I can't say enough great things about this business! I have been going to the Carlsbad location for four years and it is the only place I will go to get my running shoes and gear. Dahlia has always made the shoe buying process easy and non-intimidating. She is easy to talk to and makes you comfortable right away. She'll give you honest feedback and fair pricing. Her positive attitude is inspiring and contagious and you can't help but smile. Everyone that I've met here have been helpful. I've never had a bad experience here! read more

Jasmine was extremely helpful and full of personality. My boyfriend needed a pair of shoes for Navy officer candidate school and she found him the perfect pair. Thanks Jasmine! read more

What a find! Absolutely the best selection and outstanding salespeople. You simply must check it out read more

I'm a trail runner and run several races a year. I purchase 3-4 pairs a year and I like to try out the new stuff when they come out. I came to this store because I was tired of the games that other stores play with membership programs and discounts. No games here just friendly helpful staff members. You may pay a few dollars more but you won't need to worry about the discounts that mysteriously disappear. read more

Came in on Tuesday to see George. I was referred by a friend to him. He took a long time to educate me about shoes, foot issues etc. I have been so discouraged in the last six months and thought I was going to have to give up running. Thanks to George and my new Altras, I have run 2 miles 3 times this week and I felt great. I have a renewed sense of hope so thank you George!!! read more

Dahlia was the bomb! She listened to all my needs and I didnt feel pressured whatsoever. She probably listened for far too long, poor thing. Other shoe companys in the area can learn from this place! Looking at you road runner. read more

My first visit to the running center and it won't be my last. Erica was most helpful in fitting and helping me find shoes that best suit my running style and proposed use (trail). The whole experience was very pleasant and professional. The store is stocked with accessories and nutritional supplements too. Thanks for making shoe shopping fun and educational. read more

SIMPLY THE BEST! If your a runner or a jogger or a walker, Hell if you have feet you need to come here for your next pair of shoes. My wife and I get all our shoes here. The staff is friendly and very knowledgable. They will do their best to put you in the shoe that is right for you with out trying to upsale anything. read more

Ended up here after another shoe store in the area let me down and I'm so glad I did! The sales lady that was there was so nice and helpful. I wish I got her name. She helped me try on 10 different pairs of shoes until I found the perfect size, fit, and color. read more

I've been into this store a handful of times and every time I go in, the staff is always helpful and friendly. They go above and beyond to make conversation and ensure my questions are answered. I was in a few weeks ago and Dahlia was exceptional in helping me choose the most appropriate shoe for me to purchase. BIG thumbs up to the entire staff at The Running Center. It will be the only place I shop for my running gear. read more

If you're a newbie runner like myself and are tired of searching the internet for good shoes, just go here. I came in to check out a shoe I had been "fitted" into online via multiple runner shoe websites which honestly only confused me and made me apprehensive. Dahlia helped me realize that the website was COMPLETELY wrong. She got me setup with a great shoe(all within my lunch break btw) and i almost didn't want to take them off. I can't wait to put some miles on them. read more

Dahlia went so far above and beyond to solve my dilemma. I wanted a certain pair of shoes in a certain color. At first it looked like I wouldn't be able to get them even though they were made by the manufacturer. Dahlia persisted for days until she found my shoes. Yay! I am so happy! read more

Today the running store has lost my business. I'm a personal trainer and a runner and have sent many customers to this store. I myself have been a customer for 15 years. When I walked into the store today (1pm) I was not greeted. One sales man was preoccupied selling shoes to his family member or friend. He completely ignored me. After 15 minutes I asked the other salesman behind the counter (long gray hair) if he could help me with shoes. He acted annoyed and didn't offer an apology or offer to help me. I mentioned that I had been waiting for some help for 15 minutes and hadn't even been greeted and he said he was busy handling a problem and didn't offer an apology for the wait. This is such poor customer service that I left and will never return. I will also never recommend this store again. I placed a bad review but since then the management and owner have contacted me and gone to great efforts to assure me that this is a one time occurrence and they are committed to great service. Im pleased with their quick response and will give them another chance! read more

I started buying running shoes here about a year ago. they sold me stability shoes and I had one foot problem after the next, tried many different stability shoes. I had another running store check to see what I should be running in. I need to be in Neutral not a Stability. I will not be going back to this store. read more

Spent foreeeeeeever finding the best running shoe for me! Extremely knowledgeable staff and A+++ Service! Check em out for sure if you are in need of shoes for athletics or running! They got the goods! :) read more

This place is truly the BEST when it comes to purchasing running shoes. I always feel valued when coming here. Also appreciate the expertise and attention to detail. Great customer service from Diana who helped me today! Thank you! read more

I purchased a New Balance shirt at the Carlsbad 5000 expo. You can't try them on so I got my normal size. It is too small! I called and they will not exchange as it was thru their outside New Balance rep. $30 bucks and I can't wear it....lesson learned don't buy at the expo! read more

I came into the Running Center with a Groupon and was blown away by how knowledgeable and friendly the staff is. I had no idea what I needed, so they were patient and offered their opinions while I tried on what felt like everything in the store. I got some great new clothes, and while ringing me up, they told me all about their weekly group run. Now, I usually tune these sort of things out, but i decided to give it a shot and now it is my new favorite weekly run. Definitely an A++ shopping/running experience! read more

I came in to buy running shoes-- the selection was pretty amazing. I wear a size 14 and most stores only have 1 or 2 of the ugliest shoes around in my size. The Running Center had at least 5 or 6 in my size and even had some in 14 wide. The service was fantastic as well. I'll be coming back for sure. read more

Alex was very helpful to get the right shoe. They video taped the gait and then we watched the before and after on each shoe. They were very reasonable and knowledgeable. I just wonder when I ran Xcountry in HS if I had the knowledge of how my feet work I could have won a medal :) read more

I came in here for some salt pills and Gu, because I had just moved to the area and was out. It's a small, cute place with lots of running gear, but just running gear, not anything else, which I liked. It means that the staff knows about running, not about hockey and Crossfit. Soon as I walked in I was helped by the girl on staff. She was really sweet but not pushy. She asked me questions about what I'm training for - a very good sales approach that made me feel like she cared about getting me what I needed. Then she told me there was a sale going on and gave me $15 bucks off my order. I left with a smile. I won't go anywhere else for my running gear now. read more

I was pretty cautious walking into this store because I was worried about being pressured into purchasing shoes or any of their any products. But as soon as I walked into the store the employees were extremely nice and concerned about my needs. They allowed me to take their gait analysis and they gave me shoe/sock recommendations. The best thing about this experience is that the workers made me feel like I was already a part of their running community. They invited me to join their fun runs and assured me that I won't be the only straggler in the back. This store has a very personal touch and I had no problem purchasing running shoes and socks from them. I fact, I will be back as soon as I become confident enough in my running to take part in their fun runs ASAP. I can't wait for that moment. read more

I just left this place with some new shoes and I am so excited about them. Sheri helped me out and she was so knowledgeable and kind. Before I even tried on shoes she evaluated my running to find out where to start. I tried on several brands of shoes and decided to try out some New Balance running shoes. I was a little apprehensive trying a new brand but she assured me that if I tried them out and didn't like them I could bring them back with no problem. They also have this great refer a friend deal so you and a friend can save some money. Thanks for all your help! read more

Just bought a pair of Brooks Ghost 4's and the owner? was very helpful and pleasant. Shoes are bitchen!! Great small shop experience.

That place is the place to go for all your running gear, especially shoes! I received excellent customer service in selecting a pair of shoes. The gentleman that helped me was super knowledgeable, patient and really took the time to listen to my concerns. Aside from just selling me a pair of shoes, he took the time to explain some stretches and things I could do to help with some issues I was having with my hip. The prices were competitive. While the store has a smaller footprint than some of its better known competitors, it is chocked full of any type of gear you could possibly want. I am also glad to be supporting a locally owned running store versus a large chain. Highly recommend! read more

This place is awesome! My husband needed running shoes and has a very hard time finding the right ones. Dahlia was so helpful and informative. She was able find the perfect shoe for him and even informed us he had been wearing the wrong size shoe this whole time. She really took the time to educate us on the best pair for his particular needs. They have a great selection and price was very competitive to the same shoes online. We will definitely be back for more shoes! read more

Screw going to other stores that sell casual sneakers right next to running shoes. It will only confuse you and you will end up buying a pair of "running shoes" that will only end up hurting your feet in the long run. When I need a new pair of running shoes I only go to the Running Center in Carlsbad. Whether you are simply a once a week runner or a daily runner like I am, they have a pair of shoes to fix your need. Their staff knows everything about running shoes. The staff is always helpful, no matter how picky and difficult I can be at times. They can even measure your gait so you get EXACTLY what is right for your foot. I have never bought a pair of shoes here that I haven't been completely satisfied with. Enthusiastic staff, amazing shoes, you can't beat that combination if you are a runner! read more

These guys are always friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful! Buying shoes here is a joy--I never feel rushed, and they take the time to really assess your running stance and figure out what shoes are right for you. They have tons of events and deals and giveaways. I have truly enjoyed being a part of the running community that is the Running Center! read more

The staff are great, extremely knowledgeable. They will watch you run and then recommend shoes based on how your foot hits the ground. Very friendly. A little pricey, but it is worth it to get advice from people who KNOW what they are talking about. read more

I went to buy my annual pair of running shoes, and I have been so sick of the typical mall shoe stores. I sucked it up and went to this running store (usually I haven't been in the past because they're more expensive). I did pay more for my shoes, but they are a great fit for me and the customer service was excellent. I probably tried on 7 pairs of shoes before I was satisfied. Go there already! read more

I still can't believe how lucky I got to find this place! I've been having problems with my knees and feet for years, and I always just chalked it up to my line of work...not after this trip! What a difference stability and high arch support shoes have made for my gym and hiking experiences! The service is soooo helpful and knowledgeable here, and they even have a free assessment where they videotape you jogging and help gauge what you need from a running shoe. I just bought new Sauconys, and I couldn't be happier--it was worth every dollar I spent. read more

Love the comfort of buying from people who know about running. Great selection of shoes for runners and other physical activities.

Yep, absolutely fantastic customer service! I was pretty indecisive, needing nothing really, but ready to shop with my $50 Groupon voucher. The salesclerk helped me choose the perfect Garmin. I am very happy with my purchase and will definitely go back. read more

Alright, so I gained some weight from being such a food lover, which isn't bad since I actually love the way I look even more now than when I was skinnier. I frequent the gym several times a week, and ,aside from zumba, I started to love jogging. I notice my running shoes are starting to wear down and I am in need of some new ones. The BF was researching some stores online with knowledgeable staff, and this little business shows up. Let me start by pointing out, this staff knows so much beyond my knowledge of running shoes. What they do, is, they ask you what type of foot you have, example: high arch, flat feet etc; then they pick out a few shoes for you to try. There is a little piece of floor (almost like a track) they have you jog on to analyze exactly what your feet and ankles do when you are in the action of a jog. The lady (I feel horrible for forgetting her name, blonde, older lady, kind of thin) did not charge me for this service. She picks out a few models that she recommended. Get this, the shoe she recommends most, was actually on sale. That goes to show, that these people are here for the runner, and not for the sale. I had an excellent experience there, and I highly recommend this store. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. I am so happy with my purchase and can't wait to jog in my new Nike running shoes! read more

I purchased a Groupon for this store a few months back and continually checked for a black and white pair of Nike Free's. The shoe is very popular and each time I would call in to see if they had them, there would be various other color schemes. Recently I moved to Northern California and forgot to use the Groupon before I moved. Fortunately, I called in when the shoes were available and Lauren was very helpful with using my Groupon and paying over the phone. It was a very pleasant transaction and they provided free shipping. Great customer service! read more

They were super friendly, even though there were only two working on a Saturday morning they really helped the 4 people in the store. They have a camera where they can view you run and evaluate your stride. It is really helpful information if you aren't quite sure which striker you are. Overall I was very happy with the service I received and the shoe selection isn't to bad. Hopefully my foot falling asleep will be cured with my new running shoe! read more

Got some new Mizunos here. I had no idea that my running form was off but one of the friendly staff members gave me some life changing advice that has improved my runs. NO MORE KNEE PAIN!! I will never buy shoes anywhere else. Thank you running center for your great help and quality of service! read more

I had a great experience. Being in sales for a long time I know about asking the right questions and having your customer try several options so they get the right product. I was working with a newbie but the info Bryant gave me and his willingness to find the right answers if he wasn't sure about something really impressed me. I'll for sure come back to this place for my needs in the future. Once again Yelp steered me in the right direction! read more

Dahlia was fantastic! I have a history of knee issues, so she asked a lot of questions and did a gait study to determine the best shoe for my needs. To my surprise, I found out I was wearing the wrong size, and she put me in new shoes with high stability - a feature I didn't even know about! I can already tell it's helping my knees tremendously, and having better, more comfortable shoes has motivated me to get back onto the treadmill. I am thrilled with my purchase and the excellent service I received from Dahlia. Thank you! read more

The running center is awsome. They helped find a great pair on shoes for all my injurys. The have hearts of gold because my 10 month old son crawled all over the store. I can't wait to buy my next pair because I know it is going to be great. read more