The North Face has named Oregon-based Fit Right Northwest the winner of The North Face Never Stop Exploring Award, recognizing the specialty running store that demonstrates the most complete dedication to encouraging and enabling outdoor exploration within the community. The specialty dealer, with three locations, was selected for its fun and creative programs designed to appeal to recreational and serious runners.
“Perhaps no other store in the country offers the broad range of programs that encourage runners to get outside and push their personal limits, whether they’re running a 5K or a 50K,” said The North Face Sales Director Tony Erlick, who presented the award to Fit Right co-owners Dave Sobolik and Robb Finegan at The Running Event 2012 conference and expo for running specialty stores in Austin, Texas Wednesday. “Fit Right truly embodies the spirit of the Never Stop Exploring Award and we’re proud to support them as they continue to get the people of Portland outside and on the trails.”
Fit Right has a remarkable variety of outreach programs for all types of runners, from fun runs aimed at youth, to women-specific events, to sponsoring local Hood-To-Coast teams. The stores also hold informative clinics to ensure a safe and efficient running experience such as their “Good Form Running Clinic” and proper bra fitting nights. For beginners, Fit Right offers a Couch to 5K Program to provide runners with a structured training plan to help them achieve their goals. They also offer one of the country’s best Training Programs where runners ready to take their training to the next level can work directly with their RUN Coach to develop a personalized program based on goals, schedules, injuries, workout locations and limitations.
The most impressive of their events is the First Thursday Urban Adventure Runs, which can draw up to several hundred people. The event is designed to inspire true outdoor exploration and running. Checkpoints of various distances are set-up around Portland, and runners are incentivized to visit as many local shops as they can to get raffle tickets for prizes.
In recognition of Fit Right Northwest contribution to the Portland community, The North Face will donate $5,000 to help build community programs. The North Face created the Never Stop Exploring Award in 2010 – a retail-specific complement to the brand’s Explore Fund grant program for nonprofits – in an effort to encourage Running Specialty stores to initiate local community programs that break down the barriers to getting people outdoors. The award recognizes and supports retailers with programs dedicated to inspiring and enabling the next generation of explorers.
