About Us
The Running Place opened its doors in March 2001 in its current Newtown Square location. Pattie Bucaccio and Joan Osborne went into the business to help both walkers and runners find the best footwear and apparel available on the market. In 2009, Joan retired and Bill Frawley became co-owner with Pattie. Bill had worked at the store since 2004, so it was a natural transition into ownership. Pattie and Bill continue to embrace the original goal of helping customers find the best products to meet their needs.
Thanks to you, our loyal customers, The Running Place continues to grow and prosper. Recently we received one of our greatest compliments from a customer – a mother came in with her teenage daughters, both run for their high school track team. They had just come from a sporting goods store, where a shopper overheard them talking about getting running shoes. She told them that the only place to get expert advice for running shoes was The Running Place. They had not heard of our store before, but promptly left and came to us. Wow, what validation!
We wouldn't expect loyalty without doing everything possible to keep you satisfied. From the get-go we've realized the key to success is to offer expert advice and caring service. Isn't that the reason anyone would go to a specialty store? By now you know that we're passionate about what we do and truly enjoy it. We're fortunate to have a dedicated staff that matches our philosophy and passion.
The Running Place Staff
Pattie Bucaccio
Pattie has been a runner for over 35 years and still enjoys reliving the thrill of helping her high school cross country team (Council Rock) win the state championship in 1978. Another highlight was competing in the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996 and in the first annual Philadelphia Insurance Olympic Triathlon in 2005. Pattie worked in corporate fitness/wellness for 15 years prior to opening the store. She also ran with CIGNA Corporation in many corporate team events, including the United States Corporate Athletic Association’s Track & Field Relays. She has a BS in Health/Fitness from Springfield College, an MS degree in nutrition from Drexel University, and is also a registered dietitian.
The Right Foot Forward Your Experience
At The Running Place, our goal is to ensure that you not only receive the right shoes, but also understand the reasons behind the choice. We provide free consultations, where we perform a gait analysis, inspect your worn out shoes for telling wear patterns, and talk with you about any injury history. All of this information helps us determine what shoe type is best for you.
Every journey begins with the first step. Before you take that first step, make sure you have the right shoes to get you where you are going. There are high arches, flat arches, and all heights in between. Some feet are rigid and some are flexible. There are different categories of shoes - different foot types are more comfortable and perform better in the right category. We will help you determine your foot type and which category best suits your needs.
