New running store offers more than just the shoes  

Run Nashville. Not figuratively, but literally run it.

That is the goal of Nashville Running Company, the new retail store located in East Nashville. The unique retail store that specializes in everything a runner could need was opened by Lee and Angela Wilson in December 2011. The husband-wife duo, who have been in Nashville since 2008, work as a team with Angela working mainly as a financial advisor, and Lee running the day-to-day business. Before a job that brought the Wilsons to Nashville, the couple lived across the United States. They met in San Francisco when Angela was working as a software consultant and Lee in software sales. After living in Manhattan, they decided to move closer to one of their families, and Nashville ended up being the place for them.

Years of working in sales for large companies helped Lee to pursue his own business ventures.

“I’ve always wanted to do something on my own, and this opportunity was something I had been thinking about so I decided to go for it,” said Lee.
Nashville Running Company’s store is a boutique-like setup that offers smaller niche brands that help set them apart from larger competitors. Mizuno is their most widely-known footwear, with other brands such as Newton and Inov-8 popular among customers. The store also offers a variety of other items that any dedicated runner would need like socks and running apparel.

If the products alone aren’t enough to draw a customer into NRC, their involvement in the community will. Five Points Fridays, training groups and trail runs are all ways that NRC helps to get the community involved in putting those new running shoes to good use. Because of the store’s youth, employees have had a hand in creating new ideas, like the Tuesday night trail runs.
“It’s stuff a good, solid running store should be doing,” said Lee.
Future plans for NRC are getting even more involved with the community. Just a few include adding more training groups this summer, participating in the Music City Mile, becoming more involved with schools and non-profit organizations and sponsoring fEASTival, where everyone is welcome to come to the NRC booth and get to know the team.
All of the NRC’s goals and purpose go back to the community.
“Being here in East Nashville, this area where there’s a lot of runners, it’s good to be here because there are so many runners. So many of us work here and live here, so we end up hanging out here a lot,” said Lee. “It’s such a loyal community, it’s nice to be here and involved. “

Written by Jane Horne