Forty Under 40: Mike Rush

Mike Rush didn’t make the cut for his eighth grade basketball team, so his coach told him to try track. He went out and beat the ninth-graders in sprints and long distances, and that’s how a lifelong career in racing began.

Rush, founder and owner of Rush Running, is the Northwest Arkansas guru of the sport, a role he relishes. He’s an organizer and coach, and he uses any and all forms of the marathon to raise money for charity.

“I love racing and I love quality events,” he said. “I’m known for being a motivator, and I like to get the newbies up off the couch and running.”

His enthusiasm has spilled over into his shoe and apparel store. This year, Rush Running was named a top-four outlet in a national poll by Competitor Magazine and the Independent Running Retailer Association.

A walk-on athlete at the University of Arkansas from 1995 to 1999, Rush specialized in the 800-meter run. He trained under legendary coach John McDonnell and also met his wife, a 5-10K specialist named Alison, through track and field. 

Years ago, Rush was offered a job out of Dallas with Adidas. The catch was, the job required lots of travel, something Rush didn’t want to do.

“I begged my wife to let me open a running store, and it was the best decision we ever made,” he said.