Spokane7
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August 21, 2011 in Business
Runners Soul continues to grow as owner caters to clientele
Curt Kinghorn has moved into his second Runners Soul store at Hawthorne Road and Division Street.
(Full-size photo)
Curt Kinghorn is Spokane’s running retailer. After buying The Human Race from Bloomsday founder Don Kardong in 1986, he opened Runners Soul downtown in 1999. While taking a break at his second store, which opens this week on North Division, Kinghorn talked about Spokane’s running scene.
S-R: How did you get started in this business?
Kinghorn: I’ve been in sporting goods since 1973, when I played baseball for Idaho State and got a job at Sunset Sports in Pocatello. Three weeks later I was offered the department manager job in footwear. I moved to Spokane in 1980.
S-R: Why did you open your own store?
Kinghorn: I learned that in a (retail) corporation the people in charge have distanced themselves from the public. To me that’s the most important thing. For a big corporation that seems to be the least important part. Granted, you have to be profitable, but you can do things correctly. I left because I didn’t agree.
S-R: How has the economy affected your business?
Kinghorn: Oddly enough our business gets a little bit better. Running is relatively inexpensive. You don’t need anything but a pair of shoes and a front door.
S-R: Why do you volunteer at so many races and give away so much merchandise?
Kinghorn: It’s the right thing to do. It makes the event better and it’s a small price to pay to keep our name in front of all those consumers. In our case, the right thing to do helps our business.
S-R: What do you most enjoy about your job?
Kinghorn: Runners are the greatest people in the world. They care about their health. They care about other people. It’s not like that in a lot of sporting events. In running you encourage your opponent to do even better. Only one will cross the finish line first, but that doesn’t mean the rest aren’t winners. A runner PRs (sets a personal record) and they’re ecstatic.
S-R: How has Spokane’s running community changed over the years?
Kinghorn: There’s a much bigger percentage of women running than in the mid-’80s. Women look at running as a health and fitness issue instead of competition. More people realize that it’s not how fast you go, it’s the fact that you go. It’s a lifestyle thing.
S-R: How does Bloomsday impact Runners Soul?
Kinghorn: Bloomsday is our Christmas. It’s Christmas on steroids. Coming into spring, it’s busy with a lot of races leading up to Bloomsday and high school track and field. As much as I love Bloomsday, I love Bloomsday being over.
S-R: What advice do you give to new runners?
Kinghorn: Number one, be patient or become one. You don’t have to get all your miles in the first week. If you choose not to be patient you will probably get injured. Number two, get analyzed and get in the right product. It greatly reduces the risk for injury.
S-R: How do you help runners choose the best shoes?
Kinghorn: We look for body structure that would lead to excessive stress on muscles, ligaments and tendons. We look at old running shoes and injury history. The wear pattern and construction of the shoe and what it’s designed to do will tell if you need something more stable or less stable.
S-R: What is the biggest trend in running right now?
Kinghorn: The barefoot running movement. Though I’m not sure it’s as hot as it was, it’s still hot. At one time it was just the Vibram Five Fingers. Now manufacturers are coming out with regular-looking shoes that mimic barefoot running. Ten to 15 percent of our business is that kind of shoe.
S-R: What’s the biggest misconception people have about running?
Kinghorn: One I thing I hear is, “I ran till my body couldn’t take it anymore and that will happen to everybody.” No, that’s totally bogus. It may come earlier because of running, but overall health will last longer. Running is the safest way to maintain health and control weight and make a positive in your life. If you run 25 to 30 minutes a day, you’ll be healthy as a horse and it isn’t going to tear down your body.
S-R: What do you look for in an employee?
Kinghorn: I look for passion. We want people that enjoy running and enjoy it enough to want to work to help people run better. I look for personality. They’re dealing with the public. People will ask them questions because they recognize them.
S-R: Do you run?
Kinghorn: I used to. I ran until rheumatoid arthritis beat me up. I was never fast, but there were days I felt fast. To me, that’s more important than anything else.
Seven firms or nonprofits win Agora Awards 
Wizard_Of_Oz on August 21 at 11:21 a.m.
Great picture.. can you get more of the shadow on that guys face?
Now if runners soul were open hours that normal working people could get to.
lmcewen on August 21 at 8:52 p.m.
As a small, local business, I think it’s hard for Curt and RS to compensate people who buy shoes, run in them for a month, and then want to return them for reasons other than flaws in the shoes (which the shoe company would refund). Runner’s Soul is not Nordstrom’s or Costco with a megalith presence that can overcome poor customer decisions/behavior in the name of customer service. Curt knows shoes, running and runners. I’m happy to see he is able to grow his business in this economy and I know I share the sense of many runners in Spokane who choose to support Runner’s Soul because they authentically support our community.
Wizard_Of_Oz on August 22 at 5:33 a.m.
Imcewen must work there. BTW Costco doesnt sell running shoes in case you just go there to watch bloated people buy 5 gallons of mayonaise each week.
stevenjones on August 22 at 4:01 p.m.
I don’t work at Runner’s Soul and I agree with Imcewen. Curt donates a tremendous amount of
both time and money to help the runners/walkers of Spokane. We are lucky to have him and Runner’s Soul here. I wouldn’t buy shoes or running gear anywhere else.
laurak_d on August 22 at 6:12 p.m.
Kurt is an icon in the Spokane running community. He gives more back to the community than most people, myself included. He spends countless hours announcing at area events and makes a point to know the customers that frequent his store. I am glad that Imcewen pointed out that a small business like Runner’s Soul simply cannot absorb the generous return policies of the big box stores. This is why his sales people are willing to spend such a great deal of time with each customer to be sure that he or she is buying the right shoe. Try to get that kind of service at a chain sporting goods store and you will be sorely disappointed. I’m also glad to see this little bit of publicity for Kurt and I hope that people won’t be fooled by the negative comments at the top!
monkeyman on August 22 at 7:58 p.m.
“S-R: What is the biggest trend in running right now?
Kinghorn: The barefoot running movement. Though I’m not sure it’s as hot as it was, it’s still hot… ”
Actually, it is just getting started. And the shoe companies are scared of it.
“Five facts
• $100: Average price of a pair of running shoes.
• 400: Average mileage before a pair should be replaced.”
..so that comes to 25 cents/mile average, more than the cost of gas for an average auto. BIG carbon “footprint”!!!
Replacement mileage is made up number by the shoe manufacturers to keep the sales number high. In fact, if you want strong & healthy feet, just rotate 2-3 pairs until they fall apart.