I was looking for sneakers in a 9.5 wide to replace my brooks ghost 16 after the 17th edition changed drastically. I didn't want to order a ton online and then have returns. I was very impressed with how many options this store had in stock for me to try specifically in wide width. I admit, I went on a Sunday and it was a tad intimidating since it was very busy and there wasn't a ton of space. They acted surprised when I finally spoke up saying I hadn't been helped and was waiting for assistance. However, after that initial awkwardness, they were overly friendly! The staff took the time to listen to my concerns and adjusted recommendations based on feedback. They were super patient and helpful explaining levels of cushioning, etc. I never felt pressured to purchase anything, and they truly want you to get the best fitting shoe! I ended up returning my first pair and getting a different one, and they were very accommodating even though I didn't save the box. read more

Pacers Running - Shoe Stores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Service is fine if you know what you already want and are just trying shoes on. Not sure it's a spot for beginners. They often only have odd colors in store so you have to order online or go to Clarendon. They don't hold old version of shoes on sale so you always pay full price. read more

While starting to train for the cherry blossom 10 miler, I began to get shin splints and decided it's time for new shoes. As I walked into the store, I was greeted by Elsa who asked what I was looking for, asked about my running history, and analyzed my gait, the extent I was pronating, and provided some recommendations. She brought out some options including inserts that would help support my arches and we meticulously narrowed down the options until I ended up with a pair of shoes I felt supported and naturally comfortable in. I'm surprised by the number of negative reviews on customer service, perhaps staff a few years ago weren't great but I thought Elsa was fantastic. read more

I went to Pacers on 14th St. in DC a few weeks ago to find some suitable running shoes, and the experience was quite poor. I was not greeted when I arrived, and I couldn't make heads or tails of the selections before me. Someone was helping another customer, which was fine, but there were two women gossiping behind the cash register who couldn't be bothered to ask if I needed anything. Feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome, I left. I won't go back. read more

Wonderful selection and the service is impeccable! My husband and I went into Pacers today to find sneakers for our upcoming international travel. Kevin was so attentive, responsive and patient while we tried on a variety of styles and brands. I highly recommend Pacers (and Kevin!) to anyone looking for some new sneakers! Great experience! read more

Super welcoming when I walked in. Robert assisted me and was patient while I asked questions, and gave me advice for selecting a shoe that would meet my needs and address my problems. I'm not a runner and it was a very comfortable experience. read more

Warm welcome on arrival. Not too pushy, let us browse but was on hand to help. Big shout out to Nick who was enthusiastic and helpful. Great guidance and stated things my wife already knew but it meant he knew what he was talking about. Immediately noticed what type of trainer would suit my wife's foot shape. Gave great advice and represented the business well. We made a purchase on his advice of a brand my wife doesn't normally wear but she is over the moon. She runs regularly including marathons. She hopes all being well to wear the new trainers for Tokyo marathon. She knows what she likes and is suitable for her needs and this shop catered for it. Highly recommended. Live in UK otherwise would use regularly. read more

Had a great experience at Pacers. An employee at a previous running store had assessed my gait and told me I pronate and needed a pair of stabilizing shoes. I had developed knee and leg pain and felt like my gait was awkward, and walked into Pacers one day as I was passing by just planning on looking around. An employee (wish I could remember his name!) greeted me and asked how he could help, and when I briefly explained my pain he guessed that I was incorrectly in a stabilizing shoe without even knowing what shoes I was in (I wasn't wearing my running shoes) -- he then did a gait assessment on the treadmill right then and confirmed, and sold me a new pair of running shoes after bringing me 3 to try. I haven't had that same pain since. I don't know if they have the greatest prices or selection (frankly I don't go to this kind of running store for good prices in general) but they improved months of my running experience in 10 minutes, so they get 5 stars from me! read more

Not only am I supportive of DC based Running stores, but they have a warm and inviting run club in addition to Pacers sponsored races. If you need extra motivation or want to run in a group it's on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. They also vary workouts and the people running are talkative and UN-DC-like, which is a great change of pace. Overall, a great local place to buy stuff and an even better club that motivates you! Gooo Pacers! read more

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I decided to go in person to a specialty store to get suggestions given that my favorite running shoe models had been changed again (thanks Brooks!). I get that retailers are short staffed but the sales rep I had left me to serve other clients several times without letting me know he would be back in a few minutes. At the end, I was just waiting and waiting and by then, he was actually managing the check out cash! I did buy a pair based on his suggestion but a podiatrist I saw the following week told me the recommendation was not the best and that I had not been correctly informed of what a GTS shoe means in Brooks lexicon. I would not return and from now on, will rely on my podiatrist (who is a runner) for recommendations. read more

Horrible experience at this Pacers location. Basic customer service stuff like making any effort to help people in some semblance of the order they've been waiting, not spending excessive time flirting with customers while everyone else waits, etc. If you need a fit/test, I suggest getting it done, then taking your business elsewhere. read more

Please change or retrain your extremely rude staff at 14t St. They seem to be inexperienced at customer service.

I have now been to Pacers twice and will not return. In both experiences (14th St. and Gtown) the staff was unfriendly, did not offer ask what type of shoe I was looking for/assess my gait, etc. I thought my experience with rude staff last year in Georgetown was a one-off experience, but I went to the 14th St. location over the weekend and had a similar experience. I tried on the shoes I was looking for and the employee helping me was no where to be found. I was waiting for him to come back so he could assess to make sure they were the right size for what I needed. After sitting on the bench for several mins waiting, he asked if I needed something. I told him I wanted him to assess the fit. He was helping another customer at the time, so he asked another employee if he could assist me. That employee responded to him "no, im taking my lunch" and walked to the back of the store. I waited a couple more minutes for help - which was fine. The strangest part of the 15 min shopping experience, is that the employee told me the price range of the shoe three times and asked me to confirm numerous times that I wanted to move forward with trying on the shoe, purchasing it, etc. It seemed to me very strange that he asked me so many times if I was sure I was willing to purchase the shoe based on the price point. read more

So far my experience is very bad. I have been waiting for several weeks to get my shoes. I have paid for my shoes but I got nothing in return. Where are my shoes? I checked Pacers Running tracking and they have been in Washington DC since August 26, why?Can you please get my shoes to me. I would have given you no stars but that wasn't an option. I will wait a little while longer before I have my bank take my money back from Pacers Running. read more

Nicole was exceptionally helpful in fitting me with new running shoes. I have been wearing ASICS Kayano for 15+ years and after comparing the newest Kayano 29 to Brooks, New Balance, and Hokas, I chose the Hoka Cliftons. Great shoe! Nicole was very knowledgeable about the design of each shoe, evaluated my walk, and patient and friendly. Thanks, Nicole! Pacers Georgetown running shop gets 5 Stars from me! read more

I needed some new running shoes and I wasn't sure which kind to get. So I headed down to Pacers new location on 14th St. and I'm pleased I did. The staff went through my running style with me and determined the best pair of shoes for me. I had never tried Brooks shoes before, and I'm happy that the Pacers staff turned me onto them. I was also pleased to learn that if the staff to leave shoes aren't good, they simply do not stock them. Going the extra mile to ensure that I get quality shoes for running is why I like to support my local running store. The new space is pretty incredible! It's spacious and just has a great feel to it. This is important because Pacers supports a lot of local running groups. Their regular runs on a daily basis from the store. I love the sense of community that they work so hard to generate. It makes this area of DC special. In addition to having an excellent selection of shoes, pacers also has really awesome logo gear for running. I picked up a hat and some shorts. If you're looking for some running gear in DC, I think this is probably the best place! read more

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I've been going to Pacers on 14th for a few years now and love it every time I go! Really friendly staff, lots of cool shoes and gear to choose from. Love their clothing and cool branded gear! Their employees are all runners themselves so they can really answer a lot of questions. They also do a simple but really helpful running analysis on their treadmill. It's really nice to be able to trial shoes even if just for a minute to get a real feel for what they're like. Love Pacers and highly recommend for all your running needs! read more

Super friendly and helpful people both times I've been here - helped me find a great pair of sneakers

No one spoke to me the entire time I was in the store. So I took pictures of everything I wanted to buy and went home and bought it online. Not helpful, not friendly, not buying anything. I find it very interesting that most of the bad reviews of the store are from women who have not been helped. Women represent 70% of the nation's purchasing power. Why are we being ignored at Pacers? read more

Figured by my 10th shoe purchase at Pacers, I should write a review. I got my first "serious" running shoe (Saucony Ride 5) for a half marathon from Pacers in Alexandria, where they gave me great advice and offered a variety for me to choose that fit my running form. After that first pair, I moved into DC proper, and started going to the run club out of the 14th St. (formerly P St.) location. The 14th St. store has been a great resource whenever I needed new gear, either guiding me towards something that fit my needs better or giving me more information about a shoe I heard about. Definitely recommend them! read more

The online presence they have is not inclusive to beings. Do better. Let's make sure you represent everyone

Ethan at the 14th St location was phenomenal! He helped me find the perfect pair of shoes and I had fun while doing it! Very positive experience- I'll definitely be back! read more

Excellent Service -- above and beyond! Besides getting me fitted for my upcoming marathon and discussing some challenges I was having with my current shoes -- Frank and Matt went the extra mile. I was flying out the next morning and the shoes I wanted were at another store...it was Saturday night and not enough time for me to get there. My flight to Korea was leaving at 11am the next morning, but the store didn't open until 12 noon. Without me even asking, they arranged for one of the employees at the other store to meet me their a few hours before the store opened. Mission accomplished -- now I have my shoes to train while in Korea! Great customer service!! read more

RUNNERS BEWARE: After my go-to running shoe was discontinued, I came to Pacers to find a new model of shoes. I debated between 2 shoes and ended up purchasing them both. As it turns out, neither shoe they sold me are 'Support' shoes, even though the shoes which I mentioned to them I had previously run in were both support shoes. (A detail I will learn later). Never did they anyone watch me run or do a fitting. The entire process felt rushed despite the store being fairly empty. Flash forward a few months: hip, hamstring and glute strains, hours in PT, and disastrously behind in training for an upcoming Half-Marathon, I went to Potomac River Running to try a different approach. Night and day difference. Abigail who assisted me at PR was knowledgeable, listened to my concerns with the shoes Pacers sold me, watched me run, and recommended the shoes I should have been in from the beginning. To top if off, I recently participated in one of the local races sponsored by Pacers. When I called this location to ask some questions about packet pick-up and get some race day info, the employee I spoke to on the phone had no idea there was a race the next day or really knew anything about the event. This is an unfortunate level of service that sealed the deal for this runner - I will be taking my business to Potomac River from now on. read more

I signed up for the Jingle All The Way 5k. They make you choose between donating to charity OR getting a hat, which was a first for me and I found to be very cheap. Then when I went to get my packet they were unorganized and not very friendly. They couldn't find my name or my friend's name in the system and they kept trying to rush me along without trying to figure it out. The day of the race the first mile marker I saw said "mile 8" then "mile 3," then "mile 2," then "mile 3" again. I couldn't tell what mile we were on. Then there were difficulties claiming the free burger that came with the run. read more

A nice girl helped me right away which was nice. I was pretty surprised at the lack of selection of shoes. Most of the shoes were kind of flashy looking colors and I like rather plain shoes. Of the 2 pairs I was interested in, she brought back neither and actually brought a different color than I requested. They didn't have my size in the others. I almost feel like maybe she was embarrassed about that, she didn't say much at that point. I bought the shoes. There was no mention of analyzing my gate like others said. I don't have any special needs so I'll probably be fine. The shoes I got were pretty expensive, over $140. I live about a block from this store. I hope they will start carrying a wider selection, stock all the different sizes, and have some more reasonably priced shoes. If so, I will return but otherwise I will go to one of the other major chain stores. read more

Loved the service I received by the Pacers staff at 14th Street. I was greeted as I entered the door, it was very welcoming. Being a brand new runner, I wasn't sure what to expect. They took me through the paces. Had me "run/jog/shuffle" on a treadmill before trying on a few different shoes before I found "the perfect pair". We even ran around the block together. I was when invited to try running with their evening group. It was a wonderful experience. read more

Pretty horrible store. Their websites will tell you 6pm, but when arriving at the store they will tell you 5:30pm is when they are closing. My husband and I arrived at 5:29pm to knock on the door. The greeter asked what he could help us with, rather than welcoming us in and explaining that they were closing soon. Be wary of their hours and unwelcoming customer service. Call ahead. read more

Pacers does me up good! I get pretty much all of my shoes there as well as a decent chunk of my running equipment and nutritionals. Everything's pretty reasonably priced and they're friendly and helpful whenever I go in for some retail therapy. Even when I spend a half hour trying on all sorts of different shoe brands and models and end up just getting the same ones I always wear. (Mizuno Wave Riders, because I know you're all curious about some internet stranger's footwear habits.) I guess I have no real complaints to add here other than it's just one fewer excuse I have not to go for that run... Also, I'm not sure if this is the right place for it since this is I guess for the store itself, but the races their company puts on in DC/Northern Virginia are all super well run and very organized. Would recommend. read more

I walked into this store ready to make a big purchase on a GPS watch that I had researched online and decided to buy. I prefer supporting local running stores over ordering online - so I called Pacers and they told me they had the watch in stock. Great! However, when I arrived at the store, I asked an employee to show me the watch. He acted put out that he had to help me. He told me that the watch they already had on display was the same size as the watch I was interested (not true); he didn't want to unpackage the watch for me. When he eventually unpackaged the watch I was interested in, he silently watched me try it on; I asked him several questions about it which he did not answer. Throughout our interaction, he was unpleasant, bothered, and unhelpful. Needless to say I didn't buy the watch as I had planned. I prefer supporting local business because the employees are typically knowledgeable and enthusiastic about running. This, sadly, was not a positive experience. read more

Pacers not only serves my running needs but also provides an amazing social outlet. The products are amazing and the employees knowledgeable. But, there are numerous social events that allow you to meet area runners, make new friends and enjoy new endeavors. Everyone is very nice and the leaders vet inclusive. read more

I want to like pacers because I like supporting local running stores, but I've been consistently unimpressed with them. They have nice VA and DC running clothes but they're consistently low on stock. The race series is nice but so cheaply done. They give money to charity only as an option in place of the race shirt (including for their Veterans Day run which feels particularly cheap. It's no wonder they aren't partnered with a veterans charity for it.) The last straw for me was that they canceled a water stop at the Jingle All the Way 15k due to cold weather. It's a small thing, but it's also a December run and I dont get a refund due to weather, so it's odd to me that something a basic as a water stop would be canceled for standard winter weather in December. read more

Shop at this store!!!! Adrian went to great lengths to find me what I needed. She went above and beyond to make sure I was a satisfied customer. read more

My initial experience with Pacers was fine, the staff was helpful and worked with me through my first running shoe buying experience. They didn't have my color/size in stock, but offered to order the shoe I wanted to the store for me. I put money down for the shoe on a Tuesday and was told it should come within 3-7 business days. The next day I got a call that the order hadn't been put in because they hadn't written my shoe size down, I gave them the shoe size and was again told delivery would be in 3-7 business days. The following Monday I got a call from them expecting to hear that my shoes were delivered. Instead, I was told that they were sold out. Not sure why it took them six days to inform me the shoes were no longer available. Also, if they had correctly ordered them the first time I would have probably gotten the shoes before they ran out. Instead, I got a refund on my order and purchased the same shoes for cheaper on Amazon with free two day delivery guaranteed. Not impressed with the customer service at this store and will not be going back or recommending to friends. read more

The great staff helped me through a two hour process of finding inserts for a pair of boots and new running shoes to prepare for the rigors of Officer Candidate Course. Their first hand experience with a lot of the products they sell was refreshing and made it possible for them to answer all of my demanding questions about quality and durability. I highly recommend this local running store because of the quality of the staff. read more

I have been relying on Pacers on 14th (previously on P) for all my running shoes and gear for the past few years. The staff are really great -- they're always really knowledgeable, helpful, and ready to go the extra mile. I always get compliments on running tights I get from Pacers, and they also design a lot of their own DC-specific merchandise that's really cool. read more

Kudos to Pacers in DC as being one of the best running shoe stores in the country and passionate running group leader Elyse! I've been a runner for many years and have gone through many shoes and gear. Pacers hires knowledgeable staff, many experienced runners, who can provide the needed insight into which shoes and gear work well for different running styles. I lived in DC for a few years and always went to Pacers on 14th Street, formally on P Street, for my running needs and took part in their many running groups. Even though I now live out of town, I seek out Pacers during visits back to stock up on my running supplies and rekindle long-time friendships. Their dedicated support of the running community is what sets them apart. They are a leader in integrating with the local running community by offering multiple running groups and extensive support of local races. Their running leaders are very passionate about their role over the years, especially Elyse and Steve. A special shout-out to Elyse who has dedicated many years as a run group leader at Pacers overseeing weekly running groups, children running groups, and many running relay teams over the years. The Pacers running groups have a fun and friendly environment and tailor the running groups to a variety of experiences and running levels. I highly recommend Pacers on 14th Street for your running shoes and gear. And don't miss out on the chance to take part in their fun and supportive running groups. read more

I can be a bit indecisive, so I came in here a few times before purchasing shoes. The staff was friendly and made a couple suggestions similar to the product I had mentioned being interested in. Nothing really thrilled me, but I finally selected one in a color that had to be ordered. No problem, I wasn't in a huge rush. I paid and they said they would call when it was in. The next day I had a missed call from the store. I returned the call, to some confusion on their end, they said it must have been the manager who called me, and he would call me back shortly. I never heard back, and didn't really think about it again. Two weeks go by and I think they must be in, so I go to pick them up. The shoes are not in fact there, and turns out they never ordered them because the color I had selected was not available. At this point I'm pretty livid to hear that they happily took my money, and then made no effort to follow up on my order that they never placed. They offered to order them in a different color (i wasn't thrilled about the original color to begin with, and had reservations about the New Balance shoes I had selected anyway), but I was angry and about to say please just refund my money and I will be purchasing elsewhere. The manager, Frank, apologized and started discussing options with me. He offered a couple of concessions that made me feel valued and that they knew they had made an error and that it was not the norm. Frank then spent a good amount of time discussing my shoe needs and concerns/past issues. I ended up selecting a new shoe I liked much better, and even a back up option if I had any issues with them. Frank was great and I am a happy runner in my vibrantly colored comfy shoes. After working with him I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that this was a fluke, and they worked to right the wrong. read more

Was visiting DC for a few days, and had seen Pacers featured on a Hoka video previously, so I was excited to visit and buy some merch. I was staying in Dupont Circle, so this location was closest. Was extremely disappointed, as I visited twice (the second time on a different day in hopes that the first visit was just a fluke), and had bad experiences both days. The staff was very abrupt and unhelpful, as I had inquired about coming to one of the morning group runs, and was told the girl who manages that "knows more about that," and she wasn't there. My greeting to them both times was replied to with silence, and they seemed very reluctant to help with anything. I asked if they had a particular shirt, and the guy working said "no we don't have that," and that was it. I visited the flagship store in Alexandria today, and it was like a totally different company. Helpful staff, friendly greetings, and the young girl even helped me look for the shirt I wanted and offered lunch suggestions for us. 14th street...what's going on? read more

Pacers is the place i go for all my running needs. They have a great variety of larger and smaller brands and are always happy to help you. The store is also great about getting in other sizes and colors if you need them. read more