Marathon Sports

Expert, excellent service! Three cheers for Ned who fitted both my son and me with just the right shoe for very different needs. I had never had my foot scanned or my gait observed before- my goals are stability & comfort while walking. My son, a runner, was given the same excellent service, with a far different focus. We both purchased shoes, and I bought insoles as well. Extremely happy with our interaction with Ned & our purchases.

I love this store! I’ve been coming here for years to get my running sneakers and I always have such a great experience. If you’re looking for running sneakers in the Boston area, this is the place to get them! Yesterday I was under a time crunch and only had 10 minutes to get my new pair of sneakers. In that 10 minutes, Matty gave me an analysis of my feet, his recommendations for sneakers, and I left with a new pair of sneakers and socks. He was so helpful on his recommendations and what would work best for my feet. He was so kind and was able to work with me under my tight time constraints. I’ll always get my running shoes here because I always have such an amazing experience! I love my new sneakers!

You think you know what shoe shopping is like… but get ready to have your socks blown clean off 🧦. I stopped by Marathon Sports last Saturday and was helped immediately by Greg—essentially the Beethoven of high-end footwear 🎼👟. He walked me through an amazingly thoughtful fitting process for my absurdly high-arched feet, showing a level of expertise and care I’ve never experienced in any other shoe store. If you’re looking for your next pair of running shoes—or want to get plugged into the local running community—Marathon Sports is the place. And if you see Greg, tell him I sent you. You’re in for a good time 👍

I had a great experience at Marathon Sports on Boylston St! I went in to buy my first pair of “real” running shoes, and was greeted right away by an employee named Shoshana. She was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable — she answered all my questions, explained different shoe options, and offered great recommendations without any pressure. I left feeling confident in my purchase & will def be back. Highly recommend!

Had an amazing experience at Marathon Sports! A big thanks to Dara for taking the time to scan my feet, analyze my walking and running gait, and review my stats to help find the best running shoe options. He asked thoughtful questions about my training routine and goals, ensuring the recommendation was tailored specifically to me. This has been the best shoe-buying experience I've had so far. I highly recommend visiting the store—wishing everyone a successful running journey!

Super knowledgeable and patient sales staff. Eva was terrific and answered all my questions. HINT: There is a Pink Neon Bunny sign towards the middle back of the store; wait by it for help with shoe selection

Had a pretty weird experience here, unfortunately. A friendly employee talked me through a foot scan, after which he sort of… walked away? I wasn’t initially offered help with shoes or fittings after the scan. It wasn’t until I started trying to find shoes myself that a different employee offered to help me find a pair. We spent ten minutes on an additional foot scan, talking through the same information again. She was initially very friendly and I was appreciative. She pulled a few pairs for me in a size that I didn’t expect, and gave me guidance on fittings that I’d never heard before from another shoe store. I was surprised but complied with the shoes she brought. Until this point we had a pretty positive dynamic. Once I started asking her pretty standard questions about how the shoes should fit, as I felt they were the wrong size, she became defensive and markedly dropped the friendliness. I asked to try smaller sizes and she seemed outwardly frustrated with me, and I assured her that I trusted her professional opinion. By the end of my shopping experience, she pretty much stopped talking to me. I felt that I was also pressured into considering buying socks and inserts, which I resisted politely as my budget is limited. I ended up getting a pair of shoes that I wasn’t sure about, feeling so awkward and almost apologetic after our interaction. I apologized to the employee multiple times for questioning her professional opinion. It’s pretty clear to me that the shoes are the wrong size for me and still feel a little flabbergasted by the customer service experience. I’ll be going to a different Marathon Sports location to exchange them.

As a new runner, Greg was incredibly kind and informative. He’s very knowledgable and guided me through every step of the fitting process. He made sure to explain my gait and scan in very easy to understand terms. Can’t recommend Marathon Sports enough!

Just a tourist, was passing through the neighborhood while sightseeing. Feet kinda hurt, stopped by Marathon Sports looking for shoe insert. Great service with an electronic evaluation also. Staff was helpful and friendly and knowledgeable. I ended purchasing 3 pairs of inserts in all. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

Pros: the store has just bought every brand name shoe That you could be looking for. There is a wide selection for both men and women. Also, if you're a runner like myself, you can get some Boston Marathon shirts here. The shirts, my husband and I got were only $25, which is pretty reasonable. In addition, the clerk was pretty nice. You can put your number in (join the club) for a discount or points as well. Note: no one greeted my husband and me when we walked in. Overall score: A-

Exceptional service with very knowledgeable staff. Great selection of shoes in a convenient location in the city. Very happy with our experience and would definitely recommend.

I just love coming here during Boston marathon weekend because the vibes are high and they have so much stuff to choose from! If you're looking for items but don't want to wait at the expo, come here! They usually have the unofficial Boston sunglasses by goodr and plenty of other items. Their shoe wall is amazing. I've found hard to find nutrition, as well as some of the smaller sizes of clothing. I also got a Boston towel that I absolutely love. There's always something going on!

Vinny is the absolute best sales person I have ever met, and his knowledge on running shoes, or running in general was simply unheard of. I felt incredibly comfortable with his welcoming, humble, intelligent demeanor, and the three shoes he recommended were so loved that I could not decide which pair to get. It's incredibly impressive that just by my walking and jogging, he was able to tell how much my soles pronate and whether I would need a model that helps to correct my walking habits. He genuinely wants the best for customers and I cannot wait to go back and will find him every single time. I couldn't recommend him enough. I wish I could give six not five stars!

My husband and I went today to get fitted for running shoes. The sales person we had was fantastic, I wish I could remember her name, maybe Jodie? Hopefully she sees this and can self-identify. I am a relatively new runner and wanted to make sure I had a shoe that would support my new addiction. She did the analysis and brought me 4 pairs of shoes to try on. I found my perfect fit! My husband was also fitted and was told he had relatively flat arches and over pronated, he was also provided 4 pairs of shoes to try and he found a great fitting and well supporting shoe. Our sales person was so patient and kind, it made all the difference. We were both intimidated before going in, but the experience was really wonderful and we are super happy with our purchase. I came home and immediately took my shoes for a run, shaved 30 seconds off my mile and PR'ed my best mile yet. Safe to say, the fitting was a success! Thanks for the great service, we'll definitely be back.

We had an amazing experience with Hana. She was very knowledgeable, caring, and patient as we tried on 8+ shoes each. We both ended up finding the perfect shoe to get us back into running - Meg & Kyle :)

I went to Marathon Sports downtown to try and find new shoes for my training cycle for the Boston Marathon. I was working with someone who I did feel was very knowledgeable and had good suggestions. However they are very understaffed. The team member I was working with left me to try and help other people which is fine but he didn't tell me and he ultimately just stopped helping me. I had several question I didn't get to ask I was ultimately going to just purchase a shoe with out asking my questions but then no one was there to help me check out. I waited at the register for like 10 minutes and decided that I would rather take my buisness else where. Also they never gave any color options at any location they typically just have black white gray or blue and they are very limited on sizes.

Went in on advice from podiatrist. I am not a runner. I am an older guy with health and balance issues. Sven showed me 3 pairs of Brooks and I bought one. I could not be happier with this purchase. I will go back soon for some shirts.

I first stepped into MS for a fun club run a few days before Halloween. I liked how we got to test run shoes from a brand (Saucony) that night. My wide foot didn't work out with the Triumphs, but I liked how it felt during my short run. During the entire night of the club run, I kept eyeing the Brooks Ghost 15 and went back last weekend. They have a foot scan machine which I wanted to check out and see how much I matched with the Ghosts. Turns out, I'm not compatible and would need support if I were to wear them. Instead, they recommended the Brooks Adrenaline GTS which helps keep my ankle straight. I could already feel the change and can't wait to test run them at the 5 mile race this coming weekend.

I was greeted by an employee helping someone with a fitting. I asked him if he had a particular size of a shoe I was looking for. He said he would check. I then waited 20 minutes without being helped further. I left when the five people in line were all prioritized before me.

Grateful that Logan and Nayquan (I was there on two different days) waited on me. Took the time to answer all my questions, very knowledgeable and pleasant. I hope these employees remain at this store.

Excellent selection and incredible service! I was helped by a man I believe was named Naykwon (could be wrong) -- but he couldn't have been better!! So kind, patient, and knowledgeable! Walked out with a great pair of shoes I feel confident about!

Marathon Sports really is just so different than other shoe stores. The folks there are so knowledgeable, and take their time in walking you (pun sort of intended) your options. I wanted a pair of sneakers that would withstand a particular beating (100 miles of walking over tricky terrain in a short amount of time). I shared that information with the team there and within minutes I was trying on the perfect shoes for the ocassion. Tremendous selection, tremendous staff. Would recommend 1,000%.

I was buying a pair of running shoes for my daughter today in the Boylston location. I'm an avid runner myself and have been MS customer for 12+ years in some other locations like Melrose, Wellesley and the new one in Lexington. Unfortunately, today's experience at 12:30 p.m. wasn't a good one. I understand the store was busy, so we were in line waiting to be fitted. We had to wait for 25 min. One of the associates, a blonde woman in her mid to late 20s, was attending other customers who came to the store later than us. She knew we were in line, just ignored us. We got to be assisted by another sales associate who was nice and helped my daughter with her fitting process. In the meantime, when I decided to try one the feet analysis scanners that the store has available for customers; a male sales associate let me and instructed me how to use it. He was also busy assisting other customers too. But then this blonde woman came harassing me and asking me why I was using the scanner without assistance. Long story short, she was totally rude and I felt targeted for my race. It's not often times that I complain about racist behavior from sales associate workers, but this one was obvious. She was a little apologetic after I told her that her coworker helped me out to use the scanner, but again her behavior wasn't necessary and she should have been more careful on how to treat a long time customer. I was not going to make an scene, so I just moved on and went to help with my daughter's final purchase.

We had a great experience at this Marathon Sports, specifically because of Logan! He was so patient, kind, and knew what he was talking about. He gave great shoe recommendations and we were able to find the perfect shoe!! Definitely recommend coming to this store

I stopped by this Marathon Sports location to pick up a race bib. The store is quite small. I took a quick look around the store an there wasn't much of men's running clothing on display that I could see. Compared to a New Balance store this Marathon Sports was underwhelming.

I don't know if this is the store or not but I ordered it from online. I was a victim of a stolen debit card. I was leaving for Boston the next day. Thankfully everything was taken care of before I left New York. The only thing that was sad and disappointing was that I couldn't buy any items at expo. I waited the time it took them to investigate. 45 days later I was refunded. The next day I ordered my Boston marathon jacket. And my unicorn. The package came right away. It was well wrapped.

I had a positive experience last year when purchasing my first pair of running shoes. I was looking for something for shorter road races, as I signed up for some 5Ks and the B.A.A. 10K last year. The sales associate worked with me to do a gait analysis and foot scan. Having known nothing about purchasing shoes for racing, they guided me to purchase a pair of Brooks - a brand I would have never thought to purchase - that I have used for several runs. They are my go-to shoe and feel great on my feet. I am planning on running my first half marathon in them (provided they don't reach their max mileage by then). I'll definitely be back!

I LOVE Marathon Sports!! I've been to several of their locations and had positive experiences everywhere, but I went to this one today and bought new shoes so I want to give a shout-out. Honestly if you're a runner, walker, anything - GO HERE TO GET SHOES. They work through fitting you for the right pair and give you time to try them out, try multiple pairs, and give feedback so they can find the right thing. I've been fitted several times so all my past purchases are in my personal record in their system. It makes it SO easy to get new shoes now because they have something to go off of. LOVE THIS PLACE!

I'm still a lover of Marathon Sports but let's just say EXTREMELY let down. With many other options out there in the world, I still choose Marathon Sports to reorder the sneakers that I loved and made my feet feel good. I 've ordered via phone many times in the past and always with success. This time, NOT! It's sad when a customer likes me goes the extra mile and understands what the work associate is going through. "lines are longs, I need the register to look up your past information, can I take your info and call you back, on Monday!" So this being Saturday.. sure. I can wait and be nice and empathetic to your situation. It's not like I don't have sneakers and I only need them before Thursday of next week. Plenty of time. So I gave them my name, number etc.. and I've been sitting ... I started to get hungry.. It was after 11am Monday and I was getting hungry so I had an amazing Egg Burrito from my favorite yelp place, Lobster Egg in fact. .I finished up, still no call. I thought maybe CNBC would be fun.. watched the half time report.. Still no call.. 1PM comes and goes.. and now it's Tuesday , almost 3 in the afternoon, still no call. I'll get on my Zoom meeting and after that meeting I'll realize the shop is closed and I still didn't get a call. Severely let down. And like I said, my personal info is out there, my empathy was on full display and still .. NOTHING.. My last name hasn't changed so maybe they did it and shipped it.. but I doubt it as I have many orders for me, the kids, my wife.. etc.. I'll move on, like I said, there's many more out there.

I was in dire need of new shoes ... I had been to places where they fit you before but no where ever as knowledgeable as this place! Maggie was a dream salesperson . She must have spent nearly 90 minutes with me finding the exact right fit and orthotics !!! And she got me a whole new style of shoe that I had never tried before but is so much better for my feet! She was so kind and skillful at seeing what your foot needs and matching you to just the right fit! I actually wound up springing for two pairs which I have never ever done !! Wish I lived in Boston just to come back to this place !

Ordered Saucony Kinvara 11 in blackout for my son. I'm glad they carried his size. Delivery was timely and fair pricing. The handwritten message was a very nice personal touch

Seemed to be the only place in town with a Boston Strong shirt. A % even goes back to the charity. Friendly help at the store, a lot of choices and decent prices. I was happy to find a local running store with great finds since San Antonio Texas shops closed due to mass marketers. Please shop & run local!

Ehh... they sales associate seemed disinterested in my business. I gave him the info on what I needed, also mentioned I was interested in Asics, but the associate came back with a other brands of shoes. No worries, I am open to it. The associate was not proactive and did not mention any of the differentiating specifications of the shoes. When I was walking or jogging around the store, he spoke to another associate instead. Even when I asked questions, I was given short answers with no concern to why I was asking. Long story short, I have been given better service as chain shoe stores like foot locker and foot action. If you are not interested in repeat customers or developing a customer relationship, just quit. I did see more engagement with other sales associates and other customers. The cashier seemed friendly. Maybe I don't seem like the running type of clientele. :/

Marathon sports is a favorite stop for all my sports great needs... I love them! Not only do they offer a variety of running shoes, they're sportswear of every kind, energy gels, GPS watches and official Boston Marathon wear. The deal: the owner, Shane, will do your shoe fitting. He is the most knowledgeable person, about running shoes, that I've ever met. Not only did his shoes reduce my injuries, he helped me choose ones that improved my balance!

Sales associate Tim was very helpful and knowledgeable. He spent a lot of time with me and no pressure. I highly recommend.

This is the best place to go for sneakers, and I'll never go anywhere else again. I'm grateful for the help I received yesterday from Dan, who sold me a pair of Saucony running shoes. I'm not a runner, but walk a LOT, so I needed a really good shoe. :) I'll be telling everyone I know, not just here on Yelp to get their sneakers here, whether you're a runner or not. My feet are super happy.

This is one thing Amazon can never take away from runners: a real live person fitting you for shoes, letting you run in shoes and return them if not happy, and also giving you personalized care as you try and run in the new kicks. Came here on 3/28 before their run club and got fitted for the most amazing pair of Saucony Freedoms. I would have written off the shoes for their price tag and b/c to me Saucony isn't a "running shoe company" like a New Balance or a Mizuno. BUT I went on an 8 mile run right after purchasing them and felt like flying. I so appreciate the care, the lack of salesy ness (they were out of the color I wanted in another shoe and even said I should just go to the new balance store down the street), and how much they love running. The owner is awesome and i feel so taken care of on the long runs and supported by this amazing store! SAUCONY FREEDOMS = MY BIG SUR 2018 SHOE HANDS DOWN

Overall: 5 stars Customer Service: 5 stars Selection: 5 stars The kid is starting cross country this week for the first time, so I wanted to buy some good shoes for her. However, we weren't home but away for a short getaway, so we decided to try out a store here while we're away. Fantastic decision. First off, we were fortunate to be helped by the fantastic sales associate. He was extremely knowledgeable and didn't complain once even though we made him go back and for to the storeroom too many times. His input was very helpful as well as his friendly demeanor. If I lived locally, I'd come back just because of him. The selection was also excellent. Me, the fat dad, tried some shoes on as well. They even had my hard-to-find size in stock as well. Very impressive. Bottom line: excellent store for serious runners, beginner runners and posers also.

The employees here REALLY know their stuff. My brother was fitted for some shoes and the guy helping him was very knowledgeable, professional, and was able to answer all of his questions. The store itself is relatively small, but they still have a wide selection of shoes. Their other merchandise consists of hats, tops, bottoms, and other running accessories, much of which is BAA related. Location is right next to the Boston Marathon finish, so they get a lot of foot traffic in this historic center.

I go through a teacher discount program for many items through IDme.com. I came across this store when it was time for some new Hokas. I ordered a pair but the pair that was sent was not the color in the picture on the website. I figured I would email and just see if they would consider sending me the correct color. Well, I got an email within 12 hours with a prepaid label to ship the other pair back and an apology. The other pair were immediately sent to me and I recieved the ones I thought I ordered today with a personalized thank you note as well as a complimentary pair of socks. This was the easiest and friendliest return/exchange I have ever experienced and the note with the socks was the icing on the cake. Although I am in South Louisiana, I will recommend this store to any of my friends who order online and I will continue to order anything possible online. Personal, friendly, and helpful customer service is few and far between in this day and age and I am so very impressed with your store! I only wish you were closer. Thank You!

I recently purchased a pair of Adizero shoes from Marathon Sports. I had to order a size up when I received and tried the shoes. Both the purchase, return and re-purchase processes were handled very smoothly and professionally. I am a pro-runner and I will be purchasing all my future shoes from Marathon Sports from now on. Thank you!!!

Amazing, super friendly and knowledgeable service! Over the years I have purchased many shoes here, however just recently someone suggested I rotate the shoes I have worn for years (various pairs of New Balance 990s) for something new. When entered the store a super friendly associate asked to help me and after examining my gait recommend three pairs. The first pair I tried was just amazing and I purchased them. He also told me that the same style came in a waterproof model but they didn't carry them. He also suggested ordering a 1/2 size up if I did find them online. That night I did find the waterproof model and have worn them two days since! So now my feet are very happy with two pairs of extremely comfortable shoes-- which I NEVER a would have discovered or thought about purchasing before my visit!!!!

Small store comparable to Snails Pace here in Orange County. But I enjoyed the things they did have and it was a good variety from running clothing, shoes, socks, hats, compression socks/sleeves and bars. They had Boston marathon shirts and the store is right near the Boston marathon finish line. Bought a 3 pack of very thin socks. Can't wait to wear them!

I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience at Marathon Sports! Peter was exceptionally helpful and walked me through assessing my gait, four different pairs of running shoes, and how to address my pronation. This was my first time being fitted for running shoes and it made all the difference. Awesome customer service and a huge thank you to Peter for patiently answering what was probably to him very basic questions! I'll definitely be back with any other footwear needs.

I'm surprised I haven't reviewed Marathon Sports yet. I've been coming here for years and think it's the bees' knees. If you are unsure of your running shoe needs, then Marathon Sports is the place to go. Their staff is well-trained and will assess your stride from a barefoot walk in the store, then watch you take short outdoor jogs in the sneakers you're testing. I may not always like what they recommend--I repeatedly end up with orthopedic-looking shoes for my pronation and bad knees--but they end up being the right choice for my comfort and for avoiding injury. Sneakers are almost always priced at the manufacturer recommendation (i.e. Marathon does not mark them up). They have a great return policy if you buy a pair of shoes that ends up not really working for you. Marathon also has a good selection of running clothes. I've gotten some really nice running tights here. The selection tends to be small, but well-curated. Again, prices are on par with manufacturer recommendations, with the occasional sale. The accessories section does not always have what I need; given the small size of this store, Marathon doesn't carry the widest selection of items. Lately they've begun stocking Body Glide again, which was a specific item I couldn't find there for some time. I usually will check Marathon first for items I want, and only go elsewhere if they don't have them. Basically, go here if you have any funky running issues and need smart shoe recommendations from people who know what they're doing.

On the quest for a much needed replacement to my old Asics, I stumbled upon this store. So happy I did. They took the time to measure both of my feet and as it turns out the pain I was experiencing was due to using the wrong size sneakers. I needed a whole size up! Talk about having feet with different sizes. They are professionals and took the time to bring me multiple pairs and brands that would fit my high arch as well. Anyways, I can't recommend them enough.

What a GREAT experience buying new sneakers! They begin by doing a running/gate analysis of your walking/running patterns (to see if you have an instep, etc.) & then recommend sneakers, let you try them on, run in then, & wear them for 30 days before you decide if you love them or not. This was a quick process & I really enjoyed it. I even got to see the runners coming in after their 21 mile marathon training run. This is THE PLACE to get your running sneakers & gear!!

Really want to like this place .. I love the Brookline's branch .. but due to the convenience of the location, I go the Boylston branch. They are not helpful and in all. And for some reason they don't smile !!! In all of my visits I felt like they were in a hurry and want you to finish!! Also, they keep watching you like you gonna steel something!! This is really uncomfortable let me browse without keep asking me and every one enters the shop " what brought u here ?" And they will keep following you asking you what you want !! And if you ask for a help they will make you feel like you shouldn't have asked and u r wasting their time !! Even though they know that you bought lot of shoes from them but still they will not change !! Also, at one of my visit they sold me a $150 shoe and when I got home I googled it and found that a new version of the shoe is released and the old version ( the one they sold me) is $50 off .. when I went back to them they did not even say sorry !! They told me if u want we can give u 15% off or I can return it .. of course I will return it but could any one show me that u did a mistake? She told me I did not notice that discount in the system !! I hope I could only go to the Brookline's branch .. there .. I really feel happy and welcomed.

Bought a pair of shoes last week. Tried them out in store and walked 200 yards to the park and back the next day. Associate refused to refund me and only offered store credit. The wear on the shoe was not from me, but most likely from the dozen or so people that may have tried the shoe on before me. Make sure you are positive about your purchase before you buy!

I have purchased a dozen pairs of running shoes here over the years, both for myself and as gifts. This has always been my go to place for professional service and fit. Not any more. My partner and I went in this weekend. It was busy but not slamming. No 'hello, have a seat, look around...' nothing. So, we looked, decided what we wanted to try on then waited 'for the next available agent'...and waited, and waited and...left. While all the sales folks were waiting on other customers when we arrived, they were also talking to each other across us, having to lean to and fro around us to see each other, like we were in THEIR way. As folks bought and or left, another customer came in and was assisted right away. OK, she's a mom with a baby. Then it happened again. We left, with our $320. And no one tried to stop us. While we waited, not once did I see one sales person ask one customer to walk, or jog, inside or out, to look at their gate. What happened? Have we stopped doing this? Well, it matters not. THIS is why box stores are closing. I know I can get what I want for less online. We didn't' mind spending the extra for the service and immediate gratification, but there is no longer any service to be had at Marathon Sports.

I walk into the Boylston store asking for a pair of running shoes that would support my overpronation. They are supposed to be the experts, so I buy two pairs of runners only to get hurt on my first run. A google search at home and I found out that none of the shoes that they recommended were designed for over pronation mild, moderate, or extreme. NOT AT ALL!!!! The associate didn't watch me walk, didn't measure the width of my feet, but enthusiastically brought three pairs of shoes for me to try. One of them was a terrible fit and wasn't even close to compensating for overpronation. That should have been a warning that the associate didn't know what he was talking about. My bad for trusting "the expert" I guess just pushing your product in the hopes that people aren't coming back is one of making sure that you never ever get a returned customer. The shoes are going back, and will never ever trust these guys.

Exeptional customer service!! Marathon Sports gave me a refund for a package that I returned with USPS but that was never even processed by USPS and never reached Marathon Sports. Communication was kind and fast and easy, shipping super fast. I will definitely order more!

Stopped by while I was shopping on Boylston. As a personal trainer, I have tons of sneakers, but knew that I could step my game up with a pair of proper running sneakers. The service was fantastic. Unfortunately, I forget the name of the gentleman who helped me, but he made sure we exhausted every option until we found the perfect fit. I will most definitely be making repeat visits in the future.

This can be such an amazing place to check out. There are serious runners who work here, a phenomenal selection of gear and it's right at the finish of the Boston Marathon - so you're inspired before you even walk in. If not, there is also a candy store next door.... Then you do walk in, and there is all sorts of running memorabilia on the wall above the displays. Time to geek out on running! Expect to pay a bit more than other stores for the location, the vibe and the know how. So- the 4 stars are an average of the last 5 times I've gone to buy shoes here. 5 stars for almost all of them with unexpected recommendations that worked out great. You have to put up with a bit of snobbery - but in the end, solid solutions. The last time i went there, I had the most condescending sales person telling me what I needed, and pulling out shoes that specifically were not what i wanted. He kept telling me I needed motion control, when that wrecks my knees. I wanted something light, he wanted me in something with lots of padding... Mostly, though, he seemed annoyed I wasn't going with his first choice. I'm sorry, but it I'm going to wear these shoes for 18 mile runs, I want them to be a good fit. So - the last time I left, I had a 1 star taste in my mouth. But, in retrospect, this is the one time this happened after phenomenal experiences at a great running store. I only include the story to let people know, it can happen but isn't the norm. My ratings then are at 4 stars for a great place with a small chance of failure, and probably a tad high pricing - but you should buy at least one pair of running shoes here in our life.

Marathon Sports is a great business and sells quality products. I've been other athletic stores (Nike, Dicks) and none of them have come close to the customer service I received at their Somerville location, and can sometimes have cheaper/less durable options. I had to get something shipped to my apartment and they even included a handwritten note with the package. Really nice gesture and great to know that some businesses still offer this level of service. Highly recommend and will be back!

Super knowledgable, super friendly, they will get you into a pair of shoes to meet your needs. Peter was very helpful, good listener, provided clear recommendations. The staff will assess your gait, measure your feet with a cool gizmo, then offer up several choices to meet your needs. Shoes were good value. The assortment isn't huge, but given the great staff and reasonable price, highly recommended.

I prefer to do a great deal of internet research over asking for help. Not easy to do that for running shoes... I really appreciated having someone explain how I was observed to walk and run, the shape of my feet, how much I run and my goals, and how that played into the recommendation for shoes. Now I have shoes now that lets me run comfortably 5 to 6 days a week where I was struggling with some minor pain to do that with my last pair. Skeptical at first, both in advice and cost, I now won't go anywhere else.