Our Story
Kate Eggers Leaf and John Leaf are former middle school teachers with a combined 45 years of running experience. Kate is a Montevideo, MN native and John grew up in Center City, MN. Both started running in 7th grade, continued into college at Gustavus, and made a lifestyle out of it thereafer.
After over 10 years of teaching, both were looking for a change of pace and a fresh start. Their backgrounds in teaching facilitate clear advice on training and complementary activities that can aid individuals in maximizing their potential. Their experience with footwear, injury rehab, and apparel will support customers in chasing their goals; from their first 5k to a pr in the marathon.
Our Fit Process:
Experience The Best St. Croix River Valley Shoe Fiiting
Step 1: We start by getting to know you—whether you’re training for a race, looking for a good walking or gym shoe, or on your feet for a long work shift. We’ll ask about how you move, how often you’re active, and about what has and hasn’t worked for you in the past.
Step 2: We’ll watch you walk and check your arch height to better understand your biomechanics. Bring your current shoes too—we’ll look at the tread wear and see what they’ve been through.
Step 3: Based on what we’ve learned, we’ll guide you through a curated selection of shoes that match your needs. We focus on how a shoe feels and functions – trying them on is key !
Step 4: We’ll wrap things up by discussing average shoe lifespan and training tips if you’re ramping things up. Questions welcome—we’re here to help beyond the checkout.
Our Team
John
Co-owner of Wild River Running and a lifelong running nerd (you should see his spreadsheets) John’s been chasing finish lines since 7th grade—and he’s still out there pushing for PRs on the Minnesota racing circuit. A former middle school science teacher and high school cross country coach, John has a natural gift for breaking things down—like explaining differences between shoes, fuel, or workouts in a training plan. Whether you’re training for your next big race or just looking for something comfortable for being on your feet all day, John’s here to help you find the perfect fit.
Kate
The other Wild River Running owner, former middle school teacher, and lifelong runner, Kate brings a deep love for movement and community to everything she does. She’s genuinely curious about what gets people moving—whether it’s training for a marathon, planning a hiking adventure, or just starting to run for the first time. With her encouraging energy and thoughtful approach, Kate helps make the store a place where everyone feels welcome and excited to take the next step.
Scott
Known around here as The Pileated Woodpecker, Scott is instantly recognizable—painted in red, full of energy, and always getting the job done. While we’re not saying exactly how many years he’s been running and coaching (just know it’s more than a few), and we’re definitely not bragging about how many cross country titles his teams have won (more than 10), what we will say is this: spend five minutes talking with him and you’ll quickly realize he knows his stuff. Whether it’s training advice or finding the perfect pair of shoes, Scott’s your guy.
Ronni
Ronni brings years of experience as both a track and cross country coach—and yes, a former teacher too (are you seeing the pattern?). She’s passionate about helping student-athletes feel good and look good while they run, and just as excited to help walkers, joggers, and casual strollers find gear that fits their goals and their style. Whether you’re lacing up for a meet or a morning stroll, Ronni’s ready with the perfect combo of knowledge, encouragement, and just the right amount of flair.
Ben
Ben’s one of those people who’s annoyingly good at a lot of things—but in the best way. He runs fast, takes amazing photos and videos, and somehow still finds time to volunteer, announce at races, and create content for the running community. He loves hearing what people are training for, which makes him a great listener and an even better teammate at the store. Just don’t ask him to “test out” a pair of Sauconys—we’re still waiting to get ours back from the time he ran home in them last fall.
Kayla
Kayla has been part of Wild River Running since day two—literally. She walked into the store asking about group runs and how to get involved, and she’s been helping build our community ever since. A natural cheerleader and an expert in inclusivity, Kayla has a gift for making everyone feel welcome, whether you’ve been running your whole life or are just thinking about lacing up for the first time. If you’re looking for encouragement, connection, or just a friendly face, Kayla’s got you covered.