Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Achilles Heel is the creation of former personal trainer and long-distance runner Katie Alexander. The shop specialises in running gear as well as offering podiatry, diet advice, massage therapy and physio appointments in its own adjoined clinic. ‘I remember saying to a friend one day on a whim that “there’s not enough good running shops in Glasgow; I’m going to open one,”’ recalls Alexander. After being offered a small unit in De Courcy’s Arcade, she decided to take the plunge.

‘I phoned a few of the brands who came up to take a look and I opened up. It only had three seats and we could only get about five people in it. Three years later we came here.’ This ‘here’ is her store on Great Western Road, a recently renovated space that now employs more than 20 people, housing high-end brands from Saucony, Hoka and On to lesser-known names such as Norda, for those looking to run on-road or on-trail. 

Optional gait analysis is offered in-store by staff members, and customers can test out shoes on a treadmill for both fit and feel. Technical running socks and carefully curated activewear line the shop’s bright walls, while the open-plan neighbouring unit provides a calm waiting area for visitors to their clinic.

While Achilles Heel has historically been a hub for weekly club runners and also sponsors athletic organisations for young people, Alexander has been delighted to see lots of new participants come through the door. ‘This is good for Scotland because we were known for not being a very fit nation,’ says Alexander. ‘Now everyone is running, meeting at coffee shops and even dating via run clubs. I think it’s incredible.’

Achilles Heel, 593 Great Western Road, Glasgow.