Run Collective is rooted in our belief that what makes us unique makes the channel stronger.

Who We Are

The Run Collective represents 19 run specialty retailers who operate as true partners—to our vendors, fellow run specialty retailers, our employees, and runners everywhere. We are more than a buying group; we are a business partnership built on shared investment, accountability, and a common purpose. Every member invests in The Run Collective by purchasing an ownership stake, commits to our partnership agreement, and actively contributes by participating in meetings, supporting The Run Collective initiatives, and making a good-faith effort to champion our vendor partnerships.  

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We advocate for the channel and serve as a trusted voice on issues that shape the long-term health of this industry.  We support and expect participation in industry partners such as TRE, RIA, EmpowerRun and the RIDC.

We believe in independence, innovation, and collaboration in pursuit of a lasting, positive impact on our communities and the sport of running.

Our History

The Run Collective was founded in 2023, the result of more than a decade of conversation, ideation and shared conviction.

The run specialty landscape is evolving rapidly. As Fleet Feet, Road Runner Sports, Running Warehouse, Dick’s Sporting Goods and brand-owned stores reshape the market, a group of independent retailers recognized the need for a unified voice to represent stores like ours. The group saw multi-level benefits of becoming more aligned, more scalable and more intentional in how we compete, how we partner with brands, and how we serve our communities.

The running specialty landscape is evolving rapidly. As Fleet Feet, Road Runner Sports, Running Warehouse, Dick's Sporting Goods and brand-owned stores reshape the market, a group of independent retailers recognized the need for a unified voice to represent stores like ours. They saw the opportunity to become more aligned, more scalable and more intentional in how independent retailers could compete, collaborate with our brand partners and serve the running communities that depend on us.

Twelve founding members came together to launch The Run Collective with a shared mission: improve operations and profitability, and build meaningful connections across our teams. Our early months were defined by the energy — and uncertainty — of a true startup. John Benedict, whose retirement after 35 years at Playmakers provided the catalyst to finally get the group off the ground and helped lead us through that formative period.

In 2025, we welcomed seven new members and with that growth came growing pains. We quickly recognized that expanding further without the right foundation — clear governance, defined processes, and a shared strategic direction — wasn’t sustainable. We made the deliberate decision to pause new membership and focus on building the organization we needed to be, and to execute on the relationships we have already developed with each other and several brand partners.

Our Purpose

The Run Collective exists to ensure the long-term prosperity of independent run specialty retailers.

We are committed to diligently serving our communities, building better workplaces for our teams, and partnering with brands to improve the performance of our businesses in a way that is sustainable and consistent. We believe that by working together, we can drive meaningful change — not only for our own stores, but for independent run specialty retail as a whole.

Future Membership

We aim to add a few new members in 2027.‍ Membership is by invitation and although there are a set of criteria for consideration, meeting ‍those requirements is only one part of the process: we are a company, and bringing in new ‍business partners is among the most consequential decisions we make.

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Each of our members has built something of their own — with their own vision, values, and ‍ways of operating. Finding common ground and setting shared priorities takes real work. This is ‍why we approach new membership with such intentionality.

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If you are interested in The Run Collective, please do reach out to our co-executive directors John Benedict (johnb@runcollective.co) or Stephanie Blozy (steph@runcollective.co).‍

FAQs

  • The Run Collective is comprised of nationally recognized independent run specialty retailers as well as our vendor partners.

  • The Run Collective is a supporter of the Running Industry Association, with all members encouraged to be members of the RIA. Run Collective is not part of the RIA.

  • Membership is currently limited to the 19 members. Please check back for more detail.

  • Please contact our executive director, John Benedict, at johnb@playmakers.com.

  • Please contact John Benedict at johnb@playmakers.com