Nestled within the coronary heart of downtown Halifax, Aerobics First has been serving the operating neighborhood there since 1980. It’s change into a pillar of the neighborhood–a spot for runners to search out the most recent and best, pop in for a fast go to, get their skis waxed for winter–and, as soon as a month, take part on the chill-paced Bagel Run that’s change into a neighborhood staple.
“We’ve been in the identical constructing since 1980, initially in only a small little a part of the constructing, after which over time, we’ve grown to take up the whole constructing, and now we personal the constructing,” explains retailer supervisor Matthias Mueller. “Operating and strolling have all the time been our massive factor; we began on the top of the jogging craze within the early Nineteen Eighties, earlier than any shops had been round. Our founder, Margaret Armour, had travelled a good bit and had seen the keenness of operating rising elsewhere, nevertheless it hadn’t fairly made it to the Maritimes but. So she mentioned, ‘We actually want to do that. We have to begin a operating retailer, and produce it right here.’ And he or she did.”
Now, the shop nonetheless serves primarily runners and walkers, but in addition has added a strong alpine snowboarding element to their choices. And it has advanced with the occasions, by way of what runners want. Now, the employees is there to assist runners and walkers of all ranges discover the right shoe to serve their wants and match their ft. Most of the individuals who work within the store are runners themselves. As an example, Mueller is a former observe and cross-country runner who graduated from Dalhousie College with a level in kinesiology and a want to assist extra folks uncover a love of operating. He began as a part-time worker throughout college, and, a decade later, he’s nonetheless there, now performing as retailer supervisor.
“I really feel very fortunate,” he says. “I’ve had some actually good mentors right here. The homeowners, Luke MacDonald (who retired this spring) and Dean Cheverie, have been wonderful mentors, and their purpose has all the time been to attempt to foster the following technology of possession. And so they received that originally from from Margaret, who began the shop. Her purpose was all the time to mainly cross it off to the following technology. Luke and Dean had been that technology, after which I suppose I’m the following.”
Rising the Halifax run neighborhood
“The Bagel Run is a month-to-month neighborhood run that we host,” Mueller explains. “The entire function was that we wished to carry the run neighborhood again collectively. In Halifax, there’s fairly plenty of completely different golf equipment and crews and teams. Just about day by day of the week has one thing occurring. Quite than us having an in-house run membership, the place we’re competing with our neighborhood membership down the road, we thought a month-to-month community-oriented run that might carry all of the teams collectively made extra sense. We invite everybody, and it’s a possibility for folks new to town and new to the neighborhood to satisfy the completely different run golf equipment. It’s beginner-friendly, however there are additionally loads of runners who’re coaching for quick marathons or ultras. We do a relaxed 5K collectively after which we’ve got bagels and low, so folks can mingle.”
“We wished to help and develop golf equipment in our neighborhood, and the Bagel Run actually has completed that,” he provides.
Past that, the shop makes some extent of being as inclusive and welcoming as attainable, and that features prominently putting the LGBTQ+ pleasant emblem of their on-line profile. “We simply actually need everybody to really feel welcome to return in to our retailer,” Mueller says. “We need to attempt to have a constructive impression on whoever’s strolling within the door.”
Discovering the right match
“I like getting to assist folks, all the way in which from elite performance-oriented runners to somebody’s nice aunt who’s simply popping out of the hospital and wishes new footwear after hip surgical procedure,” says Mueller. “We have now such a variety of shoppers, and I actually take pleasure in problem-solving. Every individual is exclusive, and so is the answer to their situation, and what tools or gear goes to work the very best for them.”
“That is a part of why our title is Aerobics First,” he provides. “We would like folks to guide energetic, wholesome existence. We all know that if folks will be energetic later into life, then their high quality of life improves. And a lot of that may begin together with your ft: in case your ft are all the time sore, unexpectedly, it sucks to stroll down the block to get groceries. Your exercise and mobility decline. Your high quality of life declines in a short time. Our mission actually is to assist folks keep energetic and shifting so long as attainable.”
His finest tip for purchasing footwear? It’s easy. “At all times strive them on. Attempt them on.”
And your very best shoe modifications over time. “We have now individuals who’ve shopped with us for 30 years, and so it is necessary, each every now and then, for us to have that repeat buyer and say, Let’s sit down and re-measure, get one other have a look at your ft and see what’s modified,” he says. “The foot is a extremely dynamic and fluid construction, with many alternative little bones, a lot of ligaments and tendons. So we do see the foot change over the course of somebody’s life. It’s necessary to then regulate your becoming issues as that evolution happens.”
Giving again to the neighborhood
Lastly, it’s not nearly enjoyable runs adopted by bagels. The shop additionally runs an annual sock marketing campaign throughout the vacation season (it’s occurring proper now, in reality). “Our annual Snookie Socks marketing campaign is a program the place, with the assistance of our clients and neighborhood, we glance to offer wool socks to houseless or near-houseless of us in our metropolis,” he explains. “Sneakers shield ft, however good socks save ft. During the last a number of years, we’ve got raised $27,000, which equates to greater than 4,000 pairs of socks donated to people in want.”
The shop additionally has a program referred to as #FitItForward, the place they take new or gently-used footwear and distribute it to these most in want in our area people with the assistance of neighborhood outreach companions. “As a longstanding Nova Scotia enterprise, we try to have a constructive impression by means of different social initiatives. In any case, we need to help and provides again to the neighborhood that has supported us for therefore a few years.