Oh, I have cheaped out and gone to Sports Authority to get my favorite shoe that I had previously been fitted for and bought at a running store. Sometimes I could get them on clearance for $65-trying to save a few bucks. I did not see my brooks in the store a few years back so I asked them.
me: "do you still carry brooks? I need brooks adrenaline."
them: "No, they went out of business."
Then- on another occasion I asked about their stability shoes. I wear stability shoes, but don't know all of the shoes in each brand.
me: "could you show me your stability shoes?"
them:"oh, adidas are stability shoes."
I for sure appreciate the small running stores employed by nice real life runners.
I recently went to one of the LARGER specialty running stores with lots of locations across the country and a website. I asked about the nike plus. The associate knew very little about it and when I asked if he used it before he said "no, I'm a track star!" I'm hoping i heard him wrong.
And, the last kid to help me at the store said he occasionally ran to work, but mostly just played football.
After going to that store on my last visit to the city I told my husband that we need to open a running store in our small town and actually be helpful to people just like you guys are!