It all started with a simple truth: running isn't just exercise. It’s early morning alarms, quiet trail head revelations and a community of people who voluntarily push themselves through hell just to feel alive.
We’re Mike and Rob—two brothers bound by blood, a deep love for the sport, and a shared vision for what a true running community should feel like.
For years, Mike (that’s me on the left) walked the corporate path, spending hours building out acquisition strategies while spending every spare moment laced up on the road and trail. But running has a way of showing you what actually matters.
In 2026, I pulled the trigger. I left the corporate desk behind to go all in—committing 100% of my energy to building a life centered around the best sport in the world, alongside my older brother, Rob. No safety net, no half-measures. Just pure belief in what we're building.
Standing right beside me is my older brother, Rob. Beyond being an ultra-trail runner himself, Rob is one of the founder and craftsman behind Umdabu, a world-class furniture brand renowned for creating bespoke, organic timber designs. Rob brings that exact eye for craftsmanship, detail, and functionality into fkt. run store.
He’s currently designing and building out our physical home base—a custom, highly functional retail and community space engineered from the ground up for runners to connect, hang out, and flourish.
Why fkt. run store Exists
We didn't start fkt. run store to just stack shelves with average gear. We created it to solve two clear problems for South African runners:
- Bespoke, World-Class Gear: Bringing elite, hard-to-find global running tech—like our exclusive distribution of nerd belts.
- A Community Like No Other: We aren't just an e-commerce site; we're building a home base. From monthly full moon community runs to local pop-up events and expert talks, we’re here to bridge the gap between elite performance and local connection.
Whether you're lacing up for your first 5K, chasing a marathon PB, or heading into the mountains for an ultra, we're in your corner.
Welcome to the inner circle. Watch this space—we're just getting warmed up.
— Mike & Rob
