Fleet Feet and Nike Formalize a Full Nationwide Partnership Built Around the Pegasus 42

Fleet Feet and Nike have formalized an expanded vendor partnership, moving Nike Running from a limited presence in select doors to a full rollout across Fleet Feet’s nationwide network of more than 285 stores.

From Selective to Nationwide

Nike’s path back into run specialty retail has been gradual. Earlier in 2026, Fleet Feet CEO Joey Pointer said, “Nike is a brand that I think is going to continue to get stronger and stronger in running,” adding that the brand would likely be in roughly half of Fleet Feet’s doors by the end of 2026. The April 7 announcement accelerates that timeline, expanding the full Nike Running assortment of footwear, apparel, and accessories across road and race categories into Fleet Feet’s complete store footprint.

Joey Pointer, president and CEO at Fleet Feet, said the partnership “allows us to bring their most innovative products to our customers, ensuring runners of all levels have access to the very best.”

Pegasus 42 as the Launch Anchor

The expanded deal launches around the Nike Pegasus 42, available at select Fleet Feet doors and on fleetfeet.com from April 9, 2026. The Pegasus 42 builds on more than four decades of the franchise with a new curved, full length Air Zoom unit delivering 15 percent greater energy return than its predecessor, available across men’s, women’s, and kids’ sizing.

Community Activations and In Store Experiences

Beyond distribution, the two brands have committed to immersive in store experiences and community activations tied to the Pegasus 42 launch, building on previous work that includes the Nike After Dark Tour 2025, a global women’s race series Fleet Feet helped support. Those activations extend Nike’s running community strategy into Fleet Feet’s local store network, giving the brand a grassroots touchpoint it has historically lacked in the specialty channel.

A Broader Specialty Reset for Nike

The deal is part of Nike’s wider effort to rebuild credibility in performance running retail after years of prioritizing DTC and mass distribution. Pointer described Nike’s products as “genuinely impressive” and cited the brand’s momentum in running as a key reason Fleet Feet was confident about deepening the relationship. For running specialty as a channel, Nike’s return at this scale brings more product variety and marketing energy into stores that have largely been led by Hoka and Brooks in recent years.