Running Insight

El Paso. Someone put him in touch with Roger Soler, founder of San Antonio's landmark Soler Sports (now closed). Roger invited Chris to shadow his business for 2 full days. Chris sponged up everything he could about specialty run. "I owe Roger everything for getting my place open," he says. That same month, Chris attended the inaugural Running Event. There he met a guy about to close his store. Chris bought his remaining inventory and a truck-load of fixtures. "Our cash wrap is from that haul," he says. "The slat wall, too. And also, the '70s era vintage photo above the register. Everyone loves that photo." On January 2, 2007, barely three months after deciding to f lip h is professional life on its head, Up and Running was, well, up and running. "That's how I roll," he says. "If I want something, I go get it." And though this no-nonsense approach has served him well, Chris is about as lighthearted and mellow as a guy can be. He hires people based on their vibe. He believes the team needs to enjoy each others' company. Says his days of dealing with drama are (mostly) in the past. "I want all of us to genuinely like each other," he says. Up and Running is now two stores strong and includes Race Adventures Unlimited, a timing and event company run by Chris and his west side store operator, Mike Coulter. A couple basic beliefs guide his organization: 1) Treat others with respect, and 2) There's nothing wrong with having fun. "Take away the fun, and it's just work," he says. "I get up in the morning to go to the store, not to go to work." And though he's been challenged by El Paso's mañana attitude - wherein all is accomplished in the indefinite future - he seems to fit right into it. The Up and Running culture is laid back and professional. It's what customers have grown to love. One thing they rally around during in-store events is "the Coke machine." Imagine an antique drink dispenser. But rather than being filled with soda, it's stocked with local micro brews. It's how they roll. There's nothing in the world Chris would rather be doing. When asked where he'll be in 20 years, he says with certainty, "Right here. Still having fun." But of course Chris has a life outside of work, too. It's filled with family time (he's got five kids), volunteering and fundraising for the University of Texas El Paso's (UTEP) football team, and concert-going. "The music I like is fun, too," he says. "Folks say I have a teenager's taste. I like popular hits. But this shouldn't surprise anyone." In February he saw a Bruno Mars show, and in May he'll see Taylor Swift. "Can't help it," he says. "It's who I am." We shared our first concert stories. His: Foreigner and Cheap Trick in San Antonio, 1977. He showed me a photo of the ticket stub. $7.50 face value. A lot has changed since those old days. But not Chris. He might not be running marathons any more, but he's still living by an adage that even part-time staffer George could rattle back to me: "Life's too short to miss out on the fun." This statement capitulates Up and Running. Count on fun always coming first. n About The Author: Tom Griffen is a storyteller. He's also a coach and trainer for specialty retailers. For the next six months he'll be walking across America. His planned route started in Los Angeles, headed to Phoenix, and will continue onto El Paso, Austin, Shreveport, Little Rock, Nashville, Asheville, and eventually to the Atlantic seaboard. He plans to stop at run shops within range of his eastward movement. There he'll stock up on needed items, but also include the visit in a Running Insight article that celebrates your paths crossing. Follow him at www. mywalkinglife.com, on Instagram @tomswalkacrossamerica, or listen to his podcast, My Walking Life, on iTunes (or wherever you podcast). 23 runninginsight.com © 2018 Formula4media LLC. 23 runninginsight.com © 2018 Formula4media LLC.

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