Ready to Run

I began running a few weeks ago more seriously and wanted to replace my old shoes. I found Ready to Run on Unilocal and I’m glad I did. I went in and had my feet measured, and the employee watched me jog and walk both with and without shoes. He brought three pairs of shoes to try — all around the same price point ($ 110-​$ 140) and the first ones I tried on I bought. I also got some socks to prevent blisters, and the whole set up has totally been worth it. I will definitely go back here for my next pair!

I stopped by today to simply try some of the higher end running shoes. I had no intention on buying today (waiting on a bonus next month) and was still treated with kindness and willingness to get any shoe they thought I may like. Bob was very informational and you bet I will be back next month to get my shoes.

I went to ready to run a few weeks ago for the first time. I’ve been dealing with injuries for over 6 months now and came in looking for guidance. I spent about 2 hours in the store and was very impressed. The staff were attentive & knowledgeable. They helped assess my gait and examined my old shoes and inserts. They were patient, & I felt like they sincerely cared about helping me find an appropriate shoe. I recommend this place and look forward to shopping here in the future!

The stream of 5* reviews is entirely justified for this place — These guys are the bomb. They’re locally owned by a UT grad and staffed by a brilliant range of runners who seriously know their stuff.
They only stock shoes that they consider worthy /​good quality — don’t push a hard sell and have a great range of accessories and socks (including my favourite feetures)
It’s a relatively uninspiring strip mall location but what it lacks in glamour it more than makes up for in quality in every sense of the word.
It’s taken me two years to find them but they’ll definitely have my repeat running business while I’m living in Austin. I would wholeheartedly recommend them to beginners and seasoned runners alike.

The folks at Ready to Run were probably the nicest people I have ever encountered. I’m getting into a running routine and with that I need proper running shoes. As a running newbie, I had zero clue about what I need and what types of shoes are best for my feet. I ended up with a pair of New Balance 860’s, two pairs of DryMax socks, and a Ready to Run tshirt. Overall, the experience was amazing! I am so glad that I’m properly prepared to get into running mode, and I have the awesome people at Ready to Run to thanks for that!
P. S. I know shoe prices vary, but I spent about $ 181 for everything, with the shoes being $ 119.

The Unilocal reviews didn’t let me down. I’m a newbie at running and my ancient ill-​fitting Nike’s just weren’t cutting it with the interval training I was doing.
I went in 40 minutes before the store closed on a Monday (it was Pi Day, so there were a bunch of runners waiting to do the Pi/​Pie Day run). The lady that helped me was extremely nice and helpful, watched me run and paired me up with some shoes that felt AMAZING. I found out that the way my feet hit the ground meant I supinate. Putting on shoes that were made for my stride just suddenly felt right. Like magic. I won’t ever go anywhere else for running shoes ever.
I never felt out-​of-​place or like an newbie idiot, only welcomed. The runners waiting for the Pi Day run were also super nice and down-​to-​earth too, so I’m suspecting a really great community as well.

Okay, so let me tell you a little story about my running life. No one cares, but humor me. I bought my first pair of running shoes in 2010. They were a birthday gift and I got a pair of Nike Free Runs. Those running shoes, man. They’ve been with me through everything — half-​marathons, full marathons, 5ks, 10ks, numerous training runs, and backpacking trips. Heck, those shoes carried me through my first Big Bend trip. Those shoes were amazing. I never once got blisters wearing them, my feet never hurt, they were basically perfect.
As with all shoes, frequent use wears them down, and after a few years I thought maybe I should get another pair of running shoes. Nike changed up the design of the Free Run and took away all the qualities about it I loved, so those were out. (Also, I was really trying to get away from Nike due to their use of child labor.) After a little bit of research, I settled on the Brooks Glycerin. Nice shoes, but they felt heavier on my feet and ended up giving me blisters. What?! Having never gotten blisters while running, I wasn’t a fan. I went back to my Free Runs because I wasn’t having any of that, even though I spent a lot of money on those Brooks.
The holes in the mesh of my Free Runs kept getting bigger and then one of my cats peed on my shoes, so I figured it was now time to retire them. Except I was literally running a marathon in three days and I needed shoes. I could wear my Glycerins, but I know what those do to my feet. Clearly, my best option was to buy a brand new pair of shoes.
I do not recommend doing this ever and please don’t do as I do. I am crazy. Don’t run a marathon in brand new shoes.
So I hop on over to this place because they have good reviews from runners I trust and get my fitting on. I’d never had a fitting before and this was great. I told the man what kind of shoes I wore, what the Glycerins did to me, and then he had me walk and run to see what kind of runner I was. I am a neutral runner, apparently, and this information will be useful for future fittings.
Other things I learned — you have to size up in running shoes. So, instead of getting my normal size 7, I got a size 8 this time. The man who helped me said he was going to recommend the Brooks Glycerin to me, as that’s a good shoe for neutral runners, and that I probably just need to size up in Brooks shoes to take care of the blister issue.
I tried on three different pairs of shoes and ended up getting the Brooks Ghost. They even let you run on the sidewalk in shoes to test them out, which is really cool. I also grabbed a new pair of socks because you can never have too many running socks and, hell, you’re running in new shoes, why not get new socks, too?! I am crazy. Do not do this.
So, I ran that marathon. I still got blisters… but I ran a marathon in brand new shoes. DUMB. (And brand new socks. Super dumb.) I’m not going to hold that against the shoes, because it’s not their fault. I think the fitting went super well, I got a lot of useful advice, and they had a lot of good gear here, including an entire wall of running socks. Next time I need something running related, Ready To Run can have all my money.

I have decided to at least put in a token effort and start to think about running possibly. This is the place to go. The people are soooo helpful and found me shoes that are incredibly comfortable so I don’t even mind running (ha ha that is a lie running is awful unless you are being chased by someone with a machete). Huge assortment of shoes and socks and accessories and knowledgable staff will get you set up for whatever you want to do.

Ready to Run is amazing! I went in with 2 other people and Charles R. helped all three of us and was extremely nice and patient. He had us walk and jog so he could evaluate what kinds of shoes we needed and also provided us with a lot of useful information and tips for running. He made sure that we were comfortable with the pair that we were purchasing rather than trying to sell us the most expensive pair. He chose 3 pairs of shoes that he thought would fit me and had me jog around the store to test them out. It didn’t take very long for me to find the pair I wanted. The shoelaces on the shoes were a bit messed up and they didn’t have another pair, so they gave me a free pair of shoelaces! I would definitely go back again: D

I’m not athletic. AT ALL. I’m overweight and one of the main reasons I don’t walk is because my feet hurt when I do. I always thought it was because of my weight-​which is true. But after buying shoes from here I was in foot heaven. NEVER IN MY LIFETIME I felt this great wearing tennis shoes. Clouds on my feet when you combine them with the socks they sell at the store-​kinda pricey but its a treat everytime I take a walk. I got 2 blue pairs of socks that make my feet feel special whenever I put them on. And I’m cheap. I go to Wal-​Mart and stock up on socks on Black Friday. Sometimes, you gotta splurge and this is the store to do it.
Now I walk everywhere with my bright color tennis shoes. Sh*t, I even took them to church one time with my jeans because I felt so comfy wearing them. I don’t care if they don’t match my outfit. My feet are not in pain anymore when I walk.
The staff is soooo knowledgeable and helpfull. They saw how I walked, explained my pronation problem and how to correct it with good support. I was given 3 pairs of shoes and in less than 30 minutes I found the perfect ones. Then I took my husband for some shoes, found his shoes in no time and out the door on a Sunday morning destination Zilker Park. And today I took my son. My poor baby inherited my pronation and lack of arch support. A young man got his right size and 2 pairs later, my baby was running all over the store. Sigh of relief to see his pronation problem was not as evident as before.
I trust them. And I don’t trust anyone. I READ Unilocal REVIEWS for EVERYTHING. But when I come to this store, I let them see me walk, measure my feet, intake all the info they give me, they pick out several shoes for me, and I’m always happy with their selection. To me, at this point, the colors of the shoes don’t matter BECAUSE ALL OF THEIR SHOES ARE SOOO COOL.
You won’t regret buying at this store. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSESS!!!

Very happy with my Brooks shoes. Service was great. Parking is not an issue. The price was reasonable. Location is convenient. I will be back.

Ryan is awesome! What was supposed to be a stop for a marketing visit ended with me walking out the door with my first pair of Mizunos and a pair of socks. I have annoyingly flat, wide, feet, but after just a few observations Ryan came back with 3 choices. My choice just happened to be on sale, so I feel like I got a hell of a deal. Complete opposite of a previous experience I had with a different shoe fitting store. You can tell he’s been doing this for a while and wants to make sure that you get the shoes that are right for not just your foot, but for the terrain. These are my new go to guys for running shoes from here on out!

Great local store for all things running. I went here to get a new pair of running shoes for an upcoming marathon. The guy that helped me out spent a good amount of time watching my walking and jogging form. He then brought out a few pairs of shoes to try on. He also looked at my old pair of running shoes and explained that based on my wear patterns that I had been wearing the wrong type of shoe (I had a pair of Brooks for overpronation that were recommended by another store). I ended up with a pair of Mizunos and my training runs have been night and day when compared to my prior runs with my old shoes.

Ready to Run is THE best running store in town! The staff here is amazing. They are super friendly and very knowledgable. My experience shopping at RTR has always been super positive. The store is managed and staffed by experienced runners! They have all your running needs covered — clothing, shoes, nutrition, accessories, and knowledge!
I was recently referred to RTR via my chiro/​PT office because I’ve been having foot issue’s. My doctor told me to make an appointment with Bill Stone who could examine my foot and analyze my gait to help me find a solution to my problem. OMG, this guy is legit — he is THE foot whisperer! Seriously, Bill is amazing! I spent almost an hour with him while he did a very detailed analysis of my feet and gait. He helped me find a shoe and insert that are 100% working for me. I loved that in one hour he identified the root of my issue AND recommended a solution! The issue’s I was having before have gone away and I am on track to come back stronger than ever!
If you are a runner, you need to come to Ready to Run today.

Ready to Run (RtR) is a local store staffed by friendly, knowledgeable runners who understand the gear a runner/​jogger/​walker needs, and I’m not just talking about shoes. Yes, of course, they can help you find the right shoe in a great fit for your special feet, but this small, uncluttered store carries a full line of the other stuff a runner uses on a regular basis, from moisture-​wicking & chafe-​resistant sportswear to lights & reflectives to hydration aids to pocket-​belts & hats and even anti-​funk laundry soap (yes, you need this; there is *no* reason to tolerate everlasting-​stink in your workout clothes).
There’s easy parking in the lot off Far West (both in front & behind the store) and it’s within walking distance of several other businesses of interest like New World Deli, Snap Kitchen, and Daily Juice (formerly Austin Skinny Limits). This makes a weekday lunch-​time shopping trip a breeze, as there’s usually no other customer in the store at that time and a healthy lunch is available nearby.
Primary shoe brands on hand at RtR:
+ Brooks
+ New Balance
+ Asics
+ Mizuno
+ Saucony
+ Hoka One One (a recent addition)
Take a virtual tour to see more:
Sometimes when I shop at RtR, they throw in something extra at checkout, like a branded promo item a shoe company has left behind. I once went away with a high-​quality Asics drawstring backpack with reflective stripes and a zippered pocket — I love these things for carrying my running shoes or holding my stuff at bag check during a running event.
I visit on a regular basis because RtR also serves as the Austin Runners Club (ARC) meetup point for an open/​free 6:30p Monday evening 3 – 5 mile hill run with on course water station. Not only do I get to come here and hang out with a laid-​back group of fellow running enthusiasts of all abilities, I also get to use my sweet 15% ARC member discount on all purchases. Another cool thing, the first Monday of the month meetup includes product demos & giveaways, so we often have the chance to run a few miles in a new shoe model, try out a new GPS tracker, get some PT/​massage, and possibly win some take-​away freebies in a raffle after the run. At the last one, I went home with a very nice Trigger Point visor with sweat-​wicking headband, while others won high quality bags, socks, water bottles, etc. — score!
Membership-​required groups Gilbert’s Gazelles and Paul Carrozza’s Born to Run also have weekly training meetups at RtR. More info:

I asked if this was a chain, not because it had any sort of chain vibe, but because I was desperately hoping that there was a chance of having one back home. Knowledgeable staff, great selection, and a program for recycling/​reusing your old shoes (while giving you a small discount). Nothing to not love!

The staff are really helpful in getting the right shoe you want. Walked in and they gave off a cool non pressure vibe, compared to other stores where they hound you for a sale.
They offer a sweet military discount too 15%! I’ll be back for my next pair of Brooks running shoes when I need to replace the ones I bought here. Ghost 8 Brooks!

I am very impressed with Ready to Run. They are a small local business on far west. Their selection and knowledge of running equipment is phenomenal. Their team helped me and my fiancé find our perfect shoes based on their analysis of our run and wear patterns. I left feeling very confident that I had the right shoes for me.
Definitely a local business worth supporting! They will be receiving my continued business.

I just picked up a pair of brand new New Balance runners, and I dig em! The service was excellent, they are in my neighborhood, and they are local. PERFECT combo. The salesperson, Ryan, was thoughtful paid attention to my concerns, and selected 3 pairs for me to try on. It was a seamless experience, and I am ready to break these bright green shoes in! They also have run groups meet at their store to run the hills of Cat Mountain and Ladera Norte.

The Good:
: they are a local business!!!
: great selection from good brands like New Balance, Brooks, and Asics
: service is so friendly and nice and helpful
: lots of accessories! water bottles (portable and not), socks, shirts, shorts, and more
: lots of parking
: they helped me find the best pair of shoes for my style and distance of runs i do. i had BAD runner’s toe (my poor pinky toe got beat up and turned black and blue, WTF) and with this better pair of shoes, i no longer suffer from this crap. who knew all the hardship your poor toes go under when you pound at them for 5 miles straight at 6.5 mph?! fml.
: they take time to make sure you get fitted into the right shoe. they not just measure your feet but they also analyze your gait as you walk and jog to see how your feet move and land
: they don’t try to just sell you the most expensive shoe. they try to make sure you buy the RIGHT shoe. my shoe i walked out the door for only $ 125 including taxes. awesome!
: their website is awesome. very easy to use, very clean, very easy to find information
: they list all kinds of running events (e.g, 5K’s) on their calendar on their website
The Bad:
: none
The Ugly:
: none
Would I go back? I’m heading back here to get my new pair as soon as I wear out this set! Once you’ve found gold, you don’t go back.
This place is IN.