Prior to opening Trailhead Running Supply in 2022, Darren and Kathy Beck said they made business decisions with great intentionality. The married couple point to the person they hired to be the general manager, the store location and breed of dog in the company’s branding as exemplifying deliberate planning.

The backstory

Darren said he was a runner in high school and college. Then, after a running hiatus, he started trail running in 2015. Kathy said she started running in 2017.

“He [Darren] was running all the time, and I never saw him,” Kathy said.”I said, ‘I guess I better start running.’”

The couple became involved in a trail running community where they met Drew Flowers in 2018.


Flowers said he played various sports as a child then started running 5Ks and marathons and eventually fell in love with trail running, particularly the nature component. He also had experience working at specialty running stores.

In 2020, the Becks approached Flowers with their idea of opening a trail running supply store in Flower Mound. The deal was sealed verbally while on a trail run.

“He (Flowers) was doing a 100 mile run on his own and we were running with him,” Darren said. “At about mile 8 ... I asked him, ‘Do you think a running store in Lakeside would work?’ He said, ‘Let's do it.’”

What they offer


Flowers said they stock a wide variety of trail running gear such as shoes, hydration vests, trekking poles, headlamps and more. Darren added they also stock road shoes.

“Trail shoes give you a little bit more traction and a little bit more protection,” Flowers said. “Most trail shoes will have a toe cap—it protects your toes from rocks.”

What else?

Two main reasons this location was chosen is that there is not another run specialty store in Denton County and the proximity to Northshore Trailhead, which has intermittent views of Grapevine Lake.


Trailhead Running Supply hosts weekly events like trail hikes and road runs. Kathy teaches a free yoga class on Monday nights at the store.

“The problem with runners is they don't stretch. So that's my job—to get them to stretch,” Kathy said.

Quote of note

Flowers said when selecting merchandise he caters to a wide variety of needs, such as families planning on hiking while on vacation to those who are more serious about running and are looking for shoes with carbon plating and supercritical foam.


Darren said the company branding highlights the welcome they provide to people of all activity levels.

“It’s a Boston Terrier, which aren’t traditionally dogs who run,” Darren said. “Trail running is all inclusive. We have hikers, slow runners and fast seasoned runners. That dog represents we’re inclusive for everyone.”