About Runners' Retreat
Expert advice and personalised service from people passionate about your sport
from our shops in Marlow and Farnham Common (previously Apex Sports)
Runners' Retreat started from a desire to provide everything for runners in Marlow and the surrounding area. We pride ourselves on having a big selection of brands, to offer genuine choice for everybody. Runners' Retreat has links with all the running clubs in the area. We are actively involved and support many of the local races. We offer advice to runners of all ability and age. The serious club runner. The long distance ultra runner. Those who run for fitness, to lose weight and for our mental well being. We're all runners.
10 years after the Marlow Shop opened, we spread our wings and we now also have Runners' Retreat Farnham Common. Apex Sports was one of the first proper specialist running shops in the country and gained a great reputation over the years. Mike Baldock established a great shop and introduced Matt and Brian into the trade. With his retirement in 2021, we are incredibly pleased to take on a second shop.
We aim to be the leading hub for all things running between Reading and London.
Marlow
Farnham Common
Meet the team
Our shops are run by experienced runners, for runners
Matt
A lifelong passion for running led to Matt setting up Runners' Retreat in 2011.
Matt ran competitively in middle distance and cross country events for Wycombe Phoenix, Windsor, Slough Eton and Hounslow and Belgrave Harriers. He then focused on coaching and has helped a large number of club, master and international athletes over the last two decades.
Matt now tries his best to run a few times a week for fitness. When not working, Matt loves to travel. Croatia is his favourite place. Look out for a Runners' Retreat there one day!
Brian
After running the most successful Woolworths store in the country, Brian teamed up with Matt to start Runners' Retreat. Brian has a vast knowledge of running and triathlon. He competed in the first London marathon in 1981 and has also completed the Lanzarote Ironman.
He still runs most days of the week and has helped lead a number of highly successful couch to 5km programs with Marlow Striders. Brian loves the outdoors, so if not running, loves to be out walking in the countryside.
Emily
Emily joined us after recently graduating from Birmingham University. She is also a 'running graduate' from parkrun! Like so many runners now, Emily got into running by doing parkrun on a Saturday morning.
During university, she also started training and competing in triathlons. She runs with Hazlemere Runners and is looking at doing a marathon in the future. When not running, Emily loves to watch her football team, Brentford!
Fin
Fin joined the team in 2021. He's represented the County on a number of occasions in cross country events and is one the best young distance runners in the area. In August 2023 Fin made his half-marathon debut at the Antrim Coastal Half clocking 68:06.
Fin is a massive Glasgow Rangers fan and watches them whenever he can!
Wesley
Wes joined Runners' Retreat as a Store Manager in September 2022 when we completed the refit of our Farnham Common store.
When Wes started running he didn't want to run further than 5km, but has since run numerous 5km, 10km, half marathons and marathons
''I picked it up later in life so know all the pitfalls.''
Always willing to push himself when running Wes describes himself when not running as ''typically South African in that outside of work I love playing or watching most sports, spending time with family and travelling.''
Gareth
When Gareth started running, he joined Datchet Dashers and trained with Mike who was about to open the original Farnham Common running shop - Apex Sports.
He later ran track, road and cross country for WSEH AC (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) and helped build Apex Sports as a thriving business for local runners.
''I've always preferred shorter distances (5km, 10km) but I've completed 2 marathons (London and LA) and still run whenever I can.''
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PASSIONATE ABOUT RUNNING
We are all experienced runners and love to talk all things running with our customers.
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EXPERT ADVICE FROM RUNNERS
Free gait analysis and extensive experience in fitting shoes. Whether its advice on starting running or the challenge of the marathon; we can help.
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EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PRODUCTS
We stock a wide range of running footwear and clothing and pride ourselves on having lots of options, whatever your requirements.
