photo by Alex Maness

Whether your running shoes are worn from the miles you’ve recently logged or covered with dust after months of sitting in your closet, Off ’N Running Sports can help you kick off the new year on the right foot.

Seeing a need in the community, seasoned runners John Dewey and Scott Bassett opened the specialty shop in August 2003. “We both had grown up running, and Greensboro didn’t have a running store,” Bassett explains. Since then, Off ’N Running has offered Triad residents a variety of workout gear and top-notch care. Dewey and Bassett work one-on-one with customers to help them find the most comfortable size and style, a commitment to personalized service that helps the store stand out from other running suppliers. “We think that’s the difference,” Bassett adds.

Another difference is that the co-owners also serve as resources for runners. Dewey and Bassett maintain a Web site with a wealth of workout tools, including articles about injury prevention, training plans, a calorie counter, and local running maps. They also organize weekly group runs, as well as half-marathon and marathon training programs.

In 2007, Madison resident Dena Harris participated in a store-sponsored marathon training program. For four months Harris and 13 other enthusiasts met several times a week to complete distance, speed, and tempo workouts. They also attended weekly talks by veteran marathon runners, nutritionists, and other experts.

Harris, who completed her first marathon December 8, says the best part of the program was the friendships that she made. She adds that being part of such a supportive group helped her feel more prepared for her marathon than she would have if she had practiced alone.

Dewey and Bassett say they hope to offer additional training programs and services in 2008 — such as a “mom’s morning out” group, a children’s shoe section, and more group workouts for beginners — and emphasize that running or walking with a team can help people stay faithful to their resolutions long past the first weeks of January. “It’s just the best way I know to keep your commitment to running,” Harris says. Participating “was the best money I ever spent. It’s a gift to yourself.”