Here's a snapshot of the FR&W team, how we work together, and why we love what we do.

Steve & Genevie Roguski, Store Owners
Steve ('58) started the store in 1999, after teaching middle school, drawing maps and working on F-15 jet fighters. He moved from Florida, by way of Alaska, New Mexico, Connecticut and New Hampshire, in 1998 to be where it's happenin' and grow roots for once. Met Genevie ('66) soon after and together we work to create a nifty, helpful place to find all the best gear for runners and walkers in the best place in the world. Steve still runs and actually enjoys long runs in all weather and terrain, especially the Chuckanut 50K course. He’s a founding board member of Sustainable Connections. Hopes to someday be able to jam on the harmonica with his son Derek strumming the guitar, mandolin or banjo.

Genevie has contributed to the success of the store from early on. Since the summer of 2006, she has gone full bore with her talents and energy after transitioning from her recreational therapy career of 14 years. It may interest folks to know that she still holds track/cross country records from Sehome HS and WWU and is a sports hall of fame member at WWU! She walks a lot these days, but still runs like the wind while wearing orthotics in her neutral running shoes.

Steve and Genevie have two young ones, Hannah and Derek. They are both very smart, creative, musical, and artistic. Hannah ('93) prefers dancing to running, and Derek ('85) likes to jump and vault as he runs (parkour!).

Craig Bartlett, Store Manager
Craig has been running for over 30 years (yes, he's old!).

Favorite trail: I love the variety of trails close to Bellingham. I still get excited when I discover a new one (like the Hush-Hush); there's nothing like that first run on a new trail when you aren't sure what's around the next bend.

Favorite day: Running around Mt. St. Helen's each summer. It's a rough and wild 31-mile circuit with incredible variety and panoramic views. Every year, Sheep Canyon gets deeper and steeper, and it's a challenge just to get across it.

Family time: My wife, Kristen, is a high school art teacher, and we have two boys - Miles, who is almost five, and Chase, who is 2-1/2. Playing with trucks on the beach or in the sandbox is a favorite activity. It won't be long before I'm the slowest runner in our family!

Little-known fact: Art major in college. Won first prize in a juried competition for a lithographic print titled, “I Laugh with Kristen.”

Favorite shoe: When I was faster and on the roads, I absolutely loved the Nike Air Span 2. Now, I'm more of a plodder on the trails. I tend to like heavier, mattress-like shoes with a thick heel and narrow midfoot. The Adidas Adistar Cushion 5 has been the ticket to bliss for me.

Rubbing elbows with the rich and famous: Craig went to high school with actress Kelly Preston, three-time Super Bowl champ Mark Tuinei, six-time world-champion wind surfer Robbie Naish, four-time steeplechase Olympian Henry March, and Barack Obama.

Muffin tip: Try the rhubarb muffin at the Dutch Mother's Bakery in Lynden.

Good flicks: The Milagro Beanfield War, The Sweet Hereafter, Local Hero.

Kelsey Zane
My running began in sixth grade when I decided that the PE mile was something I needed to train for. Luckily, I was able to complete the entire four laps around the track with minimal embarrassment and no medical emergencies. Plus I learned I kind of enjoyed running around my neighborhood and getting in shape. After borrowing my mom's old shoes for a while I got my own and joined the track and field team in junior high. By ninth grade I was tempted to try out this thing called cross country and am quite glad I did. Throughout high school, cross country was the name of the game, along with a little tennis and track and field. The training to run races for cross country taught me a great deal about my approach to life and working in a unique team atmosphere. Throughout those years I developed some of my closest friendships and most of my work ethic.

Upon graduation I had to figure how to stay motivated and that's when I began to investigate the trails. It's all about the journey, not so much the time, but the way that I feel during that run. Sometimes the journey is simply a mind wash, the chance to work through my list of things to do. Now, as I am completing a the last quarters of my degree at Western I'm looking towards graduate school. While getting into a Physical Therapy graduate program is daunting to say the least, being active and working in a fast paced environment is a huge help.

Favorite Active Rest Activities: hiking, tennis, ultimate frisbee...and of course, football. Go Hawks!

Favorite Quote: "Champions are made in the off-season, what have you done today to be better than your competitors?" -Unknown

Most played running song: "The White Unicorn" Wolfmother

Shop Talk: Currently in the Asics Fortitude but will most likely switch to the Mizuno Rider next go around. Am a flat footed neutral runner-yes we exist!

Stefan Allen-Hickey
I discovered running in the seventh grade when I was asked to do the running leg in the junior Ski to Sea race. I remember wearing an old ratty Mossimo t-shirt and a pair of painfully narrow Nikes. I ran recklessly, in the manner of madmen and of young boys eager to impress young girls. Nearing the finish, I swiveled my head to catch a glimpse of the next runner and, seeing no one within a quarter mile, thought to myself "I like this. I could be good at this".

High school was all injuries and academics and garden variety teenage angst. College meant Colorado, health food, high altitude trail running and liberal doses of Nabokov, Cheever and David Foster Wallace.

Now I find myself back in Bellingham, reconnecting with friends and family, cobbling together a plan for the much vaunted “next step”. All signs point to graduate school, but they don’t yet say where, or studying what.

Somewhere in between I’ve managed to live, work, volunteer and/or travel in over 30 countries, mostly in Europe, Asia and North Africa. I am a sucker for Asian street food, especially noodle vendors; but really, any food that sets your taste buds on fire is alright with me.

Favorite movie: Bonnie and Clyde.

Favorite foreign city run: Luxembourg Gardens, Paris. The pathways are well-maintained, the views are picaresque, the proximity to delicious post-run ice cream is convenient.

Josh Vander Wiele, Apparel Manager
My running life began when I was an 8th grader. I ran track for the first time and didn’t even know what cross country was until I was a freshman when I saw some guys running around the soccer field. It didn’t look like much fun to me so didn’t even try it out until I was a junior. Since then, I haven’t stopped. I ran all the way through college and kept on going after I graduated. I got to enjoy the thrill of the marathon when running Chicago in 2005. Since then I’ve completed 7 more marathons including Boston in 2010. After moving to Bellingham in 2008 I have gotten to explore an even greater running experience of running the trails in the Chuckanuts and on Galbraith Mountain.

Favorite shoe: For training it would be the Nike Pegasus and for racing it would be the Nike Lunaracrer.

I grew up in New Jersey and attended Calvin College in Michigan where I got my B.A. in psychology. I then moved to Ohio where I was an assistant coach at a local high school. I coached hurdles and jumps which I am terrible at and had no idea what I was doing, but I Loved it! I then went to Ohio University, getting my masters degree in counseling. I started working as a counselor, then moved to Chicago where I was introduced to the world of specialty running stores. When I found my way to Whatcom County, I initially worked at a local community mental health clinic, working with inmates in the county jail. Unfortunately, the funding got cut so the next logical thing for me to do was work at Fairhaven Runners and Walkers. So, here I am!

Future Goals: Enjoy life at Fairhaven Runners, start doing some long bike rides, and complete the Chuckanut 50k!

Bennett Grimes
I started my competitive running in South East Idaho when I was in middle school, but my true passion was soccer until I was a sophomore in high school. My father was a professional runner in the 80’s and 90’s and introduced me to the amazing sport of running. I started to run with my dad daily and haven’t stopped ever since. Running has now become a very important part of my life.

Education: I graduated from Century High School in Pocatello Idaho and moved to Western Washington University. I am a double Psychology, Communication major graduating in 2011.

Competition: I am the captain of WWU’s cross country and track teams. I was lucky enough to be a part of the cross country team that was 4th in 2009 at the NCAA DII National Championships. I am a two-time NCAA DII cross country All-American.

Trails: My favorite place to go on a long run is Galbraith, but the best place for a nice easy day is the interurban trail.

Erik Bies
Started at store: August 2006.

Favorite part of working: It would be easy to say that getting a great deal on running shoes is a fantastic perk of working for Fairhaven Runners, but truthfully the best part of working, for me, is helping someone getting started with exercise, returning to exercise, or improving performance in running. The appropriate footwear is so important for any form of exercise, and each individual is unique in what they use the shoes for, what they desire from a shoe, and how their foot functions. Exercise is an essential part of every day for anyone in today’s society. It is the BEST preventive medicine for life-threatening disease, and there is no replacement for exercise. With the rise in cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic syndromes, through promoting exercise, I know I’m serving others in a way that has a positive impact on health. I’m happy to be a part of perpetuating a happy and healthy community.

Hobbies: I love to be outdoors running, cycling, fly-fishing, hiking, or skiing. I am also an avid Seahawks fan.

Perfect day: The perfect day for me would be to wake up and go for a 90-minute trail run with some buddies. Then I’d come home and make a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and hash browns with orange juice. Afterwards, I’d go to a Seahawks game with my girlfriend, Megan. Then I’d grill a big steak dinner with beans and sweet potatoes before a night on the river fishing a caddis hatch for trout with my dad and brother.

Running: Currently I volunteer coach with the Western Washington University distance running program. I also do a bit of running on my own still. In college I was a two-time All-American NCAA middle distance athlete. I ran for both Luther College in Decorah, IA and Western Washington here in Bellingham. I aspire to be a head cross country and track and field coach as well as a professor at an NCAA institution to serve as a mentor to young adults.

Education: I graduated from Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, SD in 2002. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in biology at Luther College, Decorah, IA in 2006. In August 2008, I earned a Master’s degree from Western Washington University in human movement and performance. I am a USA Track and Field level 1 certified track and field coach.

Favorite shoe: Nike Luna Racer.

Weakness: Vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.

Quote: “You train best where you are the happiest.” – Frank Shorter

Words to live by: Run fast and turn left.

Dylan Wirkkala
I started running when I was in fourth grade. We had to do the mile in P.E., then my future XC coach held small running camps. I was the starting point guard for my high school basketball team. Now, I run XC/TF at Western. I love running because you get to experience nature and it's a very competitive sport.

Favorite run: going up the “Burninator” and then getting a great view of Mt. Baker.

I love to go surfing back home where I grew up, the Long Beach Peninsula.

Favorite quote: I don't run to add years to my life, I run to add life to my years.

Chad Mullavey
Started working at store: January 2008.

Running: Running has been a passion and hobby ever since I was a young kid. I ran to school every morning and loved when we used to run in PE. Running has been a sport that has been in the family for a while: my grandpa ran in high school and college, as well as my dad. It has now become my turn to snatch the baton. High school cross country, which ironically I was not truly into, sealed the deal. It was that exposure that got me hooked!

Favorite area to run: I love running on fast single-track trail and also through Boulevard Park and downtown. In the summers I love running Whidbey Island while I’m at my beach house.  There is something about that feeling of having nothing around you — just you, your shoes, and the path ahead.

Favorite quote: You are only as strong as you think you are (both mentally and physically).  This has been a great reminder in helping me gain the most from my training.

 Favorite shoe(s): My weapon of choice for taking it to the streets and trail has been the Brooks Adrenaline for about four years, until recently.  Nike came out with the Hayward, which was designed after some sketches made by running legend Steve Prefontaine.  The Hayward is a great balance: cushion, low profile, lightweight and responsive.  I must say I love the shoe.

Reasons I love my job: As many staff have said, I love my job because of you, the customer. I enjoy taking my love of running and using it to help others find their niche.  It is always satisfying to help someone into a great pair of shoes, then hear them, months later, saying, “I am now in the best shape of my life.”  We all want to be heroes, and in this small way I feel that I can be.

About me: I am currently going to Whatcom Community college to get my transfer degree.  From there, I plan to attend Western and enter into the industrial design program -- and from that hopefully be able to design some shoes.

Blake Medhaug
About me: I started competitive running in seventh grade, when I ran cross country to get in shape for basketball. By ninth grade, running had become my favorite sport.

I'm a 2006 graduate of Bothell High School.  While in high school, I worked for Brooks for three years.  Now at WWU, I’m working towards a business major and Spanish minor, and I’m on the cross country and track & field teams.  I competed at the 2007 NCAA DII National Championships in cross country.  After college, I hope to become a competitive marathoner and aim to qualify for the U.S. Olympic trials.

Favorite trail: Anything in the Chuckanuts or Galbraith.  I'm especially fond of Cleator Road.

Favorite Quote: Running to him was real, the way he did it the realest thing he knew. It was all joy and woe, hard as diamond; it made him weary beyond comprehension. But it also made him free. - John L. Parker, Jr.

Jeva Morton
When did you start working at the store: September 2008

How long have you been running: My background is actually in sprinting. When I was little I would race my dad all the time and loved the feeling of moving at lightning speed. I did track camps and clubs up until middle and high school. I continued to sprint through middle school, high school, and college. So, competitively, I’ve run for 11 years. And now I run for fun to enjoy nature and stay in shape. My goal someday is completing a marathon.

Education: In 2004 I graduated from Sehome High School here in Bellingham. In the spring of 2008 I graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma with a Recreation degree and a minor in Coaching.

Most memorable running moments: In 2004 I was the District Champion in the 100m and 200m dash. Also, in both ’02 and ’03 I was the lead off leg in a State Champion 4x100 relay.

Favorite Trail in Bellingham: It’s a toss up between three, the South Bay trail that connects Fairhaven and downtown, the North Lake Whatcom trail and the horse trails up at Lake Padden. All near water, all beautiful. But, nothing will beat running on the Banks Peninsula trek on the South Island of New Zealand.

Favorite shoes: For running, Nike Equalon, feels like you are running on clouds, it’s awesome. For lounging, I LOVE the Keen Timberline or Chaco Flips.

Food: I’m a sucker for seafood. My dream meal would involve crabs and oysters, artichokes, sourdough bread, a honkin salad, watermelon and cake, a lot of cake. YUM!