If there were a television network for selling shoes, Mary Beth at Metro Run & Walk would be on prime time.
I went there one night instead of going to my track workout (it was cold out!) and I was lucky enough to get her help picking out a new pair of running shoes. In fact, she started helping me while she was helping somebody else, and she managed to do so without leaving either of us feeling neglected.
I went in on a Tuesday at around 7:00 p.m. and it was very quiet. There were two high school kids there when I got there, each with a parent, and one more came in a little before they closed at 8:00. Every one of us was helped to countless shoes and helpful advice, and nobody was rushed in the least.
While Mary Beth was lacing up some shoes for the girl next to me, she asked me some questions about what the shoes were for, how much I run, any injuries, any preferences. Then she asked me to take of my shoes and roll up my pants a couple of inches so she could get a look at my feet, and she kind of nodded and said she had some ideas. Ideas. How cool is that.
I've been wearing Nikes since 1988 and I told her I'd like to try something new as well, so she brought out stability shoes by Nike, Asics and Brooks.
She checked each shoe as I tried them and asked how they were, and brought out more as I ruled them out and never seemed to forget her other customers. She talked me up to a size 9, and into this racey orange version of my shoe, which I think has actually made me a little faster. She was by far the most knowledgable and attentive salesperson I've ever bought running shoes from, and that seems to be typical of Metro staff, who appear to be active, entusiastic and well-treated.
Metro Run & Walk has a newsletter, where they promote clinics and races, and tell you how to select shoes and even training socks; they have four locations; they have a great inventory; and best of all they have charisma.
BTW, of the four of us buying shoes that night, three of us were female, and two of us were girls. Go Title IX.
Metro Run & Walk, 1776 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD, 301.984.2900, M-F 10a-8p, Sat 10a-6p, Sun 12p-5p
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