What Sole Sports Running Zone does

Sole Sports Running Zone is a privately held specialty running and walking retailer founded in 2007 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. The company sells footwear, apparel, and accessories — both in-store and online at solesportsrunning.com — sourced from major brands including Hoka, Brooks, ASICS, Nike, Altra, New Balance, On, Saucony, Mizuno, Topo, and Mount to Coast, alongside its own Sole Sports branded apparel. It operates five physical locations across the Greater Phoenix Valley (Tempe, Scottsdale, Arcadia, Gilbert, and the Runner's Den location in Phoenix), making it Arizona's largest run specialty retailer. In January 2024 the company acquired Runner's Den (established 1978), and in 2026 it won the Phoenix Business Journal's Small Business Award in the midsize category.

The core of the offering is a technology-enabled fitting service: 3D foot scanning captures foot length, width, volume, instep height, and arch height, while video gait analysis evaluates biomechanics to guide cushion and support recommendations. All products carry a 30-day fit guarantee, a price match guarantee (refund difference or 125% store credit), and free shipping thresholds. The company supplements retail with the Sole Sports Van — a mobile store bringing on-site fitting, video gait analysis, custom insole molding, and team shopping days to corporate wellness clients across Arizona — and with recurring fee-based training programs (Gilbert Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K training at $165-$185 per participant, capped at ~150 registrants) supported by weekly group runs and a content/blog presence. Payment integrations include PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, and Zelle.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time retail product sales (footwear ASP roughly $135-$250), with secondary streams from training program fees, gift cards (digital and physical, no expiration), and ancillary services. The go-to-market is community-driven: local event sponsorships, group runs, training programs, and a Gold-Level Arizona Green Business certification underpin brand loyalty in the Phoenix running community. Sustainability programs include the Sneaker Impact shoe-recycling partnership (with $5-$15 in-store credit incentives) and TerraCycle for nutrition packaging and used gift cards.

Name

Sole Sports Running Zone

Legal name

Sole Sports Running Zone

Website

https://solesportsrunning.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sole Sports Running Zone is a privately held specialty running and walking retailer operating five stores and an e-commerce site across the Greater Phoenix Valley, offering branded footwear, apparel, and accessories paired with 3D foot scanning and video gait analysis fitting services, mobile on-site corporate fittings, and fee-based marathon training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Running Retail

NAICS

Shoe Retailers (458210), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Performance Running Specialty Retail (CRAMACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Athletic & Performance Footwear Retail (CRAAADAA), Athletic Footwear & Sport Apparel Retail (CRAMABAC), Running & Endurance Wear (CRAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Running footwear retail
• Specialty running store
• Athletic apparel sales
• 3D foot fitting service
• Marathon training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Physical and online sales of running/walking footwear, apparel, and accessories from brands including Hoka, Brooks, ASICS, Nike, Altra, New Balance, On, Saucony, and others. Includes men's, women's, and kids categories.
2. Training Programs: Fee-based training programs including Gilbert Half Marathon, 5K, and 10K training with program fees ranging from $165-$185 depending on registration period. Includes free entry to events, gift cards, and product discounts.
3. Gift Cards: Digital and physical gift cards sold online or in-store, delivered via email, redeemable online or in-store, never expires.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sole Sports Running Zone is a specialty running and walking retailer that sells performance footwear, athletic apparel, and running accessories from brands such as Hoka, Brooks, ASICS, Nike, New Balance, On, and Saucony across five Phoenix-area stores and an e-commerce site. The company differentiates through personalized fitting services using 3D foot scanning and video gait analysis, complemented by a mobile store (Sole Sports Van), group runs, and structured marathon training programs.

Product overview

Sole Sports Running Zone is a specialty running and walking retail company operating as both an e-commerce platform and five physical store locations in the Phoenix, Arizona area. The company offers a unified product portfolio centered on footwear (from brands including Altra, ASICS, Brooks, Hoka, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike, On, Saucony, Topo, and Mount To Coast), apparel (including its own Sole Sports brand plus On, Rabbit, and Vuori), and accessories (socks, insoles, electronics, nutrition, hydration, and injury relief). The offering is complemented by technology-enabled fitting services using 3D foot scanning and video gait analysis, a mobile store (Sole Sports Van), organized group runs, and the Gilbert Half Marathon Training Program. The company differentiates through personalized fitting technology, a 30-day fit guarantee, price match guarantee, and sustainability initiatives including shoe donation and Terracycle recycling programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Footwear Running and walking shoes from brands including Altra, ASICS, Brooks, Hoka, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike, On, Oofos, Saucony, Topo, and Mount To Coast, organized into road, trail, recovery, competition, and clearance categories for men, women, and kids.
• Apparel Running and athletic apparel including tops, bottoms, underwear, and bras for men and women from brands such as Sole Sports, On, Rabbit, and Vuori.
• Accessories Running accessories including socks, insoles, electronics (Garmin, Shokz), headwear, sunglasses, hydration systems, injury and pain relief products, and nutrition products.
• 3D Foot Scan and Video Gait Analysis Proprietary fitting technology using 3D foot scanning to measure foot length, width, volume, instep height, and arch height, combined with video gait analysis to determine support needs and biomechanical adjustments for personalized shoe recommendations.
• Sole Sports Van Mobile Store Mobile shoe store bringing on-site professional shoe fitting, video gait analysis, custom insole molding, corporate wellness partnerships, lunch and learn seminars, run form clinics, and team shopping days to businesses and events throughout Arizona.
• Gilbert Half Marathon Training Program 12-week coached training program for 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances including free race entry, gift cards, Hoka training shirt, Balega socks, supervised runs, and exclusive product discounts. Powered by HOKA.
• Weekly Group Runs Weekly supervised community group runs hosted by Sole Sports to build runner engagement, provide training support, and foster word-of-mouth referrals.
• Digital Gift Cards Electronic gift cards delivered via email, redeemable online or in-store, never expires, available in variable denominations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-day fit guarantee on all products
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Runner's DencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Runner's Den (operating since 1978) teamed up with Sole Sports in January 2024. The two companies joined together as one big family to better serve the Phoenix area running and walking community. Location at 6505 N 16th St. Phoenix.
• Sneaker ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShoe recycling program partner. Customers can recycle gently-used sneakers at all locations to keep them out of landfills and help people in need. Sole Sports offers $5 credit towards new shoes (up to $15 off) as thank you for recycling.
• TerracycleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for sustainable recycling of nutrition wrappers, gels, nutrition bags, and used gift cards that cannot be recycled through traditional means. Items are cleaned, separated by material, and repurposed into new products.
• HOKAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of Sole Sports Gilbert Half Training Programs. Provides training program t-shirts to participants. 20% discount on Hoka products offered to training program participants. Race events powered by HOKA.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Foot Locker: National athletic footwear and apparel retailer that competes for the same athletic-casual customer and now operates specialty running-concept stores; much broader assortment but directly overlapping categories.
• REI: Co-op outdoor retailer carrying running footwear, apparel, and accessories from Hoka, Brooks, Altra, and Salomon; competes for trail and outdoor running customers alongside Sole Sports' trail category.
• Dick's Sporting Goods: Largest U.S. sporting goods retailer with House of Sport concept stores featuring dedicated running zones, expert staffing, and group runs — the principal big-box pressure on specialized run retailers like Sole Sports.

Direct peers

• Marathon Sports: Specialty run retailer with multiple store locations and training programs. Comparable mid-size chain in customer acquisition (group runs, race team sponsorships) and product mix.
• Fleet Feet: Largest U.S. specialty run chain operating ~270 stores with the same formula Sole Sports uses: 3D foot scanning/gait analysis, group runs, training programs, and multi-brand selection. Fleet Feet is the benchmark direct peer for Sole Sports' model.
• Playmakers: Midwest specialty running chain (Michigan/Indiana/Illinois) with multiple locations, in-store fitting, group runs, and training programs — same operating template as Sole Sports at a similar regional scale.
• Big Peach Running Co. Southeast regional specialty running chain with similar store-level fit services, group runs, and event-driven marketing, anchored in a fast-growing Sun Belt market analogous to Phoenix.
• Potomac River Running: DC-area specialty running retailer with multiple stores, fitting expertise, training programs, and strong community-run model — structurally very similar to Sole Sports.
• Roadrunner Sports: Specialty running retailer with both brick-and-mortar and a strong e-commerce/catalog heritage; carries the same premium footwear brands (Brooks, Hoka, ASICS, Saucony) and emphasizes expert fitting and a loyalty program.
• Running Warehouse: Long-running online specialty running retailer that has expanded into brick-and-mortar; deep selection of premium running footwear and apparel with competitive pricing relevant to Sole Sports' e-commerce channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sole-sports-running-zone

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sole Sports Running Zone