Jayne Aspan, owner of The Runner’s Soul in Elmhurst, Il (home of Coach Joe Newton’s York Dukes and The Long Green Line) isn’t your typical running store owner meaning she didn’t hang up her spikes in high school only to turn around and sell them to new runners as an adult. No, she first began running as a way to combat post-maternity weight gain after her first child. Though she was a newbie, she quickly became hooked on both the endorphin high as well as the physical weight loss. When she found herself running road races, joining running clubs and participating in marathons she knew she needed another outlet for all her running fervor. The natural progression led her to opening The Runner’s Soul in Elmhurst, Il, her hometown. The goal was to create an independent store that was deeply connected to all the nearby communities.

To accomplish this goal she started by sponsoring races and fund raising activities. This led to hosting fun runs in partnership with local restaurants. But she didn’t stop there, Aspan started a half marathon training program and even a Couch to 5k program for beginning runners. To top it all off and stay as deeply connected to the

community as she could, she started hiring local high school and college runners to complement the store’s dedicated sales staff.

Aspan is not only a proud business owner in the town of Elmhurst, she’s a proud resident as well. Who wouldn’t be? York Community High School has won more cross country championships than any high school in the country and has even recently won the Nike National Cross Country Championship. However, The Runner’s Soul also caters to all of the surrounding communities, many of whom have their own history of cross country and track & field success.

The Runner’s Soul is amongst the first running stores in the nation to carry The Long Green Line. It only makes sense since the documentary is story of their local high school and its legendary Coach Newton, a long time friend and supporter of The Runner’s Soul. But Aspan sees the true value of the film in the lessons Coach Newton impresses upon the youth of their community: hard work, commitment, perseverance, personal sacrifice and above all – teamwork.  The Runner’s Soul doesn’t only espouse these beliefs, Aspan and her staff live by them everyday.

We here at LGL Productions would like to thank The Runner’s Soul and Jayne Aspan for the long-term commitment to The Long Green Line and Elmhurst’s running community. The York Dukes owe a huge amount of their success to your expertise in helping them pick the very shoes they win the races in.

The Runner’s Soul
124 N York St
Elmhurst, IL 60126-2865
(630) 832-7685
www.therunnerssoul.com