Time Flies
by
Mark Jimenez
In late January of 2018 I got an email that went out to everybody on the Red Rock Running Company customer email list. It said that the current owner was selling the business and asked if anybody in the community would be interested in purchasing.
I deleted the email.
At the time I was not only a high school math teacher, but I was also a dissertation advisor at Concordia University – Portland. I had two full time jobs, and the prospect of running a small business wasn’t something that appealed to me. I didn't give the email a second thought.
Until...
The next morning I woke up early and went on my run. During my run I couldn’t shake the idea of owning Red Rock Running Company. My four daughters were entering high school and would be looking for jobs soon. All I could think about was how fun it would be to own the stores and work alongside my kids. In my mind it would be all running and selling shoes. What could go wrong?
I sent an email and about 30 days later I owned the store.
I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.
One of the first Demo Runs, circa March 2018
March 1, 2023 marked my 5th year of owning Red Rock Running Company. When I look back on the changes we made during that time and how much we have grown, I am filled with a sense of happiness and fulfillment. I almost don’t recognize the store I purchased versus the store I have now. We have changed so much! For example, when I first took over RRRC here was how we hired people.
Interviewee: Hi, I like running. It’s really fun. I love running shoes. I can only work Tuesdays from 3pm – 6pm and Wednesdays from 10am - 1pm, and I need Saturdays off for my long run.
Me: Welcome to the team, you’re hired.
Working at RRRC was somebody’s fun job back then. It wasn’t a career, and it certainly wasn’t serious. You worked for us because you liked running and you wanted to be around other runners. You told us when you would work. Every week I had to put the schedule together like some kind of torturous jigsaw puzzle. It was not fun.
Hiring isn’t the only change we’ve made! We moved our Cheyenne store to the Centennial Center and we opened our 3rd store, the Southwest location. We are also doubling the size of our Henderson store, which is under construction right now! Will we stop at just 3 stores in the valley? Who knows? Keep reading our newsletter and follow us on facebook and Instagram!
Mark starting some demo work at the Henderson store
We have formed great partnerships with the community. Our passion is helping kids run. Each spring and fall we work with high schools around the valley to make sure that the kids who need shoes to run track or cross country have the shoes they need. We do our best to meet the running needs of these kids. Our sport is a sport that should be open to all kids!
Your local running store is also making a splash on the national stage. This last fall we won a national award from New Balance. We even spoke at a national conference about how to build a diverse community.
Fearlessly Independent
As far as we’ve come, these changes wouldn’t be possible without our amazing customers. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everybody who shops local with Red Rock Running Company. We plan on continuing to serve this amazing community for many more years. Five years down, many more to go!
**********
Every Run is a Good Run