RUNNING WITH A VIEW OF THE SKYLINE

A specialized running store in Frankfurt? What had existed in many other German cities for a long time was still missing in the financial capital on the Main at the turn of the millennium. An inacceptable situation for Germany’s fifth-largest city. “I thought to myself: this is my chance,” says Jost Wiebelhaus, who was born in the Sauerland region. The ambitious runner lived in Düsseldorf and was active in the running scene. He felt particularly comfortable running distances of three to ten kilometers. He found the running shoes he needed in running stores in Düsseldorf, Essen, and Münster.

The concept seemed convincing to the banker and economics graduate – and he could also imagine it for his own future. “I wanted to connect my hobby with my job. My experience as an active runner, but also as a banker and economist, helped me enormously,” he says. A combination that finally led to the opening of the Frankfurter Laufshop in October 2001.

Wiebelhaus initially laid the foundation for his store in the Bornheim district of Frankfurt. Just one and a half years later, he moved it to Frankfurt’s city center. Since then, running fans have been able to find the Frankfurter Laufshop at Große Friedberger Str. 37–39. 140 m² of space offer everything they need to deck themselves out from head to toe for their next run. Especially when choosing running shoes, it is important to find a model that really fits.

“Running shoes vary, even between models of the same brand. That’s why running shoes should ideally be tried on and tested before buying,” says Jost Wiebelhaus. And it is precisely for this reason that the bricks-and-mortar store of the Frankfurter Laufshop is the focus of all business decisions made by the 52-year-old. He deliberately chose not to set up an online store. Instead, the Frankfurter Laufshop focuses on a wide range of products and comprehensive advice.

When looking for new running shoes, Frankfurt’s running community can look forward to a state-of-the-art running analysis. In a consultation, basic running-related parameters are discussed. In addition to questions about running frequency, running speed, the running surface, and other sports that are practiced in addition to running, Jost Wiebelhaus or one of his ten team members take a look at the current running shoes that the customers ideally bring along. Based on the wear and tear of the sole, initial conclusions can be drawn about the running movement. “To make running really fun and avoid injury, we need a running shoe that fits us and meets our individual needs,” says Jost Wiebelhaus.

In the second step, a 3D scanner is used to measure the feet, providing information on shoe size, foot width and the shape of the arch of the foot. This is followed by a dynamic analysis in which customers first run without shoes on the tartan track embedded in the floor. They run across an integrated, two-meter-long pressure measuring plate. A footprint of the right and of the left foot are sufficient to measure the forces that occur during running and to draw conclusions from this.

Combined with the customer’s wishes, the employees then select two to three potentially suitable running shoe models. Now it’s time to try them on! “What’s important for most recreational runners is a great running feel, a good fit, and a smooth transition. The runner has to feel comfortable in the shoe,” says Jost Wiebelhaus. To be able to assess this, customers run up and down a few lengths in the models available at the Frankfurter Laufshop. The footprints on the pressure measuring plate are evaluated again.

This way, the team at the Frankfurter Laufshop is able to find a suitable running shoe together with the customer – thanks to years of experience, continuous staff training, and the latest running analysis technology. “We always keep an eye on innovations in the running industry,” says Jost Wiebelhaus.

This applies not only to the latest analysis techniques, but also to new products in the running shoe sector. Like in 2019, when the U-TECH Nevos, the first True Motion running shoe, was launched on the market.

A running shoe that Jost Wiebelhaus had already put on his feet and tested before the launch at ISPO, the international trade fair for sporting goods and sports fashion: “The U-TECH Nevos immediately made a good impression. The running sensation was new and instantly convincing. It quickly became clear: the concept works, and we wanted to be involved right from the start.”

Today, interested runners have the opportunity to choose between four True Motion models at the Frankfurter Laufshop, which differ primarily according to their area of use and the runner’s running goals – whether fast runs on tarmac or more moderate runs through the park. To finally decide on a new running shoe, customers at the Frankfurter Laufshop can use the visualization of the analysis software in addition to their own running sensation. This is the perfect way to compare your own feeling with technical data. All with the aim of finding the perfect running shoe for the next kilometers.

Once you’ve found your new running shoes, it’s time to lace them up, start running and have fun. No matter what your goal is, whether it’s to reduce stress, improve your fitness, or complete specific running events – every runner pursues their own personal goal.

Popular running events for many Frankfurters are the Frankfurt Mainova Half Marathon and the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, where Jost Wiebelhaus and his team can be found on and beyond the course – either as runners or at the Frankfurter Laufshop stand. At Frankfurt’s biggest marathon event in October, the running specialist has been the official event running store for years.

To achieve their running goals, many runners find it helpful to run in a group and motivate each other. For this reason, the Frankfurter Laufshop set up the Monday running meeting almost ten years ago. Around 70 to 90 runners come together every week at 7:30 pm. They run along the Main for around an hour in five pace groups, covering a distance of eight to twelve kilometers. Every three to four weeks, participants also have the chance to test the latest running shoe models. Last December, for example, this included the True Motion’s U-TECH Nevos 3, shortly after its launch.

If you are at home on the running trails in and around Frankfurt or thinking of trying out running for yourself, the Frankfurter Laufshop is the place to go. From running shoes to running shirts, from running watches to tips on nutrition or the right recovery – just stop by or make an appointment for a running consultation. True to the motto: RUN LOCAL, BUY LOCAL.