We are currently enjoying the fruits of our recent shop re-fit!

Instore Podiatry Checks

Podiatrist Andrew Buldt BPod (Hons) B.appsc is at Run and Become from 5pm-7pm each Monday evening. Andrew has worked in Australia, Ireland and Scotland. He currently works in Edinburgh at both the Edinburgh Podiatry Clinic at the Dean Village and the Space Clinic in Dalry Road

Andrew is also a marathon runner. He will be available to offer free simple advice on foot and lower limb problems and work with the experienced Run and Become staff to recommend suitable footwear. He may recommend a follow up visit to the clinic for a more detailed diagnosis of certain injuries and conditions.

Local Races & Working With The Running Community

Over the last 13 ½ years we have become an integral part of the running scene/community not only in Edinburgh and the East of Scotland, but also throughout Scotland. We have developed strong links with all the local running clubs and work in partnership with them on numerous events.

We are also a sponsorship partner with Scottish Athletics, the co-ordinating body for athletics in Scotland, by virtue of our sponsorship of the twice yearly fixture list, the much sought after definitive guide to all running events in Scotland.

We are involved with small grassroots club events like the Lasswade Cross Country, the larger city based Edinburgh Marathon and Capital City Challenge 10K. We even support Scotland's two longest single day endurance events: the Self Transcendence 100Km road race and the 95 mile West Highland Way Trail race.

Run and Become also support the popular Sri Chinmoy summer race series held in the Meadows, Edinburgh. These events have become something of an institution and over the past 20 years thousands of runners have used these races as "serious fun" on Wednesday evenings during the summer. For further details visit SriChinmoyRaces.org/uk.

Run and Become sponsors the official Scottish Athletics event fixture list. The twice-yearly booklet can be picked up in-store, or mailed (please send A5 SAE). You can view the official list of Road, Hill and Track events in Scotland over the next few months here.

Meet The Staff

We regularly take part in running events ranging from local 5kms to overseas marathons. Between us we have run over 100 standard marathons with pbs ranging from 2 hours 49 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes as well as experience of all athletic disciplines: track; road; cross country; ultra-distance; hill and trail, with the possible exception of pole vault and hammer!

Adrian, the manager, has become one of the most experienced ultra-marathon competitors in Great Britain. His exploits include running the 95 mile West Highland Way race 8 times, the quickest being 19 hours 49 minutes. At 24 hours he has represented Great Britain at European and world level, with a personal best of 143 miles 849 yards whilst finishing 8th in the 2000 European Championships, where GB also won team bronze. He was also the British 24 hour Champion in 1999,

Whether you are just starting out on your first jogging venture or are looking to take up the challenge of your first race or marathon, we can offer informative and impartial advice on the best shoes and clothing for you, drawing not only on our product knowledge, but also our vast running experience.

What We Do

NEW TO RUNNING? WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU VISIT US FOR SHOES...
If you are new to running we will be able to guide you through our selection to help you choose the right pair. If you've just started going out running in whatever trainers you found in your cupboard and aren't sure if they're suitable, bring them in and we'll let you know.

On visiting the store we may ask you a few simple questions about your recent running or what you are hoping to do in the next few months; what surfaces you run on; if you are just enjoying yourself 2 to 3 times a week or whether you have a specific event you are training for. We'll also ask If you have any history of injuries which may be relevant and also quiz you on which shoes you've run in before to give us an idea of which type of shoe may suit you.

If you can bring an old pair of shoes with a few miles on the clock that is incredibly useful as we can look at them and study the wear patterns of the outsole (the bottom of the shoe) and how the upper of the shoe has worn.

We will also watch you walk/run and take into consideration the shape of your feet to help us determine what type of foot you have and match it up to a shoe with the right blend of cushioning and support. It's nothing too intimidating or technical.

We are highly experienced runners with a fine knowledge of running product, and although we are not medically trained, we do know from our many thousands of happy repeat customers and from what physios and podiatrists tell us of our service, that you can come and be served by us with confidence.

If a customer has a recent or ongoing series of injuries we may advise you to see a podiatrist or physio to get to the root cause of an injury before deciding on the best shoes for you.

Also check out our Top Tips section.

BEEN RUNNING FOR YEARS?
If you know exactly what you are looking for we have the widest selection of all the major brand road running shoes in Scotland and definitely the best selection and instore stock of specialist shoes for road races, fell and trail running and track and field spikes. Sizes 1-15UK plus widths.

If we don't have stock of the best model for you we can order it for you from one of our other shops or from our suppliers, subject to availability.

Read more about the Run and Become Experience here.

How to Find Us

Edinburgh's Run and Become is situated in the west end of Edinburgh's city centre very close to Haymarket Station.

View larger map here

On foot from the city centre
We are a 5-10 minute walk from the west end of Princes Street. Keeping Edinburgh Castle/gardens on your left walk to the end of Princes Street, Frasers Department store is the last shop on your right.

Continue straight on into Shandwick Place, past the shops and the elegant crescents that open out on both sides. Continue straight at the junction with Palmerston Place (Starbucks and Boots flank the junction). Shandwick Place becomes West Maitland Street. Cross the smaller side road of Grosvenor Street then the busy main road on your left (Haymarket Terrace) to take you onto the corner facing Haymarket Station which is to your right. Dalry Road is the road to your left, we are at No 66, about 200 yards on your right.

By train
Ideally situated close by Haymarket Station for trains from Fife, Stirling, Glasgow and Livingston.

Come out of the station and turn right into Dalry Road, Run and Become is 200 metres on the right hand side.

By bus from Princes Street
Any bus heading west that goes to Haymarket then follow direction for walking. Some buses will take you into Dalry road while others will stop outside the station.

Parking opportunities
FREE 30 minute parking in dedicated parking bays within yards from our door is available between 9.30 am until 4pm. Please ensure you are in a parking bay and not a loading bay which is restricted to 5 minutes only. Please ask our staff for clarification.

Long stay car park available in Morrison Street, 2 minutes walk away.

Several of our customers use the Somerfield Supermarket car park which is 300 yards down Dalry Road on the right hand side coming from Haymarket.

By car from Fife/Forth Bridge
Follow main A90 to the edge of the city at Barnton Junction (Barnton Hotel on left). Continue straight on the Queensferry Road/Hillhouse road for approx 2 miles. At the Blackhall Junction bear right continuing to follow signs for city centre/Queensferry Road. In approx half a mile, at the Craigleith Junction (Esso garage on right, Sainsburys on left) bear right following signs for city centre.

In a further half mile you come to a mini roundabout, turn right into Queensferry Terrace following signs for Gallery of Modern Art.

At the next lights go straight on into Belford Road, past the Gallery of Modern Art and continue on Belford Road, past the Menzies Hotel, bear right up the hill past the Belford Youth Hostel into Douglas Gardens. Continue into Palmerston Place through two sets of lights. At the third set of lights, just past the Cathedral, you are at the junction of Palmerston Place and West Maitland Street (Starbucks Coffee on left, Boots on right). You are now quite close! Get into right hand lane. Go straight on following signs A71 Kilmarnock into Torphichen Street, then immediate right into Torphichen Place, past Police Station. At the next lights turn right into Morrison Street and get into left hand lane. Follow A71 Kilmarnock sign and at the lights at Haymarket Cross (clock in middle) turn left. This is Dalry Road. Run and Become is 200m on the right hand side at No 66.

By car: From M9 Falkirk/Stirling
Follow M9 to junction 1 Newbridge. At junction 1 turn right, A8 Edinburgh Airport. Continue on A8 past airport to the Gogar Roundabout at the end of the bypass. Continue straight on (city centre) and at the next lights (Maybury Junction - Shell Garage on the left, Marriott Hotel on the right) continue straight.

Carry on this road for about 3 miles along St John's Road, Corstorphine shops, past Edinburgh Zoo and along Corstorphine Road until you pass Murrayfield Rugby Stadium on your right. Continue through the lights at Roseburn Terrace into West Coates and then Haymarket Terrace. You are now getting close. Get into the right hand lane at the next lights, Haymarket Station is on your right. Dalry Road is on the right but you can't turn right here. You have to go around the block on the one way system. Go straight on into West Maitland Street, keeping in right hand lane, turn right at next lights into Torphichen Street and immediately right into Torphichen Place (police station on left). At the next lights turn right into Morrison Street and get into left hand lane. At the next lights you are back at Haymarket Junction. Turn left into Dalry Road, Run and Become is at No 66, 200 metres on the right hand side.

By car: From M8 Glasgow/Livingston
Drive to end of M8 at the Hermiston Roundabout. Follow signs for city centre.

Drive to end of M8, approaching Hermiston Roundabout at the large junction with the ring road, get in lane for city centre.

Take the third exit on the roundabout A71 city centre/ring road. Do not go onto the ring road, but stay in left hand lane to go up slip road to the A71 junction. At the roundabout lights turn left onto the Calder road, continue for approx one mile through 3 roundabouts. Calder Road/Chesser Road then becomes Chesser Road/Gorgie Road. Continue on Gorgie road through 4 sets of lights, look out for Tynecastle Hearts FC ground on your left. At the next lights bear left into Dalry Road and continue for half a mile past the Shell garage on the right and Somerfield Supermarket on the left. Run and Become is approx 300 yards beyond here at No 66 on the left hand side.

By car: From East Lothian
If you know the city well and do not mind traffic make to the west end (Castle) of Princes Street and continue into Shandwick Place and on to the junction with Torphichen Street. Turn left and immediate right into Torphichen Place (police station) and at the lights turn right into Morrison Street and get into left hand lane. At the next lights you are at Haymarket Cross. Turn left into Dalry Road and Run and Become is 200 metres on the right hand side.

By car: From the Borders A701/A702/A7 or A68 or East Lothian if you want to avoid the city centre
Drive to the city bypass A720 and turn left toward Forth Bridge/Edinburgh Airport. Come off the bypass at the A71 junction - Kilmarnock/City Centre. At the top of the slip road at the roundabout take the third exit, City Centre/Calder Road, then follow directions as in No 3 (From Glasgow).

How It All Started

Following the success of the London shop, Tony Smith was inspired to open a store in another capital city, Edinburgh. He approached an old friend of his, Adrian Stott, to manage the store, and with his daughter Shyamala, we opened in July 1991.

Offering an identical service based approach to the London shop, our reputation soon spread amongst runners in the city and beyond. It was, and remains, a 100% running store. We now employ 8 staff dedicated to offering probably the widest selection of specialist running shoes, clothing and accessories in Scotland.

Read the Run and Become Story here.

The World Harmony Run

The World Harmony Run is a global relay that seeks to promote international friendship and understanding. As a symbol of harmony, runners carry a flaming torch, passing it from hand to hand travelling through over 80 nations around the globe. You can find out more about previous World Harmony Runs in Britain here, and how to participate here.

THE WORLD HARMONY RUN IN TANZANIA
22nd September 2008

The World Harmony Run is a relay run that goes all over the world promoting the simple message of harmony between individuals and nations. It is non political and doesn’t raise any funds. Sri Chinmoy formed the relay to inspire people to remember that we are all brothers and sisters of this planet, regardless of our backgrounds, and that World Harmony is obtainable and necessary for everyone to be happy and fulfilled. This year the relay has travelled through many, many countries, including UK in May, this account is of it’s recent trip to Tanzania, the runners were invited to several schools to run with the children and talk to them about World Harmony.

It was a bright, pleasant morning, when the World Harmony Run (WHR) represented by Manatita, Gregor, Bijon and Pastor Palemo set out for the Sierra Secondary School, Mikochene. The temperature was about 30ºC but after all, we were in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

On our way to the School, Bijon, Gregor and I made our first visit of the day at the offices of Bishop Charles Gadi. The Bishop was a remarkable man who had chosen to apply his business acumen and success in the direction of service to a Pentecostal Ministry that he had himself founded. At his offices he held our Harmony Run Torch, expressed his thanks for our coming and said a few kind words about what we were doing and his Ministry. We then proceeded to the School.

Sierra Secondary School was a very beautiful School and an extremely welcoming one. The Head Teacher, Mrs Rose Pascal, was very kind and had made arrangements to meet us even though the children were in the middle of exams. There are over 1000 children in the School, and at first we saw them in small groups before exams. The majority of the students, however, were gathered in the School yard at 12:30pm. We explained the WHR and interacted with them. They seemed overjoyed to see us and enacted for us a beautiful dance, which they were inspired to put together in a very short time. One of the teachers then gave a short speech in which he expressed the delight of the School at being chosen to participate in the WHR.

They also recognised and wished to honour Sri Chinmoy for this and other sporting initiatives. He finally highlighted the need for international friendship and exchange between Schools to promote music, singing, poetry and art. The programme ended with a very joyful run by some selected students, around the perimeter of the School.

Kabaroti Day Care Centre in Mwananyama had quite a different feel to the first School. There were about 22 of the 64 children present ranging between the ages of 2 to 6 years old. They were exceptionally cute and well behaved. They sang a welcoming song for us while clapping and cheering enthusiastically and we in turn, reciprocated by singing the World Harmony Run song for them. The Headmaster, Peter Chacha, thanked us for our visit and the humble gifts that we offered and said that he considered us as 'Friends of Kaboroti Day Care Centre.'

Our last stop for the day was at Help Orphans Tanzania, the Orphanage associated with St. Mary's School at Tabata. The perimeter of the School was adorned with uplifting and positive messages such as 'There is Still Hope in God' and 'Striving for Excellence'. The Headmaster, Thomas Samson, gave a brief history of the institute in which he touched on the needs of the children. We afterwards proceeded to the main gathering in the School gymnasium - upon the wall of which were emblazoned the words 'God is Able'. There were over five hundred children gathered for the occasion.

During the ceremony, the WHR interacted with the children who expressed 'Amani' or Peace for a few moments with their hands on their hearts. They were a very enthusiastic group and as well as singing and clapping to a song in Kiswahili they – in unison – chanted Amani to the count of 3.. 2.. 1.. by the Head Mr Samson. It was a very joyful and lively occasion. Bijon and one of the teachers then guided them on a run around the grounds during which the children sang and laughed and clapped and were very happy.

To conclude, we honoured the invitation of Pastor Polemo Massawe. An integral co-ordinator of WHR Tanzania, the Pastor had accompanied the team throughout the day. There we met his wife and family who entertained us and who had prepared a most delicious meal. We were made to feel totally at home.

~ Report by Manatita

Humanitarian Aid

Many thanks to all of you who so kindly donated items for the Oneness-Heart Tears and Smiles shipment to Tanzania. We were able to collect a whole truckload of bikes, computers, sports equipment, toys, games and other donations, all of which have now been delivered to the depot in Avonmouth ready for packing and shipping to Africa. We hope to have some pictures here on this site in the autumn of the shipment being distributed, so watch this space!

Shoe Recycling

Running shoes become like old friends as you cover the miles together, and sometimes it's hard to part with them! Rather than letting them decorate your hallway though, why not bring them in and we'll make sure they retire to a good home via one of our local recycling schemes.