Here at Dave’s Running Shop, our community is at the heart of everything we do. That is why we are thrilled to officially welcome Evan Hughes to the team! Evan’s journey with Dave’s comes full circle—from a high school runner buying his very first pair of track spikes to becoming a trusted brand partner, and now joining our core team as the General Manager and Outside Sales Director. We sat down with Evan to talk about his roots in Northwest Ohio, his favorite gear, and how a hometown running shop shaped his life and career.
From Track Spikes to Team Member: Evan's Dave's Story
A Toledo native and Whitmer High School graduate (Class of '07), Evan's history with Dave's started long before his career in the run specialty industry.
"Being from Toledo, I was always aware of Dave's, as I grew up not far from our Sylvania location. When I discovered that I might actually enjoy running before starting High School, I visited the Sylvania location for shoes and spikes for my upcoming track & field season. From there, I spent the rest of my High School running career shopping with Dave's and always remember receiving an experience that you wouldn't expect to find at a shoe store."
After high school, Evan built a career on the brand side of the running industry, serving as a Territory Sales Manager for Mizuno starting in 2022, and later as a Field Service Rep at Altra in 2025. In that role, he worked closely with Dave's as a vendor and community partner, helping host store events and introduce new shoe models to local runners.
For Evan, returning to his roots was an easy decision:
"Dave's has always stood out to me as a business committed to its community, and provided me a space to find inspiration after each of my visits. During my time on the brand-side of this industry, I've had the opportunity to work with many incredible run specialty stores and people, but there's something special to be said about being able to work with the community in your hometown. That will always be my favorite part of working with Dave's."
Quick Hits with Evan
Favorite Shoes (Top 3)
Having tested countless models across different brands over the years, Evan narrowed his all-time favorites down to a Top 3 list:
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Saucony Kinvara (v1): "My all-time favorite shoe. It was the first shoe I was gifted when I started my career in the running industry, and it will always hold a special place in my heart (plus, it's just quite fun to run in!)."
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Mizuno Neo Vista: "More recently, my feet and legs have really responded well to all versions of this shoe."
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Altra Torin 9: "Another current favorite that keeps my legs feeling great on daily runs."
Favorite Dave's Event: The Ohio/Michigan Run
Before his daughter was born, Evan rarely missed this annual rivalry run.
"This event provided a fun way to not only get out and move, but to reconnect with close friends in the area who also love the race," Evan shares. "The celebration and party following the race has always been a fantastic touch!"
Fun Fact: From Half-Marathoner to 50K Ultra Finisher
Until recently, Evan believed the half marathon was his absolute distance limit. That all changed this past August when he tackled—and completed—his very first 50K trail race!
Because he skipped the traditional 26.2-mile road race distance on his way up, he technically completed his very first marathon during the 50K ultra.
"I had always believed that the half marathon was my distance of choice, and I could not fathom going any further," Evan says. "Special shoutout to the Queen City Running crew in Marquette and Jacob Barnes (Saucony/former Dave's employee) for helping to disprove that belief of mine!"
Stop By and Say Hello!
Whether you're gearing up for your first track season like Evan did years ago or training for your own ultra-distance goal, stop by Dave's Running Shop to talk shoe tech, training, and racing with Evan and the rest of our team!
