OREM — For members of the Kenneth "Hawk" and Cheryl Harper family, running well is a lifestyle and metaphor for mental and physical success.
Family patriarch Hawk Harper believes learning to succeed at running comes by incorporating new information and habits.
"You start doing it and it becomes a habit," he said.
Hawk and Cheryl Harper run in Provo Canyon on Wednesday, March 8, 2017. The couple owns the Runner's Corner store, which was named one of the top 50 running stores in the country by Competitor magazine.| Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
The two are more than willing to share what they know, what they have and what they've learned since they opened the Runner's Corner on 885 S. 700 East in Orem, more than 25 years ago. Their store was named one of Competitor Magazine's "50 Best Running Stores in America" in November 2016 out of a field of 16,000 nominees.
Mark Sullivan, president of Formula4Media, said the best of stores award is designed to recognize people who run specialty stores for runners. He said these stores really do change people's lives.
"We've been giving this award for 10 years. It's sort of a three-to-four part process," Sullivan said.
Comments are solicited as are nominations, and Sullivan reads every one. Then the stores are contacted and invited to fill out in-depth questionnaires. Mystery shoppers then visit the stores to buy a pair of shoes. The shoppers rate the service they experience and report back to the magazine.
And Runner's Corner passed the mystery-shopper test with a 100 percent score.
In the case of the Runner's Corner, the shopper found a friendly, patient and knowledgeable sales staff. The brands are quality brands with a solid reputation.
"If you make this list, you should be very proud," Sullivan said. "It's not an easy list to make."
The Harper family's story starts back when Hawk Harper literally ran into Cheryl on the track at BYU.
He says he knew right then she was the one for him. (She says she remembers the encounter but not as an earth-shattering moment.)
Now, 36 years later, the Harpers have raised four children — all runners, including Golden who, at 14 months, took off running before walking — Krystal, Summer and Amber. They all hold marathon and running competition records.
Golden Harper has created a shoe called the Altra, that is taking a different approach to a running shoe with a foot-shaped toe box and a zero drop platform at the heel.
Hawk Harper, at 70, continues to run many miles a day and competes as a champion runner as often as he has the opportunity.
When he and his wife vacation, the first thing they do is size up the highest point around them and plan a run to the top.
Hawk and Cheryl Harper have numerous running mementos at their home in Orem on Wednesday, March 8, 2017. The couple owns the Runner's Corner store, which was named one of the top 50 running stores in the country by Competitor magazine. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
He's pleased that everyone is the family runs, but he never insisted on it. He said he feels running bonds them together.
"Our children saw that we enjoyed it and that we were healthy. Children emulate their parents," Hawk Harper said. "This is just something we've always done. We started reading (the scriptures) and running as a family and we've never stopped."
However, Harper emphasizes that the family is multifaceted: "Running is not my only interest," he said.
Harper serves as a bishop for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and often uses running to illustrate spiritual points.
"I tell them to drive up to the water towers in Orem and get out and run up into the sunlight," he said. "It's like the Savior takes you so far and then it's up to you to finish out in the sun."
Both Harpers firmly believe in the health benefits of running.
Hawk Harper dropped nearly 100 pounds by running. Cheryl Harper pointed out that running can help boost the immune system.
At Runner's Corner, the Harpers and their employees offer each new customer the opportunity to be evaluated as they walk and run so the shoes they buy fit their individual style and gait.
"We never sell the price of the shoe," said Hawk Harper. "We're interested in preventing injury, creating success."
The Harpers stress that it's important to run properly. Instead of launching and landing on the big toe or directly on the heel, the runner needs to practice controlled falling, they said.
Those at the Runner's Corner offer classes on learning to run, which can help new runners learn to run correctly and also show experienced runners how to change what they might be doing wrong. At the same time, runners are encouraged to relax and run with confidence.
"We educate everybody on what you need. This is like dating. Eventually, you'll go for the one you like," Hawk Harper said.