The Final Day of The Running Event: Gratitude, Growth, and a Clear Path Forward

By: Greg Koch
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There’s no marathon quite like The Running Event (TRE) marathon. The final day arrived in a whirlwind, starting with an early morning work session on my computer. Being away from the stores is always challenging; being away during race week adds another layer of complexity.

The day officially kicked off with a fantastic Lululemon meetup. They hosted an inspiring event complete with networking opportunities, merchandising training, and some excellent breakfast tacos—a solid way to fuel the day ahead. From there, I went straight into a meeting with my friends at Asics to review upcoming products for Fall 2025. By 11 a.m., I finally made it to the trade show floor, diving headfirst into a packed schedule: a meeting with Chicken Legs Apparel, a rushed lunch, an hour reconnecting with an old Jackrabbit friend, a quick meeting with Chronotrack and then straight to ON Running.

The Hustle and Reflection
The day was a blur—a nonstop whirlwind of meetings and moments. By the end of the trade show, I was left with the bittersweet realization that there simply wasn’t enough time to see everything. This year’s TRE highlighted both the bright future ahead for 2025 and the roller coaster ride that has been 2024 for 605 Running Company.

In a healthy business year, I’d bring key staff members to TRE to share the workload and experience the magic together. As a team, we’d network with existing partners, discover emerging brands, dream about adding aspirational ones, and bond outside the store’s four walls. However, the past two years have been different. Our attendance at TRE has been made possible by the honor of being named one of the Best Running Stores in America. This recognition provides free admission, educational sessions, and accommodations—an opportunity I’m profoundly grateful for.

Representing our community at TRE fills me with pride, but it also fuels a deep desire to improve. To our customers: thank you for making this possible. Your support allows us to show up, grow, and bring back what makes 605 Running Company better for everyone.

Celebrating the Industry
The day concluded with the TRE Awards Ceremony, a humbling and inspiring night that celebrates the best and brightest in the industry. Early in my career, I would sit in this room feeling like an outsider, knowing of other stores and industry leaders but lacking personal connections. Now, I’m fortunate to know many of the honorees and have spent meaningful time with them at events and learning sessions.

What I love most about this evening is how it challenges me to reflect on our own business. It pushes me to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses, identify opportunities for growth, and confront the barriers holding us back. Self-reflection is never easy, but it’s necessary. To be the best, we must surround ourselves with the best.

As I sat in that room, the bittersweet reality of not being able to share this honor with my team weighed heavily on me. But that weight also fuels my determination to build a stronger, healthier version of 605 Running Company—one that thrives not just for me, but for my team and our community.

Coming Home
While TRE uplifts and inspires, it also drains. As an introvert and a homebody, I’m ready to get back to my wife and daughter and recharge for the holidays. But I’m coming home with so much more than I left with: new knowledge, stronger relationships, finalized agreements with new brands, and a clear strategy for success in 2025.

The future is bright, but we’re not waiting for 2025 to shine. We have an exciting plan to finish this year with a bang. I invite you to shop with us, join our remaining group runs, and support your local running community. Together, we’ll continue to build something special.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

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