A shakeout run is typically a short (about three-mile) run in the days leading up to a marathon. It\u2019s common for run clubs to host their own shakeouts, but clubs are increasingly partnering with brands for the events, while stores and brands themselves are putting on their own runs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese major marathon moments bring people from all over the world, which is super exciting,\u201d said Asics marketing manager Frank Locascio, who attended a shakeout run hosted by Fleet Feet<\/a>, a running specialty store. \u201cIt\u2019s always great to partner with the local store because they\u2019re the ones doing this week in and week out. It\u2019s sort of a celebration moment, especially in New York.\u201d<\/p>\n The free event, hosted on Wednesday evening at Fleet Feet\u2019s Columbus Circle location, drew 250 participants \u2014 and was one of the store\u2019s 10 marathon-week events, seven of which are shakeout runs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to be the pulse for everyone, at least part of their marathon week. We want to contribute and enhance it for them,\u201d Fleet Feet Operating Partner, David Gettis, told Athletech News. \u201cWe want them to have a place to go where they\u2019re going to recognize other people year after year, congregate and hang out together.\u201d<\/p>\n The Unique Energy of Shakeout Runs<\/p>\n Gettis said that there is something electric that happens to the city during marathon week, an energy that sustains itself until the day after the marathon (known as Medal Monday).<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like the New York City Marathon really brings out the running community in the city like no other way,\u201d said runner Tommy Chou, who is not racing on Sunday, but wanted to come to the shakeout run anyway. \u201cLike they say, it\u2019s the biggest block party of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n Asics tech rep Lyn Robinson emphasized the important cultural role shakeout runs and run clubs as a whole have in the New York City community, especially the closer the marathon draws.<\/p>\n \u201cRun clubs, I\u2019ve noticed, have filled in that need for a third space for people,\u201d he told ATN.<\/p>\n \u201c(Shakeout runs) give the ability for a niche community to have a go-to moment, right?\u201d Robinson added. \u201cIf you were a part of the running community, you know it\u2019s New York Marathon season. Something is happening every night.\u201d<\/p>\n Robinson said that with so many shakeout runs happening all week long, it gives everyone a chance to be a part of the running community, even if they don\u2019t already belong to a run club or if they aren\u2019t from NYC.<\/p>\n Patty Monge is planning to attend several shakeout runs in the week leading up to her first NYC Marathon, drawn to the inclusive and diverse community that comes to these events. She came to the city on her own from California, and wanted to feel a part of the local running scene while on the East Coast.<\/p>\n \u201cI like seeing the representation of shapes, sizes, the age, challenges, body challenges that people have, and we\u2019re all here,\u201d she told ATN.<\/p>\n A Long-Term Play: Forging Brand-Runner Relationships<\/p>\n In the overflowing store, brands had set up tables throughout for runners to demo products, including Asics shoes, Balega socks and Shokz open-ear bone-conducting headphones.<\/p>\n See Also<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_6317-1024x768.webp.webp\")
Runners gather inside the Fleet Feet Columbus Circle store before the shakeout run (credit: Athletech News)<\/p>\n
![\"waiting](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Altea_Lobby-Vancouver-180x180.webp.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Asics](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4683-1024x683.webp.webp\")
credit: Fleet Feet<\/p>\n