Running Room Canada

Went there a few months ago.
Selection of running shoes is not quite large, and price range is pretty high.
However, sales person was helpful.

Came here last year to get some advice on some running clinics for beginners as I was interested in starting to do some runs the following year. Very patient and welcoming. Great customer service.

Best shoe-​buying experience ever. I came on a weekend, there was a great sale going on. If you go to the Denman st. location, look for David. He really knows his stuff and was a pleasure to work with. He knows various ways of lacing to make the ankles fit better, had me swapping out insoles to explore different fits, and best of all, he had a really relaxed yet informed approach which made me feel super comfortable just trying out different pairs at my own pace.
This is not a huge store, but it has a great selection and I was out of there in 20 minutes and made out like a bandit!

What a classic, been here for years, just shows how many shoes they can sell to pay for prime real estate facing Stanley Park.
In the summer, this is a great place to get involved in running. Did a few workshops here, and sometimes will offer free trials of certain brands! what a novel idea, try getting sportchek to do that lol.
Think i got a free cap last summer too.
On their weekly runs, when you go for a run at the park, you can safely leave your work shoes or whatever under the bench, apparently it’s safe.
and the washroom to change in is quite clean, hardware floors or laminate ;)
It’s a bit tight compared to other stores in the mall but do find they offer better sale items as in the summer, you can see whole tables of sales on the sidewalks.

What a disaster. After Christmas break last year I figured if I wanted to have a chance at staying healthy during the winter running would be a good option. Since I lived right next to Stanley park there are many great running destinations around here it seemed like a no brainer. I was 33 and hadn’t ran in about a decade. I am still a well to do single man about town who stays in relatively good fitness the rest of the year, I figured I’m getting older and if I wanted to stay well to do and youthful I’d better keep my ass in shape.
So, I’m not an expert in running. The man at the running room is an expert. I trust him to assess my needs and based on his many years of experience running and setting people up with appropriate running equipment that he would know what’s best for me, even if it didn’t feel right.
My feet are size ¹⁰⁄₁₀.5 and after testing my lunging style and measuring my feet the sales associate comes back with a pair of size 12 white Brooks. They were MASSIVE. I didn’t know they even made Brooks anymore. And if they did still make them, those hulking white polyurethane foam novelty slippers are what senior citizens wear because their bodies are falling apart and these giant Brooks are the only thing that’s comfortable and supportive enough. Nevertheless this sales associate was the expert and I was not, so I took his word for it. I tried them on, even with at least ¾ inch left in the end of the shoe he assured me they fit well and sent me off on a trial run. I rolled up my tight black jeans a little and got ready to jog around the block and the sales associate basically said if I left the store with my jeans like this people on the street would question my sexuality. I rolled them up higher and went for a jog around the block.
The shoes clearly didn’t fit and they looked so stupid. I returned to the running room and spent the next 45 minutes talking the sales associate into allowing me to purchase something remotely stylish or at least technical and as close to my size as he’d allow. They didn’t have to be track shoes, I was willing to compromise on something that still met my particular physical needs but I don’t want to look like the senior citizens lounging around Denman Place Mall waiting to die. I’m still trying to look hot and [hopefully] get laid here that’s why I’m running!
Eventually after grinding this guy down he allowed me to purchase a pair of 11.5 Aasics that he was certain would still meet my physical needs (although they didn’t offer the additional padding and support of the Brooks) and I thought they looked ok. They still felt HUGE and my feet were swimming in them (I’m usually a size 10), but I was assured these were the ones for me. At the very least this felt like as far as the sales associate was willing to negotiate with me. As I’m no expert I agreed, bought some expensive running socks and a stylish technical activewear outfit I thought I’d look cool running in. Total bill: $ 490.00
I ran 2 – 3 times a week for about 3 – 4 weeks. Feet swimming in my shoes. No support. But I believed this was my fault. My body must have been defective. My knees ached. My shins ached. Eventually I couldn’t do it anymore. I resigned to the fact that I was just too defective to run. Too much skateboarding had ruined my knees and any hope of light impact aerobics. Cycling was about as aerobic as I’d ever be able to get.
Recently I bought a pair of stylish Nike running shoes from Foot Locker because they were ½ price with the purchase of my standard Chuck Taylor’s. A sales associate did not help me at all. I bought a pair of generic cross training Nikes in the size that I felt suited me and have recently started running again nearly a year later. And to my surprise I’m running 25% further immediately and have no problems with my knees feeling like they are made of gravel or my shins splitting like cedar. And these shoes look good! I actually feel attractive in my running outfit.
I guess what I can recommend from this experience is that if something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t, even if the professional is telling you it is. Starting an exercise program has got to be the hardest part about the exercise program. If you lack confidence or feel physically prohibited from it you are VERY unlikely to continue with it. I was sure my body was too trashed to ever be able to run again. All because this guy had me convinced it was. I lost confidence and staying fit felt hopeless.
I’m sure it wasn’t the sales associate’s intention to make me feel inadequate or to prohibit me from running, but the guy was such an elitist boob it’s hard to not feel that way. I will not be shopping at the running room ever again.

I remember checking out their sale stock display outside the store last year and was truly underwhelmed. But since I’m desperately in need for a good pair of running shoes, I decided to head in for a quick look around today.
What I ended up getting was bar none service, and no shoes (not yet anyway). I walked in and was immediately greeted by a staff who was super warm and helpful. He observed my gait and feet curvature and educated me on the type of runners I need for adequate stability and support.
Then he brought out a few pairs for me to try, but the store didn’t have a particular model of Asics in my size. So they called another branch and will be getting them delivered to their branch for me to try. To try. If I didn’t like them, they’ll get them sent back to the other branch.
If that’s not service, I don’t know what is. And because of Running Room, I’ll never buy running shoes just because they look pretty again. Two thumbs up!

I was served by Liz a very helpful and knowledgeable assistant, who analysed my gait and after listening to my needs went on to recommend a pair of Brooks Raveena. To be sure I went on to try several more options however Liz’s first recommendation was spot on. After returning home I compared them to my old NB shoes only confirming that these were the shoes for me. Friendly staff and bags of knowledge.

I like the Running Room because they usually have really good staff who walk you through shoe buying. They are usually pretty good about looking at your stride and making sure you have the right supports.
I’m not sure if maybe I caught the sales associate at the wrong time or if maybe he’s always that grumpy but the last time I was in there I had really sad service. It was a good thing I had already done a bunch of research on the shoe I wanted and have been running long enough that I know what to look for. He didn’t really fit me and as I was putting the shoes on he walked away to talk on the phone.
Oh well, I still love the Running Room, I just wasn’t enthused by this last experience.

OK I may have been a bit harsh in my last review. Actually, I have grown to love the RR and it has been my second home over the past 6 months or so. I have gotten to know several of the employees and now know who to ask when I need some serious shoe advice… like most stores, there is a mix of «in the know» employees and «i have no clue» employees. Fair enough.
I have found a few employees REALLY knowledgeable. If you have some questions about shoes… ask David. He’s knows what he’s talking about. Justin is also a sweetheart. Both are avid runners too which helps.
Again, I have to say I love the clinics. I just completed the marathon clinic and now have a slew of new running buddies not to mention just all around friends. HIGHLY recommended. Whether you are a newbie or want to tackle a new distance.

The denman location is truly the jewel of the bunch with both the best collection of interesting and helpful staff paired with an ideal location for the widest variety of run/​walk distances in respect to both the seawall ad stanley park. Wanna get fit? Check out the Denman Running Room!

Running Room is the opiate of the jogging people.
As an avid runner who lives in the West End, I often find myself frequenting the Denman street Running Room in order to stock up on the latest carbohydrate gels and fancy, cushioned running socks.
The staff at the store I wouldn’t say are the most friendly, they’re not nasty, but they do come across as a bit too laissez-​faire at times. Their product knowledge is adequate but not the best that I’ve encountered when it comes to new running products.
Their selection of shoes and gear is decent, but they still don’t carry some of the brands I’m looking for, ie: Sugoi, and they certainly stock way too much of their own Running Room product line.
I’ve attended a number of their running clinics over the years but I have noticed a definite drop in the level of quality and organization of the clinics. Too me it seemed like some of the people running the clinics were just going through the motions and didn’t really put that much effort into it. That being said, the clinics are still a great way for new runners to train for events properly and an excellent way to meet fellow new runners.
Their location has to be the best possible spot for a running store, right on the footsteps of Stanley Park, which is great for the clinics who hit the trails and seawall for their weekly training runs.
Overall the Running Room is to running stores what Safeway is to grocery stores. Both are large chains that fill a need, but both are missing that little bit extra you would get from a smaller, independent store. Unfortunately, the Running Room is the only running store in the West End and until somebody is able to break their choke hold on the running market downtown it looks like I’m stuck buying my gels from them.