A Short History of The Runners Shop, Randwick ...

The Runners Shop, or “Talays” as it was originally known, opened for business in Frenchmans Road, Randwick, around 1976. It was operated by some very talented athletes in Bob Talay and Margaret Beardslee (nee Ricardo) with a little help from Andrew Lloyd and Fred Howe.

Bob had represented Australia in the World Cross Country Championships and also had won the NSW State Marathon title. Margaret was one of NSW’s leading cross-country runners. Fred had represented Great Britain and Victoria as a marathoner, whilst Andrew went on to become a three-times winner of the City to Surf and 5000m gold medallist in the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games.

“Talays” catered almost exclusively for “registered” athletes who were serious about their sport and didn’t necessarily do it for their health(!) (this was a very beneficial natural side effect and helped fire the ’80’s running boom all over the world). Fred became a full-time employee in 1984 when the business expanded to include three other stores (Parramatta, Hobart and Ultimo).

Margaret and her husband Robert went to America in 1986 to live, and Fred took over the Randwick store, which was now known as “The Runners Shop” - he was now in his fifties, and still running 3-hour marathons! And having run over 40 marathons, Fred was able to pass on his hard-earned knowledge to all levels of runners, joggers and walkers - which made the store even more successful.

In 1994, Fred married Lainie and together they continued to build up their terrific reputation for service, good advice and caring. Because they were not interested in the fashion models of shoes, they made The Runners Shop unique – in that they only sold brands and models they believed in. In the late ’90’s, Fred had the store move from its location in Frenchmans Road to its current position in Clovelly Road.

Fred and Lainie decided to retire to Noosa in 2002, and sold The Runners Shop to Joe and Angela Sutton. Both are long-time Clovelly business people and are fully committed to carrying on where Fred and Lainie left off - helping and caring for people who still want good advice and friendly service when purchasing running shoes and equipment when they come into their store.

However, Joe and Angela are now bringing The Runners Shop into your home by opening The Runners Shop Online – a fully-secure online shop where people can purchase not only their entire shoe range, but heart-rate monitors, books, accessories, clothing and nutritional needs. They understand that some people know exactly what items they want and may not have the time to come into the store to buy in person. All items are shipped the day the order is verified, and if the item is not in stock a special order is placed to the distributor and shipped immediately it arrives.

Since owning the Runners Shop Joe has become a keen runner; He averages 40K a week and in 2004 ran in the SMH Half Marathon, The Gold Coast Airport Half Marathon and the Sydney Bridge Half Marathon.

His goals this year include the City to Surf in August and the Blackmores Half-Marathon in September!!