Our Staff
Learn more about the faces behind the windows and website of The Runners Shop.
Lynn Bourque, The Boss
Having personally experienced the life-changing power of running, Lynn loves to share her enthusiasm for all things running! Coming from a background in hospitality (where it just so happens she worked with store manager Greg for many years), Lynn believes that excellent customer service transforms an everyday interaction into a memorable experience.
What are you reading right now? Running with Purpose by Jim Weber, the CEO of Brooks Running. His story of how he took Brooks from near bankruptcy to yearly sales of over 1 billion dollars is filled with all kinds of outstanding leadership and business advice.
Who would you invite to your talk show? Barack and Michelle Obama. Why? They have inspired me in countless ways. Michelle's catchphrase, "When they go low, we go high," applies to many situations in our daily lives, personally and professionally.
What is not a big deal to most people but is torture to you? Customer service reps who say, "No problem". It drives me up the wall. I’ll settle for an old-fashioned “You’re welcome” anytime.
Where do you like to run? My favourite route is to head north through the Cedarvale ravine to the beltline, circle through Mount Pleasant cemetery, and then head south through the Moore Park ravine.
Greg Lindsay, Store Manager
Greg is a long-time runner and cyclist who loves early morning runs on the Don Valley Trails and cycling road trips to cottage country. Having worked in the hospitality industry for many years, his customer service skills are second to none! So, he's your man if you need a good food or wine recommendation or a pair of new shoes.
Who would you invite to your talk show? Paul McCartney. Why? Because he was one of the Beatles!! They changed music in so many ways.
If your pets could talk, what would they say about you? You're the best!
What is your guilty pleasure? Butter Tarts
What's the most inspiring part of your job? I love being the guy who keeps everyone in their lane, including the boss. A run specialty store always has a lot of different pokers in the fire, from customer service to run clubs, events, product launches, and so much more. As the store manager, I ensure all the puzzle pieces fit together.
Michael Denomme, Footwear Manager
Michael is the store’s Footwear Manager and coach at The Runners Shop in Toronto, bringing over four years of coaching experience to the team. He’s completed four marathons, with the New York City Marathon holding a special place, as his favorite course. Michael loves to run everywhere from the roads and trails to the track. No matter the surface or distance, he’s a big believer that there’s no wrong way to run, as long as you’re having fun and moving forward. Michael loves running fast, talking training, and is a self-confessed shoe nerd who’s always happy to help runners find the right fit. Whether you’re chasing a PR or just getting started, Michael loves chatting, training, running, shoe tech, and more! Michael also enjoys working as a music educator and conductor in his time away from the store.
Who would you invite to your talk show? “Laz ", founder of the Backyard Ultra and Barkley Marathons, I have to know what on earth that guy was thinking.
How many shoes should a runner have in their closet? I have 38 pairs of running shoes in my active rotation, so maybe I’m the wrong person to ask. But I personally believe that every runner could utilize 3 to 5 shoes in their weekly rotation: a max cushion shoe, a daily trainer, a lightweight shoe, a speed shoe, and definitely a race shoe.
What food do you refuse to eat? Brussel sprouts are a no-go—sorry, mom.
What’s your guilty pleasure? My guilty pleasure is my favourite Netflix TV show, XO Kitty. It is a high school American/Korean drama based on the books “To the Boys I’ve Loved Before.”
A.K., Salesperson
A.K. completed a Mechanical Engineering program and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business at Seneca Polytechnic. Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, A.K. plays soccer for Seneca. Outside of grinding and running, he enjoys spending time outdoors. A.K.’s favorite snack on a run is a Krispy Kreme doughnut. He loves The Runner’s Shop more than he loves Max’s family.
Millie, Salesperson
Millie has been serving the Toronto running community at The Runner’s Shop for the last 3 years. Outside of the store, she is the head sprints/hurdles coach with the Bisons Track Club, as well as a scenic and costume designer, having recently graduated from York University’s Theatre Design program. Millie has been through many phases with her running, from the 100 meter hurdles, to the half-marathon, she’s always eager to try something new! She’s excited to help you find the right gear for wherever you may be on your running journey.
Max, Salesperson
Max is a recently graduated Statistics and Computer Science student from The University of Toronto. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Max ran Cross Country and Track for UofT. Outside of learning and running, he enjoys cooking. On any given day, you can find Max struggling to finish his linear algebra homework on time or splitting time running on the Toronto Beltline and Prospect Park. Max loves The Runner’s Shop more than he loves his own family.
Abby, Salesperson
Abby is one of our track specialists. She ran varsity track and cross-country, where she raced the 800m and 1500m. She's now getting into road racing, and is loving the energy and community in the Toronto running scene. Abby would be so happy to help you out with finding the right shoes or spikes!
Darren, Salesperson
Darren Weldrick is one of the original shoe fitters in the city with 30 years of running retail experience. Darren worked for 3 years at the previous location and returned to The Runners Shop at this location 4 years ago. “I’ve managed or worked at every running store in the city at some stage“
