After having a less than helpful experience at another running specialty store I tried Marathon Sports on Penn and 50th. Right away all of the employees are friendly and helpful. They ask if there is anything you need help with and what they can do. Recently I had some questions in finding the correct shoe for my foot and the employee happily brought out pair after pair after pair and let me go for short jogs outside on the sidewalks to find out which shoe was just the right fit. Note that there is a treadmill in store for those days that a running test is needed but the weather isn't cooperative. They also have a fairly generous return policy (as long as the sole doesn't show much wear they are willing to exchange).
Marathon Sports has a variety of other running supplies from Body Glide to Fuel Belts, to socks and singlets and shorts. Anything that a runner could need, Marathon Sports either has or is willing to order.
Add to all of this the fact that Marathon Sports is active in the running community. They have fliers for local races in the store, and for some races you can even register at the store and pick up your race packet there. There is always a sign up sheet for a local running club to try out, as well.
Even better, if you are a member of the Minnesota Distance Running Association, you get 20% off on purchases.
The bottom line is that this is a friendly and complete running specialty store and one in which the novice or expert can feel comfortable.
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