The store itself is great for trying a variety of shoes and getting custom insoles, but I had a negative experience with the salesperson, Samuel. They gave false information about VIP membership perks and the delivery date of my order was way off: 1) Samuel lied about VIP membership and said VIPs could return used gear within 90 days for a refund. I wasn't sure I heard correctly so I asked him again to double check if we can RETURN used gear within 90 days if the fit was incorrect, and he confirmed that yes, a return is possible. After reviewing the receipt and website when I got home, I learned you can EXCHANGE used gear within 90 days, not return for a refund. This should've been made clear. 2) Samuel confirmed that the shoes I ordered from them in store on 8/23/22 would be shipped to my home either later that same day or the next day, 8/24/22. He said the shoes were coming from their Campbell store so delivery would be fast. I was really looking forward to this new pair since my current shoes are giving me issues. I called Road Runner's customer line (800.551.5558 ) regarding my order status, and they said my order is not scheduled to ship until next Monday, 8/29/22. Waiting 6+ days instead of 2 makes a huge difference when you're training and cannot take this many days off running. Had I known it would take over a week to get the shoes, I would have chosen another pair in store. I am so disappointed with this shady sales experience, I'm not sure I would recommend shopping at Road Runner to anyone I know. The false information about VIP membership is one thing, but the false delivery promise for my order is quite another since it negatively affects my training. read more

Had an awesome experience there, our fit expert was Mahari. He was super enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the products. Definitely no pressure to purchase anything, just informative and helpful with a big smile. read more

I'm writing a Road Runner review mostly because of Mahari, who is one of the staff. Mahari is incredibly attentive, friendly, kind, and good-natured with a great heart. Mahari helped me try on three sizes of the same shoe and helped my wife with two pairs of shoes, even though he knew Road Runner didn't have the colors we wanted, we wouldn't buy the shoes at store, and he wouldn't get a commission. After getting Mahari's great help, we ordered our shoes on the Road Runner website. As for the Road Runner store itself, this is the second time I've been there. They have many brands of shoes for all kinds of running needs. And they have some shoes for walking. Their prices seem to be competitive. The main thing I like is Road Runner's VIP rewards program. If you join VIP, you and your family get 10% off everything (including future purchases), you get 5% rewards "cash" on what you buy that can be used for future purchases (although there's some sort of expiration date), and you can return or exchange your shoes and other purchases within 90 days -- even if you run in them! (It's 60 days even if you don't join their VIP program. Personally, I don't see any downside to joining their VIP program. You don't have to opt into getting emails or snail mail promotions from them. Of course, Road Runner's VIP program helps them out because it's an incentive for you to come back. The main thing I don't like is that they have high-tech machines that scan your feet to determine your foot size(s) and your arch height. Then the machine spits out recommendations of shoes for you. To me, the scan was absolutely useless. In particular, I didn't like the shoes it recommended. read more

Busy day at the shop but still received awesome help from Kenny who helped me with the fitting consultation and brought out several pairs of shoes for me to try on. He was attentive and gave many recommendations after hearing my thoughts on each shoe. Although I didn't end up purchasing a pair of shoes this visit, I will have to return. read more

Isabella was extremely helpful! I'm trying to get back into running after many years, and I wasn't sure what I even needed. Isabella spent a ton of time explaining all the options and helping me put together a starter set of everything from tops to running shoes. I'm so glad I found this store! read more

I was greeted quickly by a very knowledgeable saleswoman who checked my gait and gave me some great options!

I've been having some arch pain so my doctor recommended Road Runner to assess my foot and help me find new shoes and inserts. I visited the store in Berkeley today and David assisted me. He had the absolute best attitude and so much knowledge about every product and every aspect of the process. He helped me find a great pair of shoes that fit great. It was such a nice overall experience - the customer service and care/attention was really remarkable (even though they were understaffed and really busy). Mahari was also super nice and knowledgeable. Highly recommend. I rarely write yelp reviews, but was inspired to after my experience with David/Mahari at Road Runner. read more

Jennifer provided excellent customer service. She educated me on the way I walked by using the technology in the store to 3D scan and record my walk. They were able to make a custom made a pair of insoles in ten minutes. Very nice fit but it was not enough support for me. I'm impressed with the layout and high quality selection in the store. read more

An update: I have an update - have an ingrown toenail so mentioned to my doctor today. Told him when I wear my Hoka shoes from Road Runner there's no pain. He said I made a good decision to go to road runner Again thanks! read more

Disclaimer: if I could give negative stars I would... I bought 2 pairs of shoes and one of their "special insoles" because I have high arches and I really liked them the last time I bought shoes from them. Little did I know the sales person was a closet sadist because she created the perfect torture devices. I'm not sure how she so royally screwed up the insoles, but I couldn't walk in my shoes without tearing up. I was fine if I was running, but let's face it, I'm resurrecting (or creating) a running career which means there was a bit of walking involved with the running. I was headed back to the store to talk to them about these devil insoles when the pandemic hit and everything, including my motivation, shut down. I recently dusted off my shoes and remembered they were un-wearable so I finally head into the store. All I wanted was for them to soften the insoles and correct a mistake only their employee could have made. That request couldn't be honored because once the insoles have been made they apparently cannot be unmade. The cowardly manager sent the sales person out to tell me if I bought into their VIP program... I'm not sure what would have come of that because I cut him off before he could finish. I was a VIP member for 2 years, I got nothing out of it. If this company cannot correct their own mistake then they don't need my business. If you're looking for a quality running shoe provider, keep looking. Please don't waste your money on their insoles and for the love of all that's beautiful don't buy into their VIP program. If you are so hell bent on throwing money away please donate it to a charity so it does some good. read more

I showed up in person at Road Runner Sports with the wild idea of actually buying shoes in a shoe store. I hadn't set foot in a physical shoe store in ages--shoes for me are now generally objects that one buys online. My reason for coming in was a weird, somewhat random one: the "minor" toe surgery that I had in March has left me with lingering swelling and discomfort that is not scheduled for departure until June. When I arrived, I was asked whether or not I was a member of Road Runner Sports. Although I didn't even recall that there was such a thing, I was informed that I am somehow a lifetime RRS member! The reason, I think, is that Road Runner Sports was actually a pioneer online shoe sales outlet. Well before Zappos, heck well before the internet, you could get shoes from this company by mail. And it turned out that I did (long ago). So there. The modern-day Road Runner Sports does all sorts of gait analysis and in-the-cloud shoe fitting. After dealing with their machines, I half expected to be handed a pair of fully homomorphic custom jeans as a party favor. Although that never happened, I did get some great shoe recommendations. The shoes that I tried on cushioned me well and were very gentle on my healing toe. I bought the pair that looked and felt the best. Road Runner Sports was very aggressive in their recommendation that shoppers buy molded insoles for something like $82. (All the shoppers in the store were getting the same recommendation.) After some wavering, I resisted the sales pitch. The good news is that the 10% discount that I earned by checking in on Yelp could be combined with the member discount that was unlocked on my arrival. The final price that I paid for my Brooks Glycerins is lower than anything that we could find online. If you're a Yelper, do check in when you arrive. read more

This is a great running store and the customer service is what really sets it apart from the rest. A while back I had my running gait analyzed here. The staff was knowledgeable and guided me to some great shoes. Jennifer was exceptionally helpful on multiple different trips and has a wealth of knowledge about running which is very helpful. My run group also has been back and forth to Road Runner and we all love it. We have unofficially selected Jennifer as our consultant for all things running : shoes, socks, recovery slides, and mobility tools. She is great to work with and we look forward to our trips to RR now. Thanks RR and thanks Jennifer! read more

Exceptional, professional service by Mahari P. today. I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and I've been searching for shoes for the past 2 weeks. I have been to this store several times but this is the first time that an associate really took his time to help me. For somebody who is desperate to find the perfect shoes, I can't thank Mahari P. enough for his valuable assistance. He sincerely wanted to help me. Mahari was very patient while assisting with my injured foot. He adjusted the shoe lace and made sure it fits right and that I'm comfortable with it. He taught me how to loosen and tighten my shoes accordingly. He is definitely an ASSET in this store! Thank you Mahari! read more

Drove 40 mins away from my destination as this store had great photos and reviews but when arriving no one acknowledged our existence. Annoying to say the least as we were ready to spend $500+ read more

First time in a Road Runner Sports store and David made it extremely easy to navigate! He was super helpful and helped my friend and I get our feet scan for some new shoes. Although we didn't purchase shoes, we now know what we like and don't like in a running shoe. Shoutout David! You're the best. read more

Tasha at store 120 Unbelievably helpful, quite kind and was seamlessly was patient while I was searching for the right shoe. Such a great experience, so much so that I signed up for the membership. Thank you Thank you Thank you Tasha! I love my shoes and so do my feet! Cant wait to buy more from you! JD. read more

Came here with my daughter to get some customized information and shoes for.the 2023 season. We were assisted by Gabriel and it was a pleasant experience. He was helpful, informative, and explained the processes and information thoroughly. We are both happy with out shoes and insoles and I notice a greater level of comfort and stability which I greatly appreciate. 10 out of 10 I would highly recommend checking this place out, especially if you are into completing some sort of walking/ running for the upcoming year. read more

Loved the customer service Robby provided my husband and I today. He took the time to do an evaluation on our feet to recommend the best shoe for us based on our criteria and fitment. He brought out a variety of selections for us to try on and he just kept running back and fourth to bring out more shoe options for us. He also recommend the inserts which helped our feet a lot. We took about an hour and a half there and Robby's customer service was exceptional we did not feel rushed. By far the best customer service I have ever received in retail. Thank you so much Robby! read more

I came hobbling in after a run with my running group as one of my friends in the group suggested I stop in to get some of your custom inserts. Bridget was very welcoming and attentive as were the other members of your team. I shared that I was hobbling due to a flair up of my plantar fasciitis that came on after my run. After a gait analysis and fitting assessment, Bridget set me up with custom inserts and some compression socks made for plantar fasciitis sufferers. I was able to walk out of the store hobbling a bit less and in a short amount of time, realized the pain in my foot eased off dramatically. While the ligament is still sore, the inserts made a huge difference in alleviating the pain! I went back this evening and caught Bridget before the end of her shift to purchase her suggested Asics GEL-KAYANO's since I need shoes that provide more stability and support. I'm thrilled with the fit and comfort of these too! I'll be shopping here for my running gear from now on! read more

I was in dire need of new running shoes so I thought I'd check out Road Runner Sports in Berkeley for my new kicks!! Mahari P. helped me find the perfect cozy pair! I have difficult feet--they are very flat and Mahari took the time to ensure I understood what shoe and fit would be best for me. He was patient, kind, super knowledgeable and made my experience painless. Ask for Mahari if you go to Road Runner Sports in Berkeley. read more

It's been along time since I bought a new pair of walking shoes. I was way overdue. I am the first to admit that I am a picky, hard to please customer. Gabriel was fantastic. Not only did he patiently and carefully listen to what I was looking for, and help me find a good fit for my long, narrow feet, but he found a color combination that made me happy. He had a great attitude and even re-laced my shoes for me to get the perfect fit. Thoughtful and excellent service. Highly recommend! read more

Husband and I both needed new sneakers. I knew I wanted ASICS, but Hubby wasn't sure even though the ones he was wearing looked like they'd been mangled and munched by a family of Sneakervores. Luckily Paulo (who turned out to be a shoe guru) was here to help -- he recommended a pair of Brooks which perfectly fit Hubby's feet AND made him custom orthotics with a machine that magically produced them in minutes. Hubby says he feels like he's floating on air, giving me hope that one of these days he'll finally agree to sign us up for tango lessons. read more

I am writing again to commend the outstanding customer careand service I experienced at the Berkeley Road Runner Store, and especially from Sam the Assistant Manager. He deserves a big bonus for his problem-solving abilities and excellent customer service. He went above and beyond my expectations and is the definition of customer service. He, and Bridget the manager, are terrific, extremely helpful, knowledgeable and set a friendly, positive tone for the staff and customers. No problem or request seems too much for them. Shout out to Diego and Mahari who also helped with my latest purchase. Sam, Bridget and the whole staff should be lauded as role models of service for the entire Road Runner company or any retail company. read more

Just got a new pair of running shoes and made new personal record on my weekly run. Roadrunner Sports is all about customer service and they have a great system to ensure your purchase is the proper fit and support for your running needs. Paulo was my fit expert and we nailed it on a perfect fit and the PR was proof. read more

Izzy was so helpful and sweet! Super knowledgeable and very patient with us! We ended up getting 2 pairs of shoes. She's a rockstar!

The service here is really good and they take the time to work with you Large selection of shoes and if you have issues with your feet they will take the time to get you in the proper shoe. They earned my business. read more

Road Runner Sports - Brooks Beast - Sports Wear Near Me - Berkeley, California

I am a walker who walks 5-5.50 miles a day so you know I have been wearing my shoes out. I have been having more knee, back and hip pain which has been affecting my walking. I decided to go into road runner to get a fitted for some new shoes. Izzy helped me and oh my goodness. She was wonderful and very knowledgeable. I had the fit finder done and boy did it make difference. Izzy had several shoes for me to try on and made some other suggestions that really made a difference on my feet. I went on my walk today and I could really tell the difference on my feet and body. Thank you Thank you Izzy.... read more

Went into the store to find a good trail shoe for my partner. Mahari was kind, courteous, and very approachable. He recommended a few shoes that met what we were looking and landed on purchasing the Hoka Speedgoat 5. Will definitely return to the store! read more

Benjamin was awesome ! I walked in having no clue about the fitting process for running shoes . We went through trial and error until we found the shoe that fitted my needs . He even scanned my foot to get the correct sizing and width, created a custom insole just incase I wanted to buy it now or in the future . I came in at a good time , with an empty store so all his attention was on me . read more

I Highly recommend this place I was referred by a co worker I don't like to drive outside the city I figure Berkeley is not to far But it was such a beautiful and excellent experience the gentleman that helped us was so nice and knowledgeable and had such a great customer service. Marcos or Marco was his name I was there for 1 pair of shoes walked out with 4 Love it ! I will be back read more

Great experience at Road Runner Sports last week. I was helped out by Benji in finding new running shoes as my old pair were worn out. We did the works- recorded how i walked on a treadmill, got sized and foot shape analysis and got molds for shoe inserts to ensure the shoes I got were right for ME. I learned my right arch was slightly higher than my left and I roll my ankles in when I walk- who knew?! Benji recommended multiple shoes for me to try on- with and without the inserts made specifically for me. Ended up purchasing both running shoes and the inserts because they were so comfy and just perfect for me! Total was ~$200; it may sound pricey BUT keep in mind that the right shoe fit helps prevent injury. Saves you the inconvenience of becoming injured! Also, a good pair of shoes and inserts should last a reasonable amount of time. I've been using them for about a week now and I'm getting used to them. I'm so excited to perfect my form when I run and walk. Definitely worth the price. COVID Safety measures- limited amount of people in the store, mask required, hand sanitizer, temperature taken before you enter, social distancing read more

My brother and I came in to buy cross country flats for my daughter. We called before and the person who answered said to come in and they had several. We waited for service since all 3 employees were with customers. One of the employees became available after the customer asked for time to consider her purchase. Another woman customer walked in and the employee, I believe to be the manager, Candace, immediately began giving her service. We had been waiting for 15 minutes. I asked if they wanted our business and Candace said she just happened to be near the front of the store when the other customer arrived. She asked one of the other employees to help and he said he needed to check out the other custome. My wife and I have purchased from the store in the past and actually are VIP members. Sure didn't feel like a VIP today. When I left, Candace sarcastically said "Bye Bye, you have a great day". read more

We've been loyal customers for some time now, and today's experience was a reminder of why we love to come here. Our daughter is coming off of an ankle injury and will be starting cross country soon. We needed some guidance as to which shoe would give her the most support and stability at this time. Thank you so much to Geoffrey for giving us such great, personalized support and customer service! The shoe we ended up with is perfect, and we are super happy. read more

Overall great store for your athletic needs. I was welcomed in by Benji, and we went through the process of him showing me my gait and foot specifications, he also got me fitted for custom inaoles (all of which was free, except the insoles unless I wanted to buy)..I ended buying some Hoka shoes, which were fantastic! After this I came back to get my sister some shoes aswell, she was helped out my Robby. She said Robby was great, he recorded her gait, got her foot specifications, and got herfitted for shoes, which she bought and loves to wear for running. All in all, would recommend this store! I'd also like to add, that I signed up for the VIP membership, which is worth it! I had $50 in credit for my second purchase, and the credit $ adds up fast! Only $10 a year starting...I couldn't pass that up read more

I wasn't aware that I was wearing a cloak of invisibility today, but given that none of the employees spoke to me in the nearly 10 minutes I spent waiting to try on some shoes, I'm wondering now if I did have that cloak on? While I recognized that the staff was helping others, I'm also accustomed to at least a "hello, we'll be with you just as soon as we can", even a smile and a nod would have been something. I don't have tolerance for poor customer service, and if I'm gonna spend $150+ on a pair of shoes, I'd rather give my money to a place that trains their employees on how to engage with potential customers. read more

I've had trouble with some of the customer service here in the past - but not now! Yesterday I got the new manager on the phone, Sherrene, to correct my order. She was so helpful, friendly, and accommodating, and she even called me back today, her day off, to confirm everything that she had done and to make sure she got it straight. I'm so grateful and impressed. read more

Mahari was incredible! He took care of me, and my daughters' complex foot needs with skill, patience, and a wonderful attitude. We both left with our feet sized and shoes that we're comfortable and good to support our different foot and ankle needs. We couldn't recommend him more! read more

The personalized service in this store is amazing. I came here to exchange a shoe that was starting to give me a blister. I was very impressed with Alejandra's customer service. She was very patience and attentive despite my indecisiveness. read more

I was in need for a hat that would keep me dry for my half marathon. And Gabriel at Road Runner really helped me out to find exactly what I needed! They even gave me pair of free socks! Definitely coming back here! read more

Great selection and excellent service! I appreciated the personalized attention (thank you Kaleb)