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Everyone is different. The Columbus Running Company Staff is trained to help
you find the best product that fits your needs.
We have years of running experience and a desire to create a knowledgeable and
personal experience- whether you're a 100-mile a week runner or a casual walker.
We are here to help.
 If
the CRC guys were a fanatically worshipped boy band, Eric Fruth wouldn’t be the
roguishly charming bad boy or the clean cut blonde leader of the group. He’d be
the one guy cut from the band just before they made it big. Thankfully, he’s
better suited to the running store life, and he’s here in Columbus to serve the
local running & walking community. Eric’s love of running began as a high
school freshman back in Indiana, when his parents made him go out for a sport.
Jumping into the running lifestyle wholeheartedly, Fruth
transformed himself from a 27-minute 5k to a PR of 14:34 by the end of his
collegiate career at DePauw University.
After a couple All-American awards, he briefly moved on to coaching at the
college level. Since the opening of the CRC’s doors in 2004, co-owner Eric
has served as coach to our training groups and high school camp
as well as being one of the shop’s resident shoe geeks. |
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Matt graduated from local Olentangy High School running track and cross country before moving on to DePauw
University. He received multiple all conference honors in track and helped steer
the DPU cross country team to an appearance at the D-III NCAA Championships.
After college he found himself teaching English in Japan, where he was fortunate
enough to join the Usuki city running team and compete in the historic 490km
Ekiden through Oita prefecture. Returning
to the states, Matt soon found himself working at the Chester County Running
Store in West Chester, PA. There he started his quest for improvement in the
marathon, which is currently a 2:32. It seems everywhere he turns it involves
running. With the Columbus Running Company he hopes to bolster the local running
community- from beginner to advanced- and hopefully give to others what running
has given to him. |
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Jim is a new face at the Columbus Running Company, but well
known among many running circles. Originally from Defiance,
Ohio, Jim graduated from Michigan State with a Big Ten
Championship and All-American honors. Professionally he spent
time running with Fila and Reebok, and was an
original member of the Brooks' Hanson's Distance Project, where he first
honed his unique running store prowess. At the CRC he hopes to sharpen
his skills and teach know-it-all's Matt and Eric a few new things.
Jim finished 6th at the '00 U.S. Olympic Trials. The
past few years Jim has excelled at the marathon on a national level,
with a personal best of 2:14. He has yet to set any records on
Hal.
Along with shoe duties, he serves as a coach for store team
members and those involved in CRC training groups.
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Liz is our first homegrown employee from Pickerington. Just like
the vegetables in the organic section at your local supermarket,
she is a little smaller than our other employees but probably
better for you. She brings an intimate knowledge of not only
running but the triathlon as well, as she has completed the
ironman distance and qualified in the triathlon for Worlds. She
knows a lot about bikes; until taking on the massive
responsibility of being a CRC expert she worked in a bike shop. Not
that we sell bikes, but it's more applicable than Eric Fruth's
knowledge of mid-nineties bands such as Soundgarden. If you
notice any fancy artwork on the walls or dry erase boards, it is
likely that she is behind it. We hope Liz
stays for a long time. Wouldn't you want an Ironwoman as your
store manager? You can read more about her by clicking here. |
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Becki is to CRC as a bee is to a field of wild flowers. She is
not afraid to stop and smell the roses, all the while in pursuit
of honey. One specific golden boy honey that is. Zing! You'll
have to stop in and ask her about that in person. She buzzed her
way down here all the way from NE Ohio, where she ran for Akron.
She has a passion for running, and she does it well- currently
topping out with a 2:43 marathon and a trip to the most recent
US Women's Olympic Trials. She has years of experience in
running stores, and spends just as much time out in the roads
training. She understands what it's like to love something. If
you are looking for a pair of shoes to love, her expertise will
serve you very well. You can read more about her by clicking here. |
 
This true gentlemen was born into the running scene like a Bush
into politics. Ben would spend many a youthful day playing in
the sandbox while his Dad coached runners at local Otterbein
College. Many Alumni still come up to Ben, pointing at his or
her knee, and saying "I remember you when you were just a wee
little fella this tall!". My how he's grown. He's got a demeanor
much like what you might expect from a distance runner- patient,
quiet, but always analyzing. While your trying on shoes at your
favorite CRC location Ben might not talk your ear off like an
Eric Fruth, but know that in his head he is making sure you have
the best fitting shoes on the planet for your feet. For all you
OC alumni reading this, here is your update. This wee lad
recently graduated from Otterbein and currently coaches at Genoa
Middle School. He's even got a lady friend, whom he says is
"very pretty". True gentleman, indeed. |
  
One of these fellers calls Pataskala home. The other lives in a
field up near Delaware with his wife. We'd tell you which is
which, but you ought to just come in the store and ask these
boys yourself. If you like muddy jeeps, big tires, the
Cincinnati Reds, and lots of cereal you just might get along
with this pair. They both are a constant on the CRC store team,
and can tell you a lot about running and shoes. You can read
more about them both by clicking here. |


Chase is currently a student harrier at Otterbein College in
Westerville studying perhaps the most interesting subject in
academia, math. A man of logic, he understands that a size eight
shoe does not fit a size nine foot. While he freely admits that
he may not be the coolest guy on the team, his status was
elevated when he was offered a position at CRC. He compliments
Liz well. While Liz is busy plastering her artistic vision of
paint and foil on our walls, Chase takes exceptional pride is
his ability to decorate the store. Perhaps his biggest
undertaking stemmed from his vision of properly displaying
prices on all the shoes on the wall, something so complicated no
man or woman has ever even made an attempt. |
 
Luke made his debut into the CRC family as a store team member
upon his graduation from Otterbein College. No man who has
passed through a CRC doorway has a greater free spirit than Luke.
His mind rides in the backseat as his heart speeds through the
city of life. It wasn't long before Luke felt the urge to take
off to the West Coast. There he lived in a tent and built trails
for people like you and me to enjoy. Run on, perhaps. As so many
tales twist, however, it was a woman who brought this drifter
back to Columbus. Upon his return, Luke came to the realization
that running is a piece of his soul. Thus he began his comeback
into the CRC fold, lacing up the shoes for daily runs and
working odd hours between teaching jobs. The owners of CRC are
proud to have his services compliment the business, and are
thankful to that pretty woman whom he so loves. |

Now with two stores open, the CRC needed a bright and handsome and
pretty and intelligent and personable and funny person to help provide
exceptional service and take care of some chores. Ben fit most of the
above qualifications and happened to live between both CRC locations - a
match made in heaven.
You may have heard of this young man from Westerville. As a
standout distance runner |
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| known around the state, he placed in multiple
state meets was once featured in a
CRC spotlight.
He was featured again on the CRC site after he
took a trip of a
lifetime to Europe to watch and compete in a world-class track meet
- during which he bested co-owner's Matt's 5k P.R. - something which
nearly cost him a job. However references such as Mo' Greene put his
resume back on top. Matt and the CRC are proud to have Ben among the
ranks of the CRC staff. He spend his schooldays running at Arizona
State, but he comes back on breaks. *Ben
is back at ASU for his sophomore year- we'll let you know when
he's back around... |
 Hal is the Columbus Running Company's diamond in the rough. He is the
original Track and Field supercomputer, created by the Japanese in 1983 and
bought by the U.S. government in an effort to demolish the U.S.S.R. Olympic
presence.
Hal trained budding Olympic hopefuls in events such as
the 100m dash, javelin, long jump, and more. Marquee benefactors of Hal's
state of the art technology included Carl Lewis, who won 4 golds in the 1984
Olympics, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1988 Olympic gold medalist in the
heptathlon.
Unfortunately time catches us all, and Hal found
himself replaced by Nintendo's Track and Field, complete with Power Pad.
Recovered from the streets of New York, Hal has found a
new life here at the CRC, training visitors. At the very least he
keeps the kids busy while parents try on shoes. |
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That's right ladies and gents, boys and girls- Hal's long lost
brother has been found. The CRC co-owners had
heard rumors that Sal may exist, but Hal always denied the
existence of Sal. Why would one of our best employees, Hal, not
want to share the fact that he had a brother, Sal? Well, let us give
you a glimpse into the soap opera that is the Columbus Running
Company.
Hal is righteous and good. Sal is, too. However, sometime in the mid
1980's Sal turned bad. Like many athletes, Sal shamed himself by
turning to drugs. Performance enhancing drugs. He merely wanted
to be as famous as his brother Hal. In his prime Sal trained
Olympic athletes, just like Hal. His break though, and
simultaneous fall out, came in the '88 Olympics when his prized
pupil, Canadian Ben Johnson, tested positive after besting Carl
Lewis (one of Hal's protégé's) in the 100m final. The Konami
family (Hal and Sal's last name is Konami) was ashamed and vowed
never to speak of Sal again. |
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Fast forward to September 2006. CRC
Co-owner Jim finds himself in Raleigh, NC, recruiting new staff
for the new CRC store in Pickerington. After interviewing
thousands of hopeful applicants, Jim had found no worthy
candidate and headed to the bar to drink away his sorrows. There
was Sal, bussing tables. Hal's secret was out, and Jim brought
Sal to his new home.
Now time doesn't heal wounds, friends. When Hal first saw Sal,
Hal refused to make his 'run' button work. For over a week Hal
was worthless. However love- for each other and for the sport of
track and field- conquers all. Especially at the CRC. The two
began sharing stories of time passed. Tears were shed. Laughter
fell upon all. The two have now collaborated to create the
greatest 1-2 punch in running store expertise ever.
While Hal still hangs out in Dublin, Sal has taken up ground in
Pickerington. Evidence of Sal's performance enhancing years is
still evident, as Sal's volume is so loud and nobody can seem to
make him quiet. It serves as proof of the negative side effects
drugs will have on you for the rest of your life. The CRC
learned two lessons here. Performing enhancing drugs are stupid,
and love can conquer all. |
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Raised from the cornfields of Indiana, she's slow,
steady, but an exceptionally tough worker. Reliable, too. And look how
Troy's golden locks flow in her slipstream.
We are proud of those tattoos- a show of commitment we expect from all
employees. In 2006, pretty Bess got that much more special, as we gave
her a brand new dead man's switch. It's kind of like a pacemaker or
artificial hip. Beloved Bess. |
 These fine individuals will be missed. We wish them the best and
thank them for all their work.
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Dusty was the third in a golden line of interns from the
distinguished DePauw University. Then a junior math major, he
first caught the owners attention by growing out an afro with
enough fluff to warrant a neck brace on exceptionally windy
days. Hair is an integral part of the collegiate running scene.
He earned his Finnish nickname, sans afro, by resembling the
great Olympic runner from the often overlooked Scandinavian
fun-land we lovingly call Finland.
Intern joukke kolme (number 3) brought a tingle of charm and
twinge of wit that the CRC owners have a hard time keeping up
with. His cornucopian contribution to the CRC was finally
realized at the conception of the very first CRC store theme
song, which can be heard in the store music rotation to this
day. |

If CRC was an ice cream sundae, Rick would be the cherry on top.
Rick was our very own delicatessen treat of delight, the guilty
pleasure you only indulge in on the weekends. Which is why he
usually only worked on Saturday and Sunday.
Rick began running in high school and was a middle distance
runner at the University of Akron. Zip! Now he resides in a
hail-ravaged neighborhood between New Albany and Pataskala with
his wife and child. He attends graduate school at works as a T.A.
at The Ohio State University. Turned out however that OSU was
the hot fudge that melted the sundae, as his obligations for the
learning institution proved too heavy to keep up his demanding,
4 hour a week schedule at the CRC. Plus once your smarts surpass
that of owner Matt, he shows you the door. Perhaps that's why
this alumni list is getting so long. |

Picture unavailable, Rick took it to his new, shiny, better job. |

D-Rock was another in the historic line of Columbus Running
Company Interns. He was with us for the duration of January '06.
As a current senior at DePauw University, we are not exactly sure of any
declared major. What we do know is that he longs to work for a shoe
company after graduation, and has binders of shoe profiles and reviews
to prove it. Derick also moonlights as a Puma, Reebok, and Brooks wear tester.
D-Rock has nerves of steel, a heart of gold, and a deep voice that will
tickle the depths of any women's soul. If things don't pan out with the
shoes, we expect to hear him narrating romance novels on tape.
Perhaps he'll even make the cover. He's a limited edition, so be sure to
get some while you can! |
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 Troy was there from the beginning. His sweat and blood soaked into the
slatwall we tiredly drilled into the wall in July of '04 shortly before
opening. We laughed and wept tears of joy when Troy finished the
installation of the store stereo. We were brothers bonded through the love
of running and finding that perfect shoe for every type of foot. All good
things must end, however, and Troy had to move back to Minnesota with hopes
of attending graduate school and pursuing other worthy endeavors. Troy was
good to the CRC, and we hope he carries only fond memories of what once
was.... |
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 Fick hails from Painesville, Ohio, and was the
first participant in the company's work for less program. She is now in
graduate school at the University of New Hampshire where she competed in
track.
The budding superstar is the Goddess of all things artistic at the
Columbus Running Company. While she helps you find the perfect fit for your
feet, she'll explain the deeper meaning behind our store logo.
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 We
were
thrilled to have Intern Drew join us for the month of January, '05. He
is a budding socialite at DePauw University, where he runs year round with
cross country, indoor, and outdoor track. When asking for a job he
explained to Troy "I want to learn from the
best." Clearly Intern Drew has already learned how to deal
with upper level management.
Chosen from thousands of applicants world wide, he won us
over with his astonishing culinary prowess and above average bathroom
cleaning ability.
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Columbus Running Company
6465 Perimeter Dr.
Dublin, OH 43016
(614)764-0855 |
Columbus Running Company
1250 Hill Rd. North
Pickerington, OH 43147
(614)863-4073 |
Columbus Running Company
320 S. State St.
Westerville, OH 43081
(614)523-2377 |
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