Run to Win » Stores

Running Dog Sports closes up shop

Blaine Moore — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 14:38:18 +0000

Kathy Hepner is closing up shop at Running Dog Sports in Gorham, Maine. I spoke with her yesterday at Mary’s Walk, and she does not get enough traffic through the area. She is going to remain open throughout this month with limited hours, so be sure to call ahead if you had planned on stopping in. She will be working out of the Maine Running Company off of Forest Ave in Portland for the foreseeable future.

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Running Dog Sports

Blaine Moore — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 21:25:08 +0000

Running Dog Sports is a new running shoe specialty store located in Gorham, Maine that opened in May of 2005. I have seen the owner, Kathy Hepner, at many of the local races as both a participant and as a sponsor. She is very actively involved in the community.

I stopped in at lunch time today, but I was a little disappointed with the selection. She had a fair amount of accessories, but I wear Asics shoes and they were sorely lacking on her shelves. She is still trying to get them as a vendor, and recommended me to another store that is located closer to where I live. Her prices were very good for what she had, and I may go back when I need any sort of apparel or if I consider changing shoes. I did chat with her for a while about some of the local racing and about the next Marathon that I am going to run, which she has run before and coincidentally will be running again this year.

For anybody that does not live in the Gorham area, it is a bit out of the way. Small roads with a lot of traffic on the Portland/Westbrook side of town make driving through Gorham a less than desirable option; it is not nearly as bad coming from the Buxton/Standish directions. For folks who are travelling through the area, however, would likely be coming from Portland, and would be better served by going to a Sportshoe Center or the Maine Running Company.

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Sportshoe Center

Blaine Moore — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 14:36:48 +0000

Sportshoe Center is a local chain of athletic stores here in New England. They have locations in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. They are the principal sponsor for the Maine Marathon in Portland.

I like this store. Their prices are better than MSRP, and fairly average for a “discount” athletic shoe. You usually won’t find the best deal going, but you usually won’t be too far off either. They have a decent selection of clothing and a great shoe selection for multiple sports. They do lack a little when it comes to swimming goggles, however.

I got some stabilicers from them last year, and those were great for winter running. I used to put them on my boots whenever I would walk the streets when it was icy and had great results; they were pretty good for running as well. I still wouldn’t trust them completely but you are much better off on the ice if you are wearing them than if you aren’t.

The staff has always been friendly, and most of them have been knowledgable. In terms of helpfulness, I would say that they are probably around 70-75% or so. (I consider “average” helpfulness 50%).

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