Run Specialty Cooperative Podcast

Episode 4 | The People Behind the Perfect Transaction

greg@run605.com (Greg Koch) — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:23:08 +0000

Episode 4: The People Behind the Perfect Transaction What creates the perfect running-store transaction—and how do you build a team capable of delivering it when the owner isn’t in the room? Greg Koch and Mark Jimenez work backward from the ideal customer experience to examine the hiring, training, accountability, and culture behind it. Mark shares how Red Rock Running Company developed a dedicated training role, why its fit process includes nonnegotiable steps, and how treating retail employment like a career has helped the company carry its vision across four locations. The conversation also explores why great salespeople do not always become great managers, the importance of addressing small problems before they become cultural norms, and the difference between hiring runners and hiring people who can genuinely serve customers. Greg shares the challenges of staffing two stores in Sioux Falls’ competitive labor market and the work required to turn a young team into capable professionals. Because customers can purchase running shoes almost anywhere. The people inside an independent running store—and the experience they create—are what make it matter.

Episode #3 | Beyond the Discount: Building Better Run Club Partnerships

greg@run605.com (Greg Koch) — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 18:42:04 +0000

Run clubs are booming—but what does their rapid growth mean for independent running stores? Greg and Mark have an honest conversation about the opportunities, frustrations, and occasional growing pains created by today’s run-club movement. They discuss brand activations that bypass local retailers, the pressure to provide automatic discounts, and the challenge of watching new groups connect with audiences that established stores have struggled to reach. The answer isn’t to compete with every run club or control every running experience. It’s to build meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships. Greg and Mark explore how specialty retailers can become the solution center for their running communities by offering expertise, brand relationships, race services, meeting spaces, and long-term support. When stores focus on what they do best, they create their own gravitational pull—and give runners, clubs, brands, and retailers a better opportunity to grow together.

Episode #2 | A Level Playing Field in Run Specialty

greg@run605.com (Mark Jimenez, Greg Koch) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:10:15 +0000

Contact Info:

Greg Koch
605 Running Company
greg@run605.com
605-951-4605

Mark Jimenez
Red Rock Running Company
mark@rrrc.run
702-870-4786

Episode #1 | Justin Craig | RUNDetroit

greg@run605.com (Greg Koch) — Thu, 15 May 2025 18:01:11 +0000

Building the Coop – A Conversation with Justin Craig of RUNDetroit

Welcome to the debut episode of the Run Specialty Cooperative Podcast — a show by and for independent running store owners. In this kickoff conversation, hosts Greg Koch and Mark Jimenez, both Coop board members, chat with Justin Craig, Owner of RUNDetroit, about the evolving landscape of run specialty retail and the importance of staying independent.

Justin brings a thoughtful perspective on what it means to own and operate a truly independent running store in today’s industry. He shares his personal journey, lessons learned from years in the business, and his insights on how collaboration—through efforts like the Coop—can help stores thrive without compromising their individuality.

This episode sets the stage for an ongoing dialogue within our community—one that celebrates shared knowledge, mutual support, and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the run specialty world.