Fleet Feet Sports, Naperville Running Company and Runner's High 'N Tri were selected by the Running Network as part of the 50 Best Running Stores in the United States. Chicago Athlete's staff picks for honorable mentions are listed at the bottom of this page.

Fleet Feet Sports
Being a part of people's lives and helping them to achieve their goals has always been important to Dave Zimmer. Eleven years ago, Zimmer worked at a bank, where he helped people to obtain home loans. He said the most special part of the job for him at the time was helping people achieve their dreams of owning a home.

"I think we kind of do the same thing here," says Zimmer. "We help people achieve their dreams of a positive self image." Zimmer says being the owner of three Fleet Feet Sports stores in the Chicago area gives him the opportunity to be a part of people's lives in a rare and special way. The stores host a popular race series and numerous weekly fun runs, and Zimmer has seen 12 marriages come out of events he's hosted. Zimmer says the first marriage is the most memorable to him.

"The very first couple who met at one of our races had their first kiss on a trip out to a Rock 'n' Roll Marathon," says Zimmer. "We even hosted a wedding day 5K for the bridesmaids, bridegrooms and their families."

Zimmer makes fitness a part of his life both in and out of the store and is president of the Mayor's Fitness Council. In January of 2008, the Fleet Feet Sports store on North Ave. will double in size from 4,000 to 8,000 square feet when it moves to its new location at 1620 N. Wells.

Runner's High 'N Tri
Thirty years ago, the owner of Arlington Heights' Runners High 'N Tri pursued criminals for a living. Now Mark Rouse, a former Michigan police officer, makes his living helping others pursue their aspirations of becoming better athletes. "I started running to get in better shape," says Rouse. "It was a way for me to manage stress."

Rouse soon discovered that he enjoyed running and began working his way up to participating in triathlons. He has competed in 17 Ironmans since he began running competitively in 1968, and his love for the sport stayed with him through his corporate career after he left law enforcement.

"I decided I wanted to be my own boss," says Rouse of his decision to open a running store 17 years ago with his partner, Teresa Rouse. The Arlington Heights store has grown from 1,700 square feet when it opened on Dunton Ave. in 1989, to the 4,000-square-foot store on Campbell Street that it is today.

"It's very rewarding," says Rouse. "I've seen people who've started here and could only run a block or two and are now running Ironman triathlons."

In August, Runner's High 'N Tri became the first retail store in the country to open an account to carry the Newton running shoe. Meredith Beers, the store manager, discovered the shoe while attending the 2007 Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid Triathlon in July. Newton Running Company credits Runners High 'N Tri with being the catalyst for it to move into retail sales.

Naperville Running Company
The owner of the Naperville Running Company has wanted to operate his own running store since he was in the eighth grade. He even created a business card in school to pass out to his classmates.

For owner Kris Hartner, his fitness career started with what is now called the President's Challenge-a test given in gym classes across the country. As a child, Hartner could never complete the 600-yard dash without stopping. This frustrated him so much that he started practicing on his own at the end of his seventh grade year. Hartner continued to push himself until he met his goal. Along the way, he discovered that he liked the satisfaction of a hobby where he could measure his progress. He decided to try out for the school's cross country and track team the next semester.

Hartner continued to run competitively through high school, in part because of a very special coach. "I can't think of anyone who's had a bigger influence in my life," says Hartner of his high school cross country and track coach, Rich Kleyman. "We lived out in the country. My mom worked 80 hours a week, and he used to pick me up in the morning before breakfast and drive me to practice." When kids needed a ride to practice, Kleyman would give them one, Hartner says. "And it wasn't because I was some running prodigy," says Hartner. "It was just because I wanted to be there and be a part of the team." After 25 years, Hartner still keeps in touch with Kleyman.

Naperville Running Company has sponsored events for several high schools in its area and is a sponsor of the Naperville Turkey Trot that takes place on Thanksgiving Day.

Honorable Mentions
Dick Pond Athletics
Barrington, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, Crest Hill
(630) 665-3316 (Carol Stream); www.dickpondathletics.com
Established in 1969, the company has eight locations throughout Illinois and operates four shoemobiles that have traveled as far as Kansas to fit athletes for shoes.

Running Away Multisport
1634 W. North Ave, Chicago
(773) 395-2929; www.runningawaymultisport.com
Official sponsor of the Chicago Tri Club, the store has partnered with Max Multisport Coaching to offer women hands-on fitness support.

The Runner's Edge
Chicago, Wilmette, Libertyville
(847) 853-8531 (Wilmette); www.runswim.com
The store sponsors the Runner's Edge Trail Half Marathon, the Gilberts Cross Country Challenge and the Glenview Park Center Triathlon. The staff fits shoes based on each customer's individual needs.

Murphy's Fit
513 Dempster Street, Evanston
(847) 869-4101
The store carries every size offered by each brand it carries. Many non- runners visit the store, which also carries orthotics; runners also appreciate the staffs' orthotics knowledge.

Run Chicago
7239 W. Madison, Forest Park
(708) 771-7866 ; www.runchicago.com
The store offers to design personal training programs for customers at any age or level of ability. Each member of the staff is a runner, and the store's owner is a running coach who has been nationally ranked at various distances.

Glen Ellyn Running Company
528 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn
(630) 793-4786 ; www.gerunningco.com
The store holds triathlon clinics in the store, and owner Patrick White says customers stop by the store all the way through training to give updates on their progress. They also support several charity organizations.

The Competitive Foot
Oak Park, Western Springs
(708) 524-0030 (Oak Park); www.competitivefoot.com
The store sponsors six to eight races a year. For the past 30 years, the store has sponsored the Western Springs Tower Trot.

The Human Race Sports
Orland Park, Valparaiso
(708) 349-4724 (Orland Park); www.humanracesports.com
Ed Kerfin, one of the owners of The Human Race Sports, founded the store because he had problems with his knees related to the running shoes he wore. This is one reason the store strongly emphasizes shoe fit.

Running for Kicks
7158 W 127th Street, Palos Heights
(708) 448-9200; www.runningforkicks.com
The store offers a 30-day money back guarantee and will accept the return of a shoe within 30 days, regardless of whether it has been worn. Running for Kicks will put on the Southwest suburbs' first half marathon on May 4.

Running Unlimited
451 W. Northwest Hwy., Palatine
(847) 991-9466; www.runningunlimited.com
The store emphasizes fit over fashion: "Most people don't really understand what a high arch or flat foot means," says Eric Gronwick. "Some people think they have a high arch, but they really don't." Large selection of running books.

Sabrina Wu is a writer and health enthusiast based in Chicago.