The Franklin Resource Group, the leading retail merchandise company in the sports industry, sent their secret-shopper reviewers to visit running retailers around the country and rate them based on 20 criteria including environment, fitting and checkout. The stores were also rated on community service, and vendors were asked to evaluate them based on brand building and credit worthiness.    Rhode Runner was voted Top 50 Running Store in the country! Thank you to all our fantastic customers! Rhode Runner was also named Best in New England in 2006 and 2007 and Best in Rhode Island in 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012