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The Starting Line
Rating Details »
Categories: Shoe Stores, Sports Wear [Edit]
114 Washington Blvd# A
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 827-3035
12 reviews for The Starting Line
An old coworker of mine recommended this place to me. To sum the whole thing up, I'd say that The Starting Line is similar to a full service gas station but for SHOES!
Brian was extremely helpful and friendly. He talked to me about running, feet, and answered any questions I had and provided very useful information that I didn't know beforehand. He first had me take my shoes off, then walk back and forth for a few seconds. Then he recommended a few pairs of running shoes and had me run on the treadmill. After I narrowed it down even more, he had me run on the sidewalk outside of the store. How convenient! This place makes it so that you can make a right decision on the spot without having to go home wondering if you'll like what you bought with the possibility of returning the shoes.
Prices are reasonable, but I'd definitely say that the service received is a total bonus. I highly recommend this place to anyone who doesn't know squat about running shoes and is looking to learn something useful.
I actually found this place on Yelp, then decided to check it out since my shoes were totally dunzo.
Brian was very helpful, but was quick to let me know that the store specializes in shoes for RUNNERS (like, actual runners, not like me- the type who has to force herself to get on an elliptical). He did help me out, though I just ended up getting another pair of Asics.
He was able to recommend a good shoe for my seriously flat feet (when i get out of the pool, it is a FULL footprint, no joke). Not only that, they carry these amazing orthotic inserts called Foot Soldiers. They normally retail for around 50, I believe, but I got a pair for about 20 bucks. They are AMAZING. The combination of the trailrunner Asics and Foot Soldiers has been really supportive yet comfortable. Exactly what my poor flat feet needed. Now if only I could find a shoe that would make me want to exercise more...sigh.
Those Foot Soldiers are so great, I can't get over it. With this recent rainy, crappy winter weather, I pulled them out of the Asics and put them into my Uggs....yay for warmth and comfort with actual foot bed support!
Anyway, I like The Starting Line, even though I'm not remotely a runner. Plus, I just noticed that my receipt said both "local referral Yelp" and "UCLA student"...not sure which one got me the 10% discount (I'm assuming it was the student thing). And who doesn't love a good discount?
My receipt also states that there is free parking in the rear, but the boyfriend and I parked on the street and just walked. Whatevs.
I have been going here since I moved to LA in 2005, after a coworker referred me to them. I live in West Hollywood, but the trek out to Marina Del Rey is worth it! I was fitted with a pair of Mizunos Inspire, by Brian. 5 pairs later, I am still running in this particular style of shoe.
I just picked up a pair of trail runners that Brian and Sergio recommended to me, and I love them! These guys know their stuff, in terms of shoes, socks, and gear. I always recommend them to my friends.
Helpful. Prices are a bit steep, but I don't think you get many discounts in the running shoe department, especially if you are looking for quality shoes.
Guy was knowledgeable. Didn't do the running around before purchasing as I knew what I was looking for and asked the guy for some recommendations. Liking the Mizuno's that he recommended.
If you don't want a 17 year old whose only athletic experience is Wii tennis blowing smoke up your ass about running shoes, the Starting Line is the place to go. These folks are clearly runners, and they have great practical knowledge about how to find a shoe that will fit your needs. They have a 'sport' podiatrist in the store on the first Saturday of each month to field running injury questions.
"It's important to invest on good shoes," says the physical therapist. I was on a marathon team and my team coaches suggested that we get our shoes here and so my last two pairs were from here.
Every runner has different feet, different running gait, different weight, and other factors. And each person has a different combination of these factors - this means runners need a specific style of running shoes that best fit their feet, in order to prevent injuries. How do you know what kind of shoes are suitable for you?
This is the beauty of this store. This store offers various brands of shoes with different purposes. Workers in the store are extremely helpful. They carefully speculate your feet and put you on a treadmill to see what pronation range you are in and what types of shoes suit you the most. For example, I tend to over-pronate when I run. This means that my feet tend to roll significantly inward when they transform from the heel-strike motion to the toe-off motion. People at the store suggested that I get shoes with medial support that prevents my feet from over-pronating, and so I ended up getting a pair of Asics' Gel-Evolution there.
Depending on your running style, fashion and physical factors, this place can definitely tailor to your needs.
These guys were great. I had been having huge problems with my recently updated running shoes, foot and knee pain, etc. The sales guy watched me walk to see how i roll my feet, had me try on 2 different pair of shoes and then watched me jog on their treadmill to figure out which ones were best for me.
It was so much better than the self-conscious "walk around the store" you get to do in other places.
My shoes (which also needed gel inserts after some discussion and tread mill trial and error) have been fantastic for the last 2 months and I've had absolutely no pain at all.
Their prices are reasonable, what you'd find pretty much at any large sporting goods store and they keep track of what you purchase so you can have a record at the store of shoes that have worked for you in the past. And everyone was supernice to boot.
These guys know their stuff. I believer everyone who works there is a runner. They are always helpful, finding out what works for you.
They never try to push the expensive stuff if that isn't right for you.
Just like everyone else has said, they put you on a treadmill and watch how you run and let you get a real feel for the shoes.
My podiatrist sent me here for athletic shoes because these people really know how to fit a shoe to your foot. They are experts! This shop is frequented by runners. Another tip: try Brooks shoes.....I don't wear any other brand of athletic shoe.
So my sister in law and I decided to run the marathon, jus cuz, and we needed shoes. After reading the yelp reviews I decided to try this place out cause they have a treadmill in their store, how cool.
*Some advice for the ladies who care*
SHAVE.
If your wearing pants your gonna haveta roll em up. If you dont care then cool, but its just a warning.
Oh, and be prepared to go on a treadmill and get checked out, well, get your feet checked out anyway.
(They ask you to walk and jog on the treadmill to find what shoe would work best for you.)
The guy who helped us out, Jeremiah was cute and funny, a big plus ; )
The other people that worked there were really nice too.
They are pretty persuasive when it comes to purchasing a shoe, but in a good way. You can tell the people that work here are very passionate about having the appropriate shoes for running. I wasnt sure about buying my shoes because Im not working right now and dont have much moola but the people from Starting Line rightfully pointed out that its important to have a good shoe otherwise one can have injuries while training.
Anway, a good shoe is a great investment.
LA MArathon Here I (and my AWESOME Sister in law) COME!!!
As all the reviews say, the people who work here are really nice, experienced runners themselves and gave excellent 'pearls' of running advice. The man who helped me was wonderful. I did roll up my pant leg and run on the treadmill and outside to test out the shoes. He brought out a few pairs for me to try while giving out great running tips.
The shoes are great. I got some running socks and some orthotics as well.
Would highly recommend.
this store rocks my slow-as-snails running world. i'm a really bad runner and i've always had some pains (knees, ankles) and they totally made me feel at home and comfortable going there and the different people that have helped me in my many trips back have been so incredibly helpful every single time. they put you on a treadmill and watch you run. they watch you walk. they look at your feet and assess your specific needs. they bring out multiple pair that might work and have you try them all on and run in them. and, they're no more expensive than a lot of bigger places. sometimes they are even less expensive. i use running shoes that i NEVER would have picked out myself and all of my pains have gone away. i totally love this place and don't know if i would even still be running had they not found me the perfect shoe over and over again.
