Heart and Sole
If the shoe fits, you probably got it at City Park Runners.
Erick Oland opened the Portage Avenue store across from Assiniboine Park – the City Park in the name – in 2006. Previous to that, he worked on the wholesale side of the running shoe industry.
You don’t walk in to City Park Runners, pick a shoe from the wall and ask for it in your size. Instead, Oland and his staff begin by measuring your feet for size, width and arch. “That can eliminate 90% of the shoes right away,” said Oland, “but still leave you with a selection that will work for your needs.”
Runners can also try the shoes on the store’s treadmill. Oland crouches down to observe a customer’s gait as they begin jogging on the treadmill. “You can hear when something is wrong with the fit,” he said. “When it’s right, it’s quieter and smoother. People can hear it themselves.”
Wearing the wrong kind of shoe affects comfort and ultimately performance. Meanwhile, Oland wants people to know City Park Runners isn’t just for high-performance competitive athletes. Everyone can feel good in shoes that fit, even if the only running you’re doing is running errands. “We’re not an elitist running store,” he said, adding they also have more than just shoes, from socks to sunglasses and other gear.
If someone is looking to start running, they will also find the support they need. “It’s a clubhouse atmosphere,” he said, with a number of running clubs and clinics available to runners of all levels. One of his favourite parts is seeing how people improve and build confidence.
The convenience of the sport and being part of a community are two of the things that first drew Oland to running. “I fell in love with running,” said Oland, a former competitive cyclist.
“You meet so many people. It’s a friendly sport”
The location of the store has been a factor in its success, being visible on a route that many people run. It is also close to home for Oland, who grew up in Silver Heights and returned to Winnipeg after building his early career outside the province. He likes the connection St. James residents have to the history here – from remembering making use of a rope and a raft to get across the river to Assiniboine Park before the foot bridge was constructed, to knowing the building that is home to his business was once a photography studio.
He believes in local even though it means he is often cast in the role of David to the Goliath of chain stores and running shoe brands. “We need to build awareness. They are powerful… and they like to flex their muscle,” he said. That’s why he was one of the first merchants to sign on with The Local Frequency program. “I love what I do,” he said, and he wants other people to feel good and earn rewards for supporting local businesses.
After all, it was David who was the hero in the end.
All photos by Claudine Gervais
