The Little Running Store That Could

If you know me and we hang out on Facebook, then you know that I've been championing the cause of the best local running store in the world. The running store has been in financial trouble for about a year and they've finally reached the end of the line. Creditors are calling and it looked like the doors would need to close. The best local running store in the world needed $35,000 to stay open and all of their options had been exhausted.

Or so they thought.

Then, another small business owner stopped by the store and gave the owners a check for $1,000. He told them that all they needed was 34 people just like him.

So they sent out an email to their supporters and asked for donations. At the same time, they announced a 24 hour treadmill-a-thon. They hauled a treadmill out onto the sidewalk outside of the store, in full view of cars passing on the street, and started running.

Now, there are a couple of ways to view this.

1) It's a small business. Yes, it's sad, but small businesses that aren't run in financially-smart ways sometimes have to close. It's the way of the world. And why on earth would you donate to for-profit business when there's no guarantee that they won't be in the exact same situation in another couple of months?

2) Small businesses didn't receive a bailout like the automotive and banking industries. Why shouldn't small business owners cry out for help? And why shouldn't their customers and their community support them?

I see both sides of the argument. The husband is a small business owner and I'm employed by a small business. This story hits close to home. But... these people are my running family. They have been my support for an entire year while I've embarked on this personal journey of mine and there's no way I could not be there when the going gets rough.

The story doesn't have a happy ending... yet. The 24 hour mark has passed and the treadmill-a-thon is over. More than $25,000 was raised, and the little running store that could is still praying for a miracle.

Running store owner Karen has posted this as her Facebook status several times throughout this stressful time:

Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

I hope they make it.