Altra Running Shoes: The Story of a Weird Idea
If you spend enough time in a run specialty store, certain brand stories start to feel larger than the shoes themselves. Altra running shoes is one of those stories. Not because it came out of a giant corporate lab. Not because a focus group said the market needed another brand. And definitely not because somebody […]
Meet Betsy Magato: Strong Run Coaching in Alpharetta
If you’ve spent time in the East Cobb running community, the Roswell running community, or anywhere near the Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon, there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with Betsy Magato. And if you’ve trained for that race, you’ve almost certainly felt her impact. Betsy is the founder of Strong Run Coaching, a five-time […]
Water Drop Dash: One of Metro Atlanta’s Most Beautiful Spring 5Ks
If you’ve spent any time running around metro Atlanta, you already know that some racecourses just feel different. Some are fast.Some are crowded.Some are scenic. And then there are races like the Water Drop Dash 5K at Chattahoochee NatureCenter, where everything comes together. Scenic views. A meaningful mission. Arelaxed community vibe. And a course that […]
Alex Garcia: The Heartbeat of Running in East Cobb
If you have ever shown up at the Pope High School track (and Walton High School inthe years before that) before sunrise, sipped surprisingly good coffee in front of BigPeach East Cobb on a Saturday morning, or opened your inbox to find a meticulouslyplanned workout waiting for you, there is a good chance you have […]
Brooks Glycerin Flex: The Glycerin That Learned How To Move
Some running shoes are born in a lab. Some are born in a boardroom. The Brooks Glycerin Flex was born in a more interesting place. It started as a quiet pattern Brooks kept hearing from runners while researching cushioning. Not the loud, obvious feedback. The little recurring comment that shows up when you’re listening closely […]
Gary Jenkins: The Quiet Architect of Running in Georgia
If you have ever lined up at a local 5K, argued with your GPS about what “certified” means, or wondered why every turn on a course is actually marked like someone cared… you have been living in a world that people like Gary Jenkins helped build. Gary is one of those rare figures who shaped […]
Should I Be Using a Track Spike?
If you’re new to Track & Field, track spikes can feel like one of those “everyone else knows about this except me” things. They don’t. Most athletes (and parents) show up early in the season with the same questions: Here’s the fun part: spikes are simple once you understand what they’re for and which kind […]
Polar Bear 5K: East Cobb’s Coldest (and Warmest) Tradition
Some races earn their reputation with big hills or big crowds. The Polar Bear 5K earned its reputation by being iconically cold, then politely solving that problem for you. On Saturday, January 24, 2026, East Cobb runners and walkers will line up at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church for a race that has become a winter […]
Why We Do Video Gait Analysis (And Why It’s the Most Useful and Most Fun Part of Our Fit Process)
If you’ve ever watched your own stride in slow motion, you’ve had the same thought every NFL player has watching game film: “Wait… I do that with my foot?” Welcome to video gait analysis, the part of our fit process that blends a little science, a little art, and a surprising amount of “oh wow.” […]
Eco Sneakers: From Landfill Playground To Global Shoe Lifeline
If you have ever dropped a pair of tired running shoes in the collection bin at Big Peach East Cobb, you are part of a story that started beside a landfill and now stretches across Atlanta, the Southeast and more than a dozen countries. That story belongs to Eco Sneakers and its founder, Bobby Johnson, […]