New Store ‘Up and Running’ in Chatham-Kent

With warm weather here, the local running community is coming out of hibernation and will be bolstered this spring by the arrival of Chatham-Kent’s newest business, “Up and Running,” which is a running store located on King Street in Downtown Chatham.

Opening the first week of March, the new store offers a wide variety of running products including footwear – ranging from minimalist and barefoot to stable and cushioning – sports bras, clothing, compression gear, hydration and fueling products, socks, and  other running accessories.

According to Up and Running owner Kim Wood, the new store has seen a steady flow of customers in their opening weeks,

“It was busier than we had anticipated. We had a lot more people coming in than we thought we would, so that was very encouraging.”

Up and Running, in connection with local organization RunCK, will also be offering several running groups, including a Learn to Run, 5K, and 10K group, with a Half Marathon group planned for the future. On their opening registration night, Wood estimated 70-80 people signed up for Learn to Run, with a waiting list of more runners showing interest.

Wood believes the Learn to Run group is an excellent way to get into running in a safe and supportive environment.

“The Learn to Run group focuses on teaching you how to run, what kind of shoes to wear, and good technique,” explained Wood.  “It’s a supportive and encouraging environment.”

The new local store isn’t just about selling shoes and running apparel. Up and Running will aim to provide runners with shoes that fit their running style and the movements of their body by completing a gate analysis using an in store tredmill, and a camera and television which will show runners how their feet land and where they will need the most support in their new shoes.

“We’ll do a gate analysis on anybody who comes in, we watch how they walk, and then show them, and guide them to the types of shoes they should be wearing. It doesn’t mean they won’t like something else, but we’ll try to help them find what best fits their foot and running style,” said Wood.

It’s this level of service Wood feels will set Up and Running apart from stores in larger communities and big box competitors.

“In terms of what we offer compared to going out of town or to a big box store, obviously the services like gate analysis and our run groups are things you won’t find. I think our service and the knowledge in our store is what sets us apart from those other stores.”

Walking into Up and Running, which is located at 138 King Street West, in the newly renovated Warrener Building that also houses Sonya Roe and Sun Media, you’ll experience a truly local shopping experience, one-on-one customer service, and a goal of finding the perfect product for each individual client.

For Wood, this local experience, and the benefit it holds for Chatham-Kent is important to Up and Running, and the community,

“Rather than leaving town or going across the border to do your shopping, try to find somewhere local, if you want to help the local economy, you have to support the local economy.”

To learn more, feel free to visit www.getupandrun.com or connect with Up and Running on Facebook (www.facebook.com/getupandrun) or on Twitter (www.twitter.com/upandrunningck).