For Rob DeFilippis, running was not always his passion. He started off as a soccer star growing up, until his high school soccer coach at St. Joe’s (high school in Metuchen), saw the potential in him and how good he was at running.
From there, he quit soccer and started to become an avid runner. Freshman year of high school he even ran a five-minute mile.
Fast forward over 30 years, DeFilippis is now a coach for Red Bank Catholic’s Cross Country team and an owner of Runner’s High in Metuchen, and now his new location in Freehold.
Despite the name, Runner’s High is not just for passionate runners. The store sells sneakers for anyone, as well as accessories and nutritional energy products.
DeFillipis started the store in Metuchen around 24 years ago after graduating from the University of Maryland and deciding a career in kinesiology and physical therapy was not for him.
While in PT (physical therapy) school and “not fully invested”, according to DeFilippis, he was training two oral surgeons who were ready to invest in running a store, and alas, Runner’s High was born.
Main Street in Metuchen was a perfect fit for DeFilippis as it was close to Middletown where he grew up and currently lived.
Rob DeFilippis opened its Freehold location of Runner’s High in 2012. Its first location is in Metuchen.
In 2012, DeFilippis found a business partner that was looking to start a running store – and that’s when Runner’s High Freehold began.
“We wanted to open a store in Freehold because it has a more active outdoor population than our previous locations,” DeFilippis said, “There’s the Manasquan Reservoir not too far down the road, a couple of parks, and a lot of doctors and [physical] therapists in the area, especially across the street from our store.”
Runner’s High Freehold is on Schanck Road, in the Renaissance Plaza.
With more popular brands like Nike, New Balance, Hokas and Adidas in store, customers can get a well-known sneaker, or they can get Diodora, which happens to be DeFilippis’ favorite brand at the moment.
“Coincidentally, the president and CEO of Diodora USA, Bryan Poerner, was one of my summer campers when I was a camp counselor back in the day,” DeFilippis shared. “Now we have a great business relationship where I am proud to sell these shoes at my store.”
Back in the day, DeFilippis’ favorites were the Adidas Boston Classic, which unfortunately that specific line has been discontinued.
As he looks toward the future, DeFilippis keeps an open mind with the challenges of on-line shopping. And as for running advice for the beginner, DeFilippis says it’s important to “start with your feet. Each shoe is designed for a certain foot type in mind, and every athlete, professional or leisure, should find their perfect shoe.”
