“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

– Henry Ford

Have you ever joined a group with a common interest, not knowing how it would transform your hobby in the years to come?  Think for a moment about one hobby of yours.  Who has inspired you to learn more, to grow more, to believe more, and to reach more for the goals you never would have considered?

My running adventures are a hobby – something that is always good to keep in perspective.  We can get so wrapped-up about races, performances, paces, workouts, hottest shoes, and distance achievements that sometimes we lose track of running for the love of the sport.  When I think of the phrase “running for the love of the sport,” the first group that comes to my mind is Team Running Lab.  This week, it has been a flurry of activities as the local store, Running Lab, celebrated 10 years of inspiring the local running community, one “sole” at a time.  This small business is truly at the top of their league, being named as one of the Best Running Stores of 2020.

The very first interaction that I had at Running Lab was at the start of Winter 2018, when I needed a social outlet because of my significant other’s work schedule.  I stepped outside my comfort zone and went to this random Tuesday night group run where there was this bright, bubbly, energetic person describing the running route for the night.  Little did I know then that this cheerleader would become my polar planking pal in the middle of a pandemic.  This same person offered me a pair of Yaktrax that winter running season and that was the start of something truly special that my running life was lacking.  Yes, Toni, you are the greatest!

My interactions with this awesome running store in a mere 3.5 years have been incredible and I only wish I knew of this business sooner!  I’ve learned so much about running life and life in general from Paul, one of the sales associates.  I still remember the first time I ran a sub-2hr half marathon (Houston, January 2019) and I walked into the store to tell Paul about it.  I didn’t visit the store to shop, but I visited the store because of the employees that make this store a running home.  I constantly am amazed by Kimberly and Jen who I always see hustling and bustling, finding shoes or shipping merchandise.  These ladies put a new definition to working hard.  If you ever need a good smile, Sydney and Elizabeth are your ladies who will help you shop and make you laugh.  And when you don’t know someone, you introduce yourself.  I still remember Nick bringing me one of my pickup orders.  After I introduced myself, it went something like “Oh I know who you are.  You have a reputation around here.”  One of my favorite recent interactions was with Keith at a local race, where he was all decked-out in Running Lab gear and embodied the store’s spirit with his energetic PR setting-pace.  Every successful store needs an incredible marketing guru named Brenna.  She keeps the social media posts going, brings in the coolest shoe demo sponsors, and arranges the best free clinics you will need as a runner, while somehow managing a busy family of her own.  I’ve never seen her have a bad day because she always finds a way to get out to kayak, bike, run, walk, or hike in the outdoors.  There are other employees I haven’t met yet, but I can assure you they embody the spirit of “running for the love of the sport.”  And finally, if you’ve never met the owner, Ken, he’s like a ninja behind the scenes, making everything happen but yet still takes time to provide you individual shoe recommendations and will do everything he can to get you the shoes that you want.

The Running Lab spirit carries over into all of the store’s activities.  From group runs and free clinics, I have met incredible people who help me reach my own running goals and push me to think about training in challenging ways and recently, much smarter safer ways.  In fact, much of my running success has been through relationships I’ve developed because of Running Lab.  One really special memory was during a local 5k earlier this month where Team Running Lab was well-represented.  So many kind runners from this very group shouted my name as I ran by, while they were also running the same race!  This is what “running for the love of the sport” is all about.

When you combine the happiest employees and the coolest running friends for an open-house to celebrate 10 years, you can bet that the spirit of Running Lab was on full display. Ken and Company graciously opened their doors of the new store location for an open-house this past week.  It was a chance for the broader community to see the incredible new sparkling store, to plan races with friends, to enjoy “pandemic” company of one another, to shop for essentials (yes, Jen was STILL working at the party), and to recognize the contributions that Running Lab has had on the local community.  What an incredible night celebrating the best of the best in the running biz!

As I wrap-up this post, I leave you with a few thoughts:

• Step outside your comfort zone.  You never know who will inspire your hobby.
• Grow your circle with people who have similar aspirations.  You will be amazed by everyday heroes.
• Support those who support you.  This keeps support systems healthy and thriving.
• We don’t meet people on accident.  There will come a time when you realize they were meant to enter your life at that exact moment for a purpose.
• Keep smiling, because you never know who you are inspiring along your own journey.