Colorado Spring, Co

I don't really want to contribute to a "best running store in the springs" pissing match, but my vote definitely has to go to the CRC. I think the BRC loses out quite a bit by not being near downtown (I supposed they garner the UCCS crowd, however), and Runners Roost has just never seemed very friendly whenever I've stopped in.

Sure, in the past they might've had some faster runners hanging around the store, but you're never gonna see me drop in there to just bullshit with someone. However, I do that quite frequently with John at the CRC. They also seem to be more active and concerned about developing and supporting a thriving running community in the Springs. Plus, he lets me read his magazines without buying anything and puts up with those "cardboard and duct-tape shoes" hippies from CC.

Sorry, but I don't go to a store to shoot the shit or hang out. I want a store that is going to get me in the gear I need and not just to get a sale. But, I guess if I want to socialize, then CRC might be a great option.

ONeill wrote:

I don't have kids and probably a good thing.

YES IT IS!!!!

I have shopped at all three (although I am not sure O'Neill ever knew that I had visited BRC).

Give me CRC any day for service and knowledge. Nothing against BRC, (Boulder Running Company), but it is just not convenient for me.

As for the job market, it has been picking up. However, I would not look for a job at the USOC anytime soon...

As an interested party in the running store talks, I think all 3 have their customers. I think all 3 try to do the best with what they have. And CS is big enough to support all 3. It would be nice if the playing field was level for all 3 but everyone knows I try and the reasons for an uneven field. Go visit all and make a chioce. Just stay away from the big box and mall stores.

L2R, Thanks and yea it is a good thing. #0 people gone at USOC including some we know. Oh the fallout.

As a former hippie I can almost relate to those CC runners. I would just think you could invest in some colored duct tape. see you tommorrow at RMDS 05? You can harass me about shoes:)

Gosh, I hate to see this become a "best running store in CS" thread. I like everybody at both The Runner's Roost and The Colorado Running Company, and both stores benefit the Colorado Springs running community. (I'd probably like everybody at Boulder Running Company, too, but I've never been there and don't know who's there.)

At least we can all agree on one thing. It's good that O'Neill has never had kids.

You are correct ,Sir!

Cheyenne Mtn is probably the best school district in the city academics-wise, at least they always clean up on the CSAP. Of course, they also have the wealthiest population this side of Cherry Creek. The other cool thing about Cheyenne HS is that it butts up against a number of trails that will take you into National Forest if you follow them far enough (and across Gold Camp). Despite that, the best running-from-school place has to be Palmer, where MVP is only a half-mile away and connects you to Bear Creek and Santa Fe. Plus, the downtown area is fun: it's a bit quaint, but I enjoy the coffee shops and book stores. If clubs and biker bars are your thing, you can go to south Tejon. The best coffee shop, of course, is Suga's, on south Cascade.

At present there are also a number of charter schools operating that give you some options, but the waiting lists are pretty long. Cheyenne Mtn Charter has one of the best K-8 schools in the state (they've perfect-scored the CSAP a couple times in the past few years), and James Irwin and The Classical Academy are coming along well with high schools. Of the two TCA has better scores, but James Irwin works with lower socio-econ kids. Neither is very close to the center of town.

Schools to avoid like the plague unless you have a savior complex: Sierra and Harrison. They pay more, but the kids are god-awful, and you might get shot, or perhaps just knifed. They really aren't that bad, but they are as ghetto as one gets in CS.

For running stores: CRC may be a good store if you want Nike, Adidas or Fila. If you want anything else (Brooks, Asics, Mizuno, Saucony, etc), go elsewhere. They just don't have it. Personally, I like BRC.

Check out the front page to see a sample of our 'red dirt'. Looks like secion 16.

Thank you so much for the information. Sounds like CS is the place to be based on what you shared. What is the huge difference between Boulder and CS? The people? Busier? More traffic? Cost of living? The trails sound wonderful in CS, how does trail running compare to Boulder?

I was in Woo-ville[uofv] on Wed. and saw lots of runners..I was in Waynesboro and saw none

Yeah, Charlottesville has Ragged Mtn. Running Shop - great shop - great runners; Univ. town; kind of like a CO town in a lot of respects. I'm about 70 miles SW of it. Not a big running scene - some in Lynchburg w/ Liberty (josh cox; Mcdougal, kenyans, etc.); but overall, outside of the school scene - it's nil - fitness isn't a mentality down here. CO Springs, if I recall, was supposed to be one of the "healthiest" cities in the rankings. I gotta move.

Did anyone else get a pang of homesickness seeing the front-pace picture of Broe and Sullivan at the Garden? What I'd give to be running there right now...

Does Blacksburg have much running..?

Was that the Garden sec16 or Biedleman? I'll ask tonight.

Garden of the Gods

ONeill wrote:

Was that the Garden sec16 or Biedleman? I'll ask tonight.

Is that "crisp air" similar to that cool crisp air that you feel on a fall day, that feels so refreshing and energizing after months of higher humidity? I love that kind of air. People seem to be friendly overall, from my observations during trips out that way. Coming from Chicago to North Carolina was somewhat of a culture shock for me, although the Triangle area is a melting pot of people from everywhere.

1/2pint wrote:

Thank you so much for the information. Sounds like CS is the place to be based on what you shared. What is the huge difference between Boulder and CS? The people? Busier? More traffic? Cost of living? The trails sound wonderful in CS, how does trail running compare to Boulder?

The trails in C. Springs ARE great...I'm not entirely sure what everyone's big deal is with Boulder. The fact that CU is there, and top foreign runners always seem to be training there is a difference. Also, it seems like there's a lot of yuppie runner poser-ism going on in Boulder and the general atmosphere is more liberal...but Manitou offers plenty of crunchy-granola down here in the Springs.

As far as trails, though, I think Boulder and C. Springs are very comparable. But we have Pikes Peak!

Ellie wrote:

Is that "crisp air" similar to that cool crisp air that you feel on a fall day, that feels so refreshing and energizing after months of higher humidity? I love that kind of air. People seem to be friendly overall, from my observations during trips out that way.

That sounds about right. And yes, coming from the east coast, I was struck by the friendliness of the people here.