Community Spotlight: Village Runner
Village Runner has been serving the South Bay for nearly 40 years. All of Village Runner’s employees are passionate about running and have years of experience that they can utilize to help you find the best fit to meet your needs. In addition to selling running shoes and apparel, the store provides a valuable resource to the community by helping patrons meet their running goals and sponsoring local running events. They are proud to be an integral part of the the South Bay community.
This Community Spotlight is Sponsored by South Bay Credit Union. South Bay Credit Union is for all who live, work, or worship in the South Bay.
Community Spotlight: Village Runner
Tell us about Village Runner.
The Village Runner is a specialty running store operating in the South Bay for almost 40 years, dedicated to helping the South Bay community get fitted properly for running shoes and apparel and on their way to achieving their running and walking goals! The original store opened in 1984 in the Riviera Village in Redondo Beach coinciding with the ’84 Olympics and I opened up my current location in Manhattan Beach in 2004. Every employee has years of running and/or coaching experience under their belt and is passionate about running and helping people.
What inspired you to launch Village Runner.
I started working at the Village Runner for the original owner in 1989. By 1992, when the owner decided to sell, I expressed interest in buying the store and eventually purchased it in August 1992 at the young age of 23!
What is one of your proudest moments?
One of my proudest moments is the success and growth of the Village Runner stores and events over the years in a changing retail environment. Support from the local community is the reason that the Village Runner stores and events have succeeded and it is greatly appreciated.
What can one expect when visiting your location?
Visitors to the Village Runner can expect knowledgeable advice, tips, and a sense of running camaraderie from every employee who have years of running and coaching experience. We are dedicated to helping the South Bay community get properly fitted for running shoes and apparel to achieve their running and walking goals. We also host free group runs from our Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach stores and love guiding people along their running journey no matter the distance or speed!
Tell us a little about you.
I ran cross country and track at West Torrance High school. I also played soccer for West. I always felt that the cross country, soccer and track combination worked out very well for me. In other words, “Cross country got me in great shape for soccer and soccer kept me in good shape for track.” I was an 800-meter runner in track which I feel is a great event for soccer players (and basketball players).
After West High, I attended El Camino. I also ran cross country and track there. Our cross country team was very good my freshman year and I had a great time, but I must admit that my true passion was running the 1,500 meters on the track. I really looked forward to track workouts (the more challenging the better). I even ran a 3:52 and came in 5th in the State!
Do you give back to the community?
Absolutely! I think that part of the reason the South Bay is such a great place to live is because of the great support that all of the local businesses do to enhance the local schools and other local non-profits in the area. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to me and my family. Village Runner along with Village Runner’s 5K and 10K running events have donated over $200,000 to various South Bay causes including, but not limited to the local education foundations, area-school cross-country and track and field programs, as well as dozens of other charities nearby.
Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to share our story and passion with the South Bay!
You can visit Village Runner at their two locations in Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. Or visit them online: villagerunner.com
Redondo Beach
255 Avenida Del Norte
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310.375.2626
Manhattan Beach
1840 Sepulveda Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310.546.1888
RELATED: Community Spotlight: Riviera Kids Club
About South Bay Credit Union
South Bay Credit Union is for all who live, work, or worship in the South Bay.
Banking with South Bay Credit Union offers numerous advantages. Their exceptional features include a local presence in the South Bay, personalized attention to detail, tailored banking and lending solutions, access to over 30,000 fee-free ATMs, specialized Youth Accounts, and private insurance coverage of up to $1,000,000 per account.
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