Locally Owned and Operated

Reno Running Company is the local source for all your running and walking needs. Matt and Aimee Balzer opened RRC in 2011 with the mission of helping people achieve their active lifestyle goals.  Each member of our expert staff has a diverse and extensive background to help answer any questions you may have.

Community Giving

Reno Running Company has given over $100,000 to local nonprofit organizations. Including a few hundred pair of free shoes via scholarships to local HS athletes and cash donations to organizations including the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail (formerly the Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway), Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation (formerly Angel Kiss Foundation), Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery MuseumGirls on the Run -SierrasTruckee Meadows Parks FoundationBoys and Girls Club of Truckee MeadowsStep 2, Reno High School’s We The People and Junior ROTC programs and Galena High School’s Leadership and Girls Varsity Soccer programs. We contributed proceeds from our races. We donated entries to our races. We helped in many other ways including providing race equipment, shirts or race bibs.

In addition, Reno Running Company had its own scholarship called the Ku Stevens Legacy Scholarship by which it awarded a $500 scholarship annually to two high school seniors heading off to college.

Meet The Team

matt and amy balzer

Matt and Aimee Balzer

Owners of Reno Running Company

Matt and Aimee Balzer, owners of Reno Running Company, were honored to carry on Eric and Stephanie Lerude’s Race178 legacy starting October 14th, 2022. The Race178 name will remain the same along with its mission of showcasing the Reno-Tahoe area through premium running races.

Kelly Corrigan

Kelly Corrigan

VP Race Operations

Where were you born/grow up?
I was born in Colorado but grew up in Wisconsin.

Why do you enjoy being on the Race178 team?
We do good “stuff”! The team itself and those of you who do our races are so incredible to be around.

What is your favorite sports team?
Duh, the Green Bay Packers!

What is your favorite way to be active?
Run, ski, hike, jump into any body of water but prefer the ocean.

Chris Winter

Chris Winter

General Manager

When did you start working for Reno Running Company?
July 2020

What is your favorite running brand?

On Running
How do you embody an active lifestyle? What are your active lifestyle goals?
I love trail running and cycling. I also really enjoy running road marathons; honestly I just like running any and everything.
One of my main goals is to be able to stay active an healthy for my entire life. But more specifically, I want to run a sub 4 hour 50k trail race and possibly finish a 100 mile trail race one day.
Whats your best tip for runners?
My best tip for runners is to set goals and ease into them. So many runners get excited and start off with a bang and do to much to soon. But, by not doing to much to soon you will avoid injury and help running become a habit.
What is one fun or quirky fact about you?
An interesting and quirky fact about me is that I can name all of the presidents of America.
Joseph Nichols

Joseph Nichols

Sparks Store Manager

When did you start working for Reno Running Company?
I don’t know. It was fall 2012.
Favorite Brand:
None! (But it’s probably Xero Shoes)
What’s your best tip for runners?
Depends on the runner – be your unique you!What is one fun or quirky fact about you?
I do not view myself in either of those ways- you’d have to ask someone else.
Caymen Hoshizaki

Caymen Hoshizaki

Marketing Manager

When did you start working for Reno Running Company?
January of 2018.
What is your favorite brand?
Altra
How do you embody an active lifestyle? What are your active lifestyle goals?
Matt calls me the “Best runner I know, that isn’t a runner.” Most people would call me a “Mountain Athlete” which, to me, means I am a climber and skier first, and runner second. For me, running is something that allows me to go further, move faster and see more in the mountains. I am happiest in the mountains, and my goal has always been to spend as much time as possible in the high places of the world.
What’s your best tip for runners?
All stress is cumulative. If you are going through a stressful period in your life you can expect to recover more slowly and have a higher chance of injury. Give yourself some grace and lighten your training load during stressful times.
What is one fun or quirky fact about you?
I consistently misspell “Mountain”, in fact if you search your inbox for “Mountian” you’ll probably find an email I wrote!

Taylor Wallen

Taylor Wallen

Community Manager

Where were you born/grow up?
Born and raised in Las Vegas. Definitely a Nevada girl!

Why do you enjoy being on the Race178 team?
Helping runners achieve their goals is such a gift! Race178 produces premier events that are fun and safe for all levels of runners. It’s a wonderful team to be part of!

What is your favorite way to be active?
Running really really far! I also love climbing and backpacking.

What do you do in your free time?
I just love spending time outdoors with my husband and our dog.

Henry Weisberg

Henry Weisberg

Inventory Manager

When did you start working for Reno Running Company?
October 2018

What is your favorite brand?
Asics!

How do you embody an active lifestyle? What are your active lifestyle goals?

I enjoy running and hiking on the beautiful trails around Reno and Truckee. My goal is to average 50 miles of running a week.

Stick to a schedule and be consistent.

I have a black belt in martial arts.
Julie Fontani

Julie Fontani

Volunteer Coordinator

Why do you enjoy being on the Race178 team?
Race178’s goal is happy runners and fun, safe events. Who doesn’t love to be surrounded by all that joy? I’m honored to be a part of this amazing team!

What is your favorite sports team?
Cheesehead forever! I’m a Green Bay Packers fan and any sports team one of my kids is on.

Hugger or not?
I’m a big hugger!

What is your favorite way to be active?
In my free time I enjoy doing anything outside. If the weather is bad I love to stay inside and snuggle with my dogs.

Leland Peterman

Leland Peterman

Manager of Racecourse Logistics

When did you start working for Reno Running Company?
April 2023

How do you embody an active lifestyle? What are your active lifestyle goals?
I’ve got three key sports I pursue regularly: climbing, motocross, and running. I also coach a kids skateboarding program in the spring, summer and fall. My goals are to stay healthy and to always keep training fun!

Whats your best tip for runners?
Appreciate the hard days, learn to enjoy them!

What is one fun or quirky fact about you?
I’ve crossed the USA three times on my motorcycle for a total of 16,000 miles of amazing travels.

Laura Pine

Laura Pine

Shift Lead

When did you start working at Reno Running Company?
November of 2023!

What is your favorite brand?
Saucony

How do you embody an active lifestyle? What are your active lifestyle goals?
Running is my calm place where I can gather my thoughts before I start my day. I don’t personally have a goal myself but I do try my best to share my experiences with others and hope that I can make a difference in someone else’s active lifestyle to help them achieve amazing opportunities in the future.

Whats your best tip for runners?
To have fun, to be grateful, to have confidence in yourself and others and to challenge yourself everyday.
What is one fun or quirky fact about you?
I love to paint.

Reno Running Company is the local source for all your running and walking needs. Matt and Aimee Balzer opened RRC in 2011 with the mission of helping people achieve their active lifestyle goals.  Each member of our expert staff has a diverse and extensive background to help answer any questions you may have.