Stephen Howard ran track and XC at Blacksburg High School and is now a student at Virginia Tech. Stephen also is in his second year of coaching at Blacksburg Middle School. Besides being an avid fan of the Dave Mathews Band, Stephen enjoys running, playing the guitar, and playing dodgeball. He also enjoys catching snakes (seriously).

Nate Thompson attends VT and is a Blacksburg H.S. alumnus. Nate competed for Blacksburg H.S. in track and cross country and now runs recreationally. Besides playing frisbee golf, dodgeball and watching the tv show "24" on Fox.

Ian (Shreck) Shreckengast - Shrek is from Northhills High School, Pittsburgh, PA and attends Virginia Tech. Ian ran in high school and for the Hokies. Ian has been with RunAbout Sports for almost two years. Besides running in Pandapas (his favorite route is Beauty) he enjoys cycling and has an unhealthy obsession with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His favorite animals are cougars.

Phillip Thompson - Phil is from Blacksburg and is a VT student. He ran track and cross country for Blacksburg High School and is an Economics major. Phil's favorite run is Snake Root at Pandapas Pond. Phil will be running the Nashville Marathon in the Spring of 2008. The St. Loius Cardinals are his favorite team. Like Ian he is also a fan of the cougar.

Ariel "Spaz" Burbey - Ariel graduated from Blacksburg H..S. and works at RunAbout Sports in the Summers and Holidays. She is a student at William and Mary and runs for the Tribe. Ariel holds Blacksburg High School records in the 800 for outdoors and the 1600 in indoor track.

Kirsten Hagen works at Runabout in the summer and on college breaks when she is back in Blacksburg. Kirsten was a Christiansburg High School distance star and now competes for Florida State. Kirsten has been working at Runabout for two years.

Kelly McPherson was a four year letter winner as a diver on the Virginia Tech Swimming and Diving Team.  She graduated in 1998 and taught elementary school in Montgomery County for 4 years until her first child was born and she decided to become and stay at home mom.  When she is not in the store, she is a fitness instructor at Blacksburg Health and Fitness at the Weight Club as well as their Membership Consultant.  She loves to exercise and running is her passion.  She just finished her first marathon in 4:12 and competing in a triathlon is her next goal. 

James DeMarco and Runabout Sports: Owner/ Manager
 

I have been a runner since I was 14. I got into the sport to get in shape for cross country skiing and soccer while growing up in Anchorage, Alaska. Running was a sport that I didn't think could possibly be much fun; it ended up turning into a passion. I was lucky to have good high school coaches that made the sport enjoyable and challenging. We also won seven State titles (three in cross and four in track).  I was fortunate to earn a college scholarship to South Dakota State University in cross country and track. My senior year was the highlight when my teammates and I won the NCAA Div. II National Title in Cross Country and I earned All American Honors. After college I went back to Anchorage and taught sixth grade and coached the distance runners at Bartlett High School, my alma mater. I immediately fell in love with coaching and teaching. I coached several athletes that through their hard work and determination broke many school records, earned state titles and college scholarships.

I got the opportunity to run with a fast group of guys in Brevard, NC coached by Scott Simmons. I decided to give my running another shot and see what happens. I left Alaska and drove across the country to a place I never been. Brevard is a pretty place much like Blacksburg. While training in Brevard, I started the Sports Spot, a specialty sports shop, for John Taylor who owned two toy and hobby shops that are very successful. I learned everything about running shoes then, from talking to the industry reps and designers, reading countless reviews and biomechanical articles, and through trial and error. After Brevard I decided to get my masters. I was accepted into Furman University in Greenville, SC for Exercise Science. About two weeks before I was to start classes I ran into two friends in Portland, OR during Cross Country Nationals. They told me all about Blacksburg and Virginia Tech and that I should open a store much like the one in Brevard. While naive on the process of bank loans and such matters I became excited about the prospect of my own shop and the things that would be possible- the things that Runabout now does! I checked out Blacksburg and went running in Pandapas, talk to several people in the community, and fell in love with the place. I enrolled at Virginia Tech in Health Promotions, volunteered with VT's cross country program and began work on opening Runabout Sports. After 15 months of excitement and frustrations, Runabout Sports opened on May 19th, 2003! I also get to continue coaching; I now coach the Blacksburg Bruins distance runners!