Charm City Run is a running and walking specialty company, with 7 retail locations around Maryland and Delaware in Annapolis, Baltimore City, Bel Air, Columbia, Frederick, Rehoboth Beach and Timonium. Charm City Run Events manages, directs and times more than 100 sports endurance events each year.
That is what we are from the outside but from the inside we strive to be so much more. We hope that you find inspiration at Charm City Run. It may be as simple as wanting to run or walk more in new pair of kicks. Maybe you will want to train with us for a 5K or a marathon. Or perhaps you need shoes that will comfortably support you through your busy day. We want to be the bridge from your intent to making it happen. We are here to be part of some of your great accomplishments and a shoulder to lean on, on some not-so-good days. Running, walking and movement can all be important friends and we can help you find that friend whether it be through some helpful advice, the right pair of shoes, the perfect program, or the picture-perfect finish.
A conversation with Kristen Watkins, Business Lead
Tell us your business origin story!
Charm City Run has been an amazing journey for our whole family, and it has become another much larger family. Kara and I opened Charm City Run more than 21 years ago and it has been the thrill of a lifetime. Getting to go to work with the opportunity to change a life for the better is such a privilege and a responsibility. Our first goal was to have one successful store. It seemed like that took a long time and there was plenty of self-doubt and I know family members wondered what we were doing with our lives. We were not always sure, but we believed in the run. We believed in Baltimore, and we believed that if you care people come back.
What do you like most about being a business in Frederick County?
The community of Frederick. Once we meet people it is wonderful to see them all around town, Frederick is small enough to take advantage of this! Being able to get to know a high school cross country runner and fitting them for their first pair of spikes as a freshman to fitting their last pair as a senior and moving off to college. Cheering on a new runner in one of our local races on a Sunday morning.
What makes your business unique?
Our mission is to inspire and move the human spirit one sole at a time. I love this statement. First there is a mission beyond selling stuff and the first mission has nothing to do with product or sales. We want to inspire. It is a lofty goal, but we have a humble and perhaps ignorant belief that we can do this every day. To move. When people move, they are better versions of themselves, better workers, but more importantly better friends, partners, brothers, sisters, and parents. There is a spirit within you, and it takes some care. We want to move that spirit to a happier place. The sole is the product and offers us the opportunity to start talking.
The people that have built this thing are not perfect, just like you and me, but they are decent and caring and getting to know and hopefully mentor them has been the greatest joy of my life outside of my own family. They have made me better professionally and personally and I hope you have enjoyed their company as well.
What do you with people knew about your business?
We are a place of community, we are a resource for those who are walking, running or need shoes for work or medical reasons. We want to hear about your training, your races and be a part of your journey.
Share some of your community involvement efforts!
The Live. Give. Run. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created in 2020 to officially support the Maryland and Delaware-based organizations and programs that Charm City Run has been supporting for over 22 years. The Foundation carries out the charitable and philanthropic goals of Charm City Run’s mission to inspire and move the human spirit one sole at a time.
Over the last 22 years Charm City Run has donated over two million dollars to Maryland headquartered non-profit organizations. In addition, Charm City Run Events partners with local non-profits to raise $500,000 annually for their respective missions.
The Live. Give. Run Foundation gives primarily to organizations that benefit the environment, encourage physical fitness and enhance educational opportunities for the less fortunate.
Locally through the foundation we have supported the following. We are the annual sponsor of Women’s Giving Cirlce, for 2nd year in a row. We have supported The Friends of Mount Olivet, Little Bennet Regional Park, Hurwitz Breast Cancer Foundation through our local fun runs. We host the Blue Jean mile which brings awareness to mental health issues.
What do you do best?
We listen, our customers love that they can come into the store and ask questions and we are able to understand their needs. From properly fitting a shoe, to giving hydration advice for a long run and everything in between. Our footwear brands are important to us, we carry Brooks, Altra, ASICS, New Balance, Saucony, ON, Nike, Oofos, Hoka. We carry apparel brands that people are asking for, Lululemon, Vuori, Janji, Rabbit, UA, Nike…
Is there anything else exciting about your business that you want the Chamber membership to know about?
We have a fun run coming up on Fat Tuesday, March 4th that will benefit the Women’s Giving Circle, $10 and you can walk/run with us at Prospect Point Brewery! Our goal is to raise $1500 (150 people to sign up! ).
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.