Marathon Sports (retailer)

Marathon Sports, LLC.
Marathon Sports
TypePrivate
IndustryRetail, Specialty
Founded1975 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States)
FounderHoward Sagrans
Headquarters
Waltham, Massachusetts
Number of locations
22 (19 Marathon Sports and 3 Runner's Alley)
Area served
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island
ProductsRunning/Walking Footwear and Athletic Apparel
Websitemarathonsports.com soundrunner.com runnersalley.com
Footnotes
[1][2][3]

Marathon Sports, LLC. is an American chain of sporting goods retailers founded in 1975. It is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts,[2] and operates 14 locations in Massachusetts, 4 locations in Connecticut, and one location in Rhode Island operating under the Marathon Sports brand[4] and three locations in New Hampshire operating under the Runner's Alley brand.[5] The chain mainly sells running/walking footwear and athletic apparel.

All stores that fall under the Marathon Sports, LLC. umbrella are considered run specialty stores. Run specialty stores specialize in all aspects related to running including running shoes, socks, nutrition, hydration and apparel. Employees are trained in how to fit customers for running and walking shoes and are very knowledgeable on any injuries related to running.[6] The stores under Marathon Sports, LLC. umbrella are involved with their local running communities. Many stores have training groups for races, from 5ks to half marathons.[7]

RunBase

In a joint venture between Marathon Sports, the Boston Athletic Association and athletic supplier Adidas opened a 2,000 sq ft (190 m2) Boston Marathon museum, locker room, and retail store just blocks from the marathon finish line.[8] Historic relics displayed include clothing and shoes worn by runners and a second-place medal from the first Boston Marathon in 1897. The store was managed and staffed by Marathon Sports and featured clothing, shoes, and other products from Adidas.[9] This new retail concept was planned to become a community hub for runners who lived in or were traveling to the city.[10] RunBase closed in 2018.[11]

History

Boston Marathon bombing

On Patriots' Day, April 15, 2013, the 117th annual Boston Marathon was struck by two pressure cooker bombs, with the first exploding outside the Marathon Sports store located at 671–673 Boylston Street at 2:49:43 pm EDT.[12] Employees of the store provided first aid to some of the bombing victims by using clothing as makeshift tourniquets.[13] Staff members and customers also testified at the bombing trial against then-suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in 2015.[14]

Purchase by Fleet Feet

In June 2022, Fleet Feet purchased the 11-store Marathon Sports chain, the New Hampshire-based Runner's Alley locations, and the Connecticut soundRunner store locations.[15] Marathon Sports, however, functions as a separate company.[16] In 2025, Marathon Sports acquired Fleet Feet Maine Running.[16]

Awards

Altra sponsoring a demo run of their shoes at the Marathon Sports store on Boston.
  • Voted one of the 50 best-running stores in America for 2012 and 2015[17][18]
  • Multi-year winner of the "Best of Boston" in the category "Running Shop"[19][20]

References

  1. ↑ None (1982). BusinessWeek, Issues 2750-2758. McGraw-Hill. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Walker, Jim (August 22, 2012). "Marathon Sports moving headquarters, warehouse to Moody Street, Waltham". Brand New Watch. GateHouse Media, Inc. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Annual Report Marathon Sports, Inc. 2014". Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Stores". Marathon Sports. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  5. ↑ Alden, Doug (January 24, 2016). "Manchester's Collector's Heaven has new owner". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved February 8, 2016. Peddie, who also owns New Hampshire-based Runner's Alley, plans to move the Manchester Runner's Alley from its current leased spot on Hanover Street to the new location this spring.
  6. ↑ "10 Reasons To Shop At Running Specialty Stores | Competitor.com". Competitor.com. May 23, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ "STORE EVENTS". Marathon Sports. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  8. ↑ Malamut, Melissa (April 2, 2015). "The Boston Marathon Is Opening Its Own Store". Boston Magazine. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  9. ↑ Luna, Taryn; Borchers, Callum (April 2, 2015). "Boston Marathon to open new 'front door' on Boylston". Boston Globe. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  10. ↑ Malamut, Melissa (April 2, 2015). "Adidas and B.A.A. to Open New Store Concept Called 'RunBase'". Boston. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  11. ↑ admin (November 16, 2018). "RunBase Will Begin Transformation to Serve Broad Range of Athletes and Their Needs". Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  12. ↑ Abel, David; Silva, Steve; Finucane, Martin (April 15, 2013). "Explosions rock Boston Marathon finish line; dozens injured". Boston Globe (online ed.). Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  13. ↑ Hughes, Lisa (April 17, 2013). "Marathon Sports Employee Details Horror Of Boston Bombings". WBZ-TV. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  14. ↑ Germano, Beth (March 4, 2015). "New Video Shows Chaos After Boston Marathon Bombing". WBZ-TV. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  15. ↑ Staff Writer (June 17, 2022). "Retiring owners plan to sell Massachusetts-based Marathon Sports". WCVB-TV. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Fischer, Tina (April 4, 2025). "Fleet Feet Maine Running company sells Maine stores to Marathon Sports". Mainebiz. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  17. ↑ "The 50 Best Running Stores in America for 2012". Competitor magazine. Competitor Group, Inc. July 1, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  18. ↑ "The 50 Best Running Stores in America for 2015". Competitor magazine. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Best of Boston, Shopping". Boston Magazine. Metrocorp, Inc. July 2012. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Best of Boston 2007 Running Gear". Boston Magazine. Metrocorp, Inc. 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2013.


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