WHEN THE CATHEDRAL CITY BECOMES A RUNNING CITY

“Our aim is to have the right running shoe for every runner on site – to achieve this, we rely on a well-stocked warehouse,” says Martin Lüchtefeld, owner of Bunert – Der Kölner Laufladen. An approach that the 65-year-old has pursued since the store opened in the spring of 2005, initially as managing director and, since taking over the Cologne running store in January 2012, as its owner. The goal: to hold a wide range of products to meet the needs of every runner.

Born in Cologne, Lüchtefeld realized early on how essential it is for a runner to have the right footwear. Lüchtefeld has been running since he was a child. A key moment for the ambitious young runner were the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich with his sporting idol Harald Norpoth. Ever since then, Martin Lüchtefeld was certain: “I’m going to be a runner too!” And he put his words into action.

The Cologne native dedicated himself to competitive sports, competing with the best runners in the country as a teenager – first in the jersey of ASV Köln, then later as a runner for TV Wattenscheid and TSV Bayer Dormagen. Lüchtefeld reached the finals of German athletics championships, was a DLV squad athlete, and became German cross-country champion with TV Wattenscheid in 1981. “This experience in competitive sports was crucial for later dedicating myself professionally to running and thus to running shoe sales,” says Martin Lüchtefeld today. He worked in running stores for around two decades, first in sales and later as a store manager of several “Runners Point” outlets.

In the spring of 2005, when Jörg Bunert opened a running store in Cologne, he made the switch. Bunert brought Martin Lüchtefeld into the team as a store manager for the cathedral city, and seven years later Lüchtefeld took over Bunert Köln. In 2015, the running store in Lindenthal was followed by a second store in Cologne’s Südstadt district, more precisely at Severinstraße 54b, directly on the Cologne Carnival parade route. “Our focus has always been on running stores and on-site advice – the second store expands this opportunity,” says Martin Lüchtefeld.

These two addresses have since become a go-to for many running enthusiasts in Cologne when the running shoes are worn out, the running shirt is threadbare, the running socks are ragged – new running equipment is needed.

Martin Lüchtefeld’s two running stores are closely linked to the biggest running event in Cologne, the Cologne Marathon – throughout the entire race weekend. On Friday and Saturday, they are one of the central exhibitors at the Running.EXPO, the marathon fair of the Cologne Marathon, and on race day, the marathon runners run directly past both Bunert stores – at kilometer 12 in the Südstadt and at kilometer 23 in Lindenthal.

Every year, a large number of running shoes can be found along the route that have been in one of the two stores before – and are now laced up on the feet of a Bunert customer or a runner from the store’s own running team. The Cologne running store’s team has 19 athletes, most of whom compete in regional running events and run on behalf of Bunert Köln. The sponsorship: a full range of equipment. “The running team and we as a store support each other. It’s great fun,” says Martin Lüchtefeld.

The urban running meeting of the “Cologne Running Crew” is also evidence of the strong connection between Bunert Köln and runners from the region. Every Wednesday at 8 pm, 20 to 30 runners meet to run together through the streets of Cologne – whatever the weather. The meeting and starting point is the Bunert Köln store in Lindenthal. As an additional offer, the “Cologne Running Crew” can test the latest models of a running shoe brand every week – such as the new U-TECH Nevos 3 by True Motion.

A running shoe brand from Cologne in the range of a running shoe store in Cologne – a regional proximity that creates opportunities. And a partnership that was evident from day one. The launch of the U-TECH Nevos, True Motion’s debut model, took place in June 2019 in the Bunert store on Aachener Straße. Thus the first True Motion running shoe to be sold went over the counter in Lindenthal.

“A strictly scientific approach, as with True Motion running shoes, was new – and is still totally exciting today,” says Martin Lüchtefeld. “The proximity to the German Sport University also sparked our curiosity, as we also cultivate this relationship.” For almost five years now, True Motion running shoes have been available at Bunert Köln to try and test on the store’s own running track.

If something is new, it first has to establish itself against what is already there. “Hearing from a customer that running in True Motion running shoes has helped him with his knee problems simply carries the most weight. In the end, it’s the customer’s satisfaction that counts,” says Fabian Schütter, member of the running team and sales assistant at Bunert Köln. For the functionality of a running shoe to be at its best, one thing is particularly important – the shoe must fit right.

“The key factor for us when looking for the right running shoe is the fit,” says Martin Lüchtefeld. “The most important thing is that a runner feels good in the running shoe straight away. It has to be comfortable.”

Just how complex the search for a perfectly fitting running shoe is, can be guessed from the large number of running shoe components that differ between the various running shoe models. It seems difficult to maintain an overview on your own. And that is exactly what Martin Lüchtefeld and his team of currently 20 employees see as their task. Therefore, Bunert Köln’s offer to its customers is: “We will help you find a running shoe – in the right size, the right width and with the right arch. A running shoe that simply fits right.”

Whether running along the banks of the Rhine or through the green belt – to really enjoy a run, it has to feel natural. If you need new running shoes or other running equipment, Bunert Köln is the right place for you – in Lindenthal or the Südstadt district. True to the motto RUN LOCAL, BUY LOCAL.