Running Insight

The Ubuntu Award presented by Balega Sports This is awarded to a store that makes a tremendous difference in its community. The culture of Balega draws its inspiration from the humanistic philosophy focusing on people's allegiance and relationship to one another. It is the relationship to our communities that resonates with store owners every day in their home towns. Changing lives, helping to improve the lives of those living in our communities. The Just Do It Award presented by Nike This is presented to an outstanding woman executive in run specialty retail. The Just Do It Award recognizes women in the Running Specialty channel whose leadership serves as an example for all of us to follow. Run Happy Award presented by Brooks The Run Happy Award celebrates a specialty retail store employee who brings a glass-half-full approach to their job every day. This individual always has a positive attitude, dedicated work ethic, and is a total team player—going the extra mile to help both customers and fellow staff. A cheerleader for their store and its culture, this individual inspires an active lifestyle and personifies what Run Happy means. Sound Mind, Sound Body Award (SMSB) presented by ASICS ASICS believes that the key to a healthy and happy lifestyle is through a sound mind in a sound body. ASICS is an acronym, Anima Sana In Corpore Sano – a sound mind in a sound body. The winner of the Sound Mind, Sound Body Award embodies these values on a daily basis in both their personal and professional life. In honor of ASICS' founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, a donation of $1949 will be made to the winner's charity of choice. Never Stop Exploring Award presented by The North Face Awarded to a store that is extraordinary in getting athletes to get out and experience running in the outdoors. Run For Good Award presented by Saucony At Saucony, a good day is when we get to run; a great day is when we inspire others to run. And now, more than ever, that must include our kids. The Saucony Run For Good Award recognizes a retailer who inspires kids to run their world through community- based youth running programs. The winner will receive a donation to help introduce even more children to the power of running, creating a happier, healthier future for the local community. Saucony will join the winning retailer in the hosting of a local running event for children and their families. 26 runninginsight.com © 2017 Formula4media LLC. Nominations Underway for Best Store Awards Are you one of The Best Running Stores in America? Does your staff have a star whose story is worth telling? Do you do special work in your community that you'd like to share with the entire industry? Are you helping to stimulate physical fitness in your market and create a new generation of runners? And in doing all of this, are you able to maintain a balanced professional and personal life? I f you answered yes to any of those questions, then you should nominate your store for one of the following awards to be presented at the annual Awards Dinner at The Running Event Thursday, November 30, 2017 in Austin. 2017 marks a major change in The Best Store Awards and how they are determined. "The Running Event has always been about sharing best practices," said Mark Sullivan, editor of Running Insight, the major sponsor of the awards. "With the help of the presenting sponsors, these awards will allow some of the best stores in the country to share the great work they've been doing." Nominations for ALL OF these awards should be submitted to Mark Sullivan at msullivan@formula4media.com or Christina Henderson at chenderson@formula4media.com CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Cover