Charm City Run Frederick offers all the best running and walking specialty brands including a wide variety of today’s best fitness and lifestyle apparel to keep you feeling good and staying comfortable no matter the season.
A conversation with Kristen Watkins, Store Lead.
What is Charm City Run all about?
Our goal is to fit every person in the right shoe. When you walk into Charm City Run, you should expect to be treated with respect and patience regardless of where you are in your running and walking journey. Charm City Run offers all the best running and walking specialty brands including a wide variety of today’s best fitness and lifestyle apparel to keep you feeling good and staying comfortable no matter the season.
Charm City Run’s vast selection of hydration, nutrition and safety products will keep you healthy and safe, as well as ensuring you stay on course to achieve your fitness goals. If your goal is to run your first race or set a new personal record, Charm City Run Training Groups will help you achieve it. From 5Ks to Half Marathons to Triathlons, Charm City Run Events offers the most epic racing experiences.
Tell us Charm City’s origin story.
Josh and Kara Levinson opened Charm City Run 20 years ago. Their first goal was to have one successful store. It seemed like that took a long time and there was plenty of self-doubt. We were not always sure but we always believed in the run. We believed that if you care, people come back. Today, we operate eight stores, manage over 100 races and endurance events, and train thousands of runners each year. The business has certainly changed, but the “why” has stayed exactly the same. Our mission is to inspire and move the human spirit one sole at a time.
What do you like most about being a business owner in Frederick?
I love how engaging our community is seeing my customers out and about town!
What makes Charm City Run unique?
We are one of two running shoe stores in the area, we provide a complete package for those that are walking, running, no matter the distance, pace or age of the athlete.
What do you want Charm City Run to be known for?
How Charm City Run gives back to the community. Shopping locally directly helps support the local people and neighborhoods.
Share some of your community involvement efforts.
We recently had a local sock drive for two area high schools. We also are part of the Frederick Chamber of Commerce and Members of The Women’s Giving Circle. We donate shoes monthly to our local high school community closets.
What do you do best?
Our personalized customer experience.
Anything else you would like the Chamber membership to know?
We host a weekly free education series, find out more on our website here.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.