (Langley)

Reason 2 Run Fitness Ltd (Quesnel)

Play Stores (Kelowna)

Fresh Air Experience (Kelowna)

Fresh Air Concept (Kelowna)

Peach City Athletics Inc.  (Penticton)

The Starting Block (Vernon)

Runners Sole Ltd  (Kamloops)

Capra Running (Squamish)

Sound Runner (Squamish)

Stride & Glide Sports Ltd (Prince George)

The Running Room (Abbotsford, Burnaby, Kelowna, Langley, Nanaimo, North Van, Victoria, Port Coquitlam, Vancouver)

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Alberta

Spry (Blairmore)

Gord’s Running (Calgary)

Strides Running (Calgary, Canmore, Marda Loop, Fish Creek)

Runner’s Soul (Lethbridge)

SkiUpHill (Canmore)

The Running Room (Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer)

Saskatchewan & Manitoba

Brainsport (Saskatoon—going online soon)

City Park Runners (Winnipeg)

Fresh Air Experience (Regina)

Sunshine and Ski (Regina)

The Running Room (Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg)

Ontario

Bushtukah (Ottawa)

Runners Choice (Kingston)

Running Free (Newmarket, Markham, Orangeville)

Runners Choice (Waterloo)

Runners Den (Hamilton)

Running Factory (Windsor)

Culture Athletics (Toronto)

Blacktoe Running (Toronto)

The Runners Shop (Toronto)

The Running Room (Aurora, Peterborough, Barrie, Burlington, Guelph, Kingston, Kitchener/Waterloo, London, Markham, Mississauga,  Newmarket, Oakville, Oshawa, Ottawa, Toronto, Sudbury, Thunderbay, Pickering, St. Catherines)

RELATED: Canadian cities are beginning to close local trails

Quebec

Boutique Courir (Montreal, Longueuil)

Boutique Endurance (Montreal)

Le Coureur (Sherbrooke)

Le Coureur Nordique (Quebec City)

Maison De La Course Inc. (Montreal)

La Foulee Sportive (Gateneau)

The Running Room (Monreal, Quebec City, Boucherville, Pointe-Claire, Westmout, Brossard)

 

Maritimes

Aerobics First (Halifax)

Sole in Motion (Dartmouth)

The Runners Attic (Yarmouth)

The Running Room (Moncton, Fredricton, St. John, Halifax, Bedford, St. John’s)