Sports Direct is offering London Marathon runners celebratory free services

Ahead of the London Marathon weekend, retail giant Sports Direct has announced the launch of three complimentary services for runners, including free medal engraving.

Sports Direct’s London flagship on Oxford Street will be offering three complimentary services starting today.

The first is a free lace tag engraving service that will give participants a motivational boost from loved ones during their run, which is available from Wednesday 19 April to Saturday 22 April.

In addition, runners can head to Sports Direct post-completion of the marathon and use the free medal engraving with framing service – available from Sunday 23 April to Tuesday 25 April.

The retailer is also offering free, bookable sessions with running experts, which will run until May 2023. Here, consumers and future marathon runners can book 1-to-1 advice on getting into running, kit selection, and tips on maintaining it. In-store running experts can be booked for a 1-to-1 session via the Sports Direct app.

The flagship store features Gait Analysis technology, also known as walking or motion analysis. This helps runners identify whether they have pronation, supination, or a neutral gait, so they can find the best running shoe for them. This promises to reduce the likelihood of injury and improve running efficiency.

In addition, the Footwear Tap Guide provides runners with scannable QR codes as they shop to give them accessible insight and valuable knowledge on running footwear throughout the store.

This follows the news of Sports Directs new flagship opening. Following on from the flagship store openings in London and Birmingham, Frasers Group opened a third Sports Direct flagship at Manchester’s Arndale on 24 March, as the group’s elevation strategy gathers pace.