It all started when two guys met while competing for rival schools. Scott Dvorak and Eric Hichman were the fiercest of competitors, each always trying to out do the other. The fact that Scott ran for North Carolina State University, and Eric for the University of North Carolina, only added fuel to the fire. From that fierce rivalry though, a friendship was spawned off the track that lasted even after the two had parted ways after college. Scott continued to pursue his athletic career, which later brought him to Charlotte to be closer to his coach, Charlotte native Jim Cooper. There, Scott made a home and a name for himself as one of the top distance runners in the United States.
Eric, a Gastonia native, pursued his own running for a short time, qualifying for the 1992 Olympic Trials, but then left his serious running life and Chapel Hill for new opportunities in Asheville, North Carolina. There, Eric worked for a few years in sales for a major copier manufacturer before going into business for himself. In 1997, Eric opened Jus' Running, a running specialty store in Asheville, which caters to runners and walkers of all levels and abilities.
In August of 2000 the two former competitors reunited to open the first Charlotte Running Co. in the Historic South End District of Charlotte, just south of Uptown. In 2003, Eric made the decision to pursue other interests, getting out of the business all together.
In March of 2004, the store moved from its original location in the Historic Leeper-Wyatt Grocery Store Building to a larger 2400 sq. ft. location at Dilworth Gardens Shopping Center in the Dilworth Community of Charlotte.
In 2006, Scott opened a second location in the Promenade Shopping Center in South Charlotte. He sold that store to Donny Forsyth in July of 2010. Donny, one of the top masters triathletes in the nation, boasted a long and impressive triathlon resume and brought that knowledge to the Promenade store.
Today, the Charlotte Running Co. is owned by Scott and Donny, who continue to strive to provide the Charlotte fitness community with the best possible product and customer service available......PERIOD!
Scott and Donny continue to service the Charlotte Running community, as well as the Running Specialty Channel. The Charlotte Running Company manages several races throughout the year, including two of Charlotte's largest, the Charlotte SouthPark Turkey Trot 8K, and the Charlotte RaceFest Half Marathon and 10K Run.
Scott currently sits on the Board of Directors for two organizations. Cross-Country For Youth, a 501c3 non-profit program designed to introduce youth to the sports of cross-country combined with the introduction of character development concepts. Scott also sits on the Board of Directors for the Independant Running Retailers Association, which represents the interests of running specialty retailers and vendors across the country.
