When Soldiers retire from the Army they have a few options: completely retire or work for the government or private industry. But, retired 1st Sgt. Will Rivera decided to take a different approach to retirement. He went into business for himself. He took his passion for running and turned it into a business--a local business he calls Running Soles.
Two years before retirement Rivera said he had to make a few decisions and his "aha" moment happened during an Army Career and Alumni Program briefing. Rivera's passion for running meant he had to trek to Louisville every month to purchase shoes because there wasn't a store in Elizabethtown to fit his needs.
"There was this person who talked about entrepreneurship (during the ACAP briefing)," explained Rivera. "(I thought) maybe if this guy is going to help me get my business going, I'm going to take full advantage of that. It's free and they walk you through the process … they don't do it for you."
Rivera pointed out that once the seed was planted, he began to pursue how to make his dream come to fruition. He contacted, and then attended, the Kentucky Small Business Development Center in E'town, which was the first start in becoming a business owner.
"They started assisting me with a business plan," he said. "I made the transition of not knowing how to get my business going to (it) becoming a reality. I benefitted so much from doing my own business plan. If I follow this plan, which I created, I will be successful. They forced me to do my three-year plan."
Rivera said he was asked how much money he was going to need, and how was he going to market and create a brand. Answering some of these questions wasn't difficult because he was able to pull from his experience as a recruiter.
"I have a background in recruiting and I knew how to sell something--the Army, which I also loved," he said. "That experience talking to customers, that's easy for me, that comes natural to me. It's just the other aspect of running a business--the back office stuff."
Although Rivera had several opportunities and offers to work a 9 a.m.-5 p.m. job, he didn't want to do it because he just loved running too much.
He added that his transition from a military job to a civilian one was an easy one because he went on transition leave Nov. 6, 2013 and Running Soles' grand opening was the next day.
Even though buying the proper running shoes appears to be an easy decision, Rivera said it's more than just picking out a pair of shoes and running. When he fits someone for shoes he looks at how they walk, their gait, how they run, their arches and asks if there have been injuries.
Being an avid runner and running coach also lends credibility to his suggestions. Rivera added that recommendations to his store are usually done through word of mouth. People who know about his running abilities, which include competing in the Boston Marathon and he recently placed in the top 10 of a 100-mile race, also recommended him.
Rivera has taken his passion and word of mouth referrals and used it as a tool to help people in the surrounding area purchase the correct running shoes and avoid injury--something about which he knows a lot.
A lot of his referrals from podiatrist and physical therapist are because folks have been purchasing the wrong shoes.
"Some say, 'this guy is running 100 miles and he's not injured, he must be doing something right.' I take pride in that," said Rivera.
About 10-12 years into his career in the Army he began to have a few injuries and the doctor said he needed to stop running because it was damaging his knees.
Rivera didn't want to stop running and a trip to Barnes & Nobel for coffee would change his outlook on running.
He saw a book about ChiRunning� and he began applying those principles when he ran--a concept he would use for the next 10 years training Soldiers.
Now he is a certified ChiRunning�/walking instructor, which is a technique used with running and fused together with tai chi.
He's also completed his gait certification.
"ChiRunning�/walking certification made a difference when I was running," he explained. "When I was running I looked at chi running, (which is the) posture of mind and working with (the) body."
Since 1999, ChiRunning� has helped thousands of runners transform their technique--reducing injury and preventing and recovering from injuries, according to ChiRunning.com. The main principles of ChiRunning� include: relaxation, correct alignment and posture, landing with a midfoot strike, using a "gravity assisted" forward lean, engaging core strength for propulsion, and connecting the mind and body to prevent injury.
Rivera has taken this knowledge and conducts workshops the first Saturday of each month to help others. He added that Running Soles is more than just a store, he uses the business as a way of giving back to the community. Additionally, he assists local high school cross-country and track runners and he has them in the store during the weekends.
"He's done quite a bit for these high school kids (who) come in so they don't make the same mistakes we made," explained Rick Torres, a friend to Rivera.
He added that Rivera also assists Soldiers who are competing in the Army Ten-Miler.
Rivera's methods and advice about running isn't new to Torres. The two met while both were on active duty working for U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Like Rivera, Torres is an avid runner and knows all too well the importance of having the proper running shoes.
"I feed off his energy," said Torres. "We raced a few times since (he) opened the store. We go to Iroquois Park and run together."
He added that the duo also run Thursdays and Saturdays but it's not about being competitive--it's about the love of running.
"I've been running since I was 12 and I'm blessed to continue to run," Torres said.
When Torres competes, the terrain determines which shoe he will wear during the race.
The retired sergeant first class said while he was a squad leader and later a platoon sergeant, he would educate his Soldiers on proper running footwear.
"I would say, 'we're going for a run tomorrow, don't wear high tops,'" he said about making sure his Soldiers wore the proper shoes to prevent injuries.
Although there aren't any guidelines for teaching initial entry Soldiers about proper running shoes, Torres believes this should be a part of basic training and doing so could possibly alleviate future injuries.
Rivera pointed out that all he can do
is suggest, explain and educate customers on purchasing the correct footwear. He added
that if shoes don't fit well they are going to create problems for the runner.
Rivera has been going nonstop since retirement and loves what he's doing. His advice to Soldiers is, "Follow what you love. Serve your country, do well and follow your dreams. Don't be afraid. You have nothing to lose. Take that risk with (your) passion (and you) will go a long way."
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