On The Podium

2020 was a very different year for everyone, and challenging for all, including those in retail. With the overarching premise that ‘everything had to be done to keep people safe’ the sector duly obliged and closed its doors in March 2020.

Behind the scenes the head office team was working hard from home offices to keep the business as strong as possible in readiness for the day we would open the doors and welcome our customers again.

Regular dates in the calendar came and went, with events cancelled or postponed. This included the announcement of THE 2020 NATIONAL RUNNING AWARDS which was put on hold. 

Voting had already taken place throughout the last half of 2019 and the early part of 2020, but the results which would normally be announced in April, were kept under lock and key. The annual glitzy awards ceremony was postponed amid the ever-rising pandemic.

With the announcement of the elite-only VM London Marathon due to take place in October 2020, the announcement of the award winners was rescheduled for the same month, but as an online viewing only. We tuned in in hopeful anticipation to see if we would get a podium place in the three categories in which we had been nominated.

After months of waiting, finally the news we had been hoping for

It was GOLD… for Best Customer Service.

What an accolade! Delivering the best customer service has been the foundation of Up & Running since 1992, underpinning everything we do and at the heart of all our decisions.

It was GOLD…. for Best National Retailer.

We are proud as punch to receive this award again, because we genuinely believe we have the BEST staff team and the best customers of course.

It was SILVER… for Online Retailer.

This is an amazing achievement in a year which saw our online team challenged to the limit. It has been an incredible performance by our online team – and it has been acknowledged with the highest award it has ever received.

Thank you so much to all our customers who made this possible by voting at the 2020 National Running Awards. It means the world to us.