Dave Menosky is the owner of New England Running Company & Trail, which he founded in May 2003. His lifelong passion for running began in 1973 when he tried out for his high school track team and worked part-time at his local Athlete’s Foot, launching a journey that would shape both his athletic career and professional life.
A 1980 graduate of Mount Union College with a business degree, Dave was a seven-time OAC All-Conference honoree and qualified for five NCAA championship events. He placed 36th in the 1976 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships and finished 11th in the 1980 NCAA DIII 1500-meter finals. He continued competing with Allegheny Nike until 1986, recording personal bests of 14:23 for 5K, 30:18 for 10K, and finishing 8th in the 1985 Long Beach Marathon with a 2:29:28.
After an accident ended his competitive running career in 1987, Dave remained committed to the sport, working with Asics and becoming the first shoe buyer for Marathon Sports in Boston. While completing his commercial pilot’s license (Dave holds an instrument and seaplane type rating), the events of 9/11 all but closed the door on his dream of commercial aviation. He then turned to his backup plan: owning his own running store! Today, he brings that expertise and genuine care to every customer, fostering a welcoming and inclusive community.
Wes started working at New England Running Company & Trail on a part-time basis in 2005 and transitioned to full-time in 2006. He now serves as the store’s general manager, accessories buyer, and men’s apparel buyer. Wes started running in high school and continued through college, where he ran for Hartwick College and specialized in the 800-meter. After graduating in 2000, he perhaps a bit overconfidently ran the New York City Marathon. While it wasn’t the time he expected, he managed to drag himself across the finish line and learned some important lessons about preparation. Wes continues to run and stay in shape by hitting many of the trails on the North Shore, especially the Gordon College Woods, Manchester-Essex Woods, Willowdale, and Bradley Palmer.
Melissa has been part of the New England Running Company & Trail team since 2011. As the store’s women’s apparel buyer, she carefully curates gear that combines performance, comfort, and style for runners of all levels. A North Shore native, Melissa is a former cycling coach and an active member of the North Shore Striders. She enjoys running everything from local club races to marathons and ultramarathons, most recently completing Vermont’s Catamount 50K, Connecticut’s Jack Bristol Lake Waramaug 50-Miler, and the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Race. When she’s not running, you’ll likely find her spending time with her daughters, exploring local trails with her husband on their gravel bikes or hiking with their golden retriever, Treby.
John grew up in Topsfield, where he ran cross-country while attending Masconomet Regional High School. Today, he spends much of his free time exploring North Shore trails, hiking New Hampshire’s high peaks, and gravel cycling. He is also an active member of the North Shore Striders. At New England Running Company & Trail, John organizes community events and represents the store at local races. Before joining the store team in 2022, he worked at Boulder Running Company in Colorado. He has also spent more than 20 years in the adventure and educational travel industry, directing student programs throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. Outside the store, John sits on the board of the Essex County Trail Association, volunteers with Essex County Greenbelt, and serves as treasurer of his university’s alumni association.
Matt joined New England Running Company & Trail in 2021, following three years as a senior sales associate at Fleet Feet in Swampscott. Beyond the store, Matt brings extensive experience in athletic development and coaching. He served as a varsity baseball coach with Salem City Schools from 2022 to 2024 before taking on the role of head varsity baseball coach from 2024 to 2026. Since 2017, Matt has also served as head coach for Vikings Baseball, where he has overseen player development and program organization, including training camps and clinics, while assisting student-athletes with the college recruitment process. In his spare time, Matt enjoys running on his local trails in Hamilton and Ipswich.
Jill has been running for 48 years. She began her journey by competing in cross-country and track at Briscoe Middle School, Beverly High School, and Salem State College. Today she enjoys competing in local road races. Her favorites include Lone Gull 10K, the 1st Lt. Derek Hines Flag Day 5K, LiveStrong 5K, Lynn Woods Relays, and Beverly Homecoming 5K. She also enjoys volunteering at many local road races. Jill has been with New England Running Company & Trail since 2004. She feels blessed to work with such an incredible team. At the store, she enjoys the opportunity to work with runners and walkers. Jill also has been a member of the North Shore Striders for 42 years. She is most grateful to the sport of running for the many friendships she has made throughout the years. When not at the store or running, Jill enjoys spending time with her family.
Steph has been running since high school, and the passion has never faded. From track workouts to group runs and races, she just enjoys being out there with her friends and Wicked Running Club teammates. During the week, Steph works as an executive assistant, and on Sundays, she can be found at the store. Steph’s favorite runs are the ones with her friends and especially the ones with her dad. Outside of running, Steph spends her time “adventuring” with her two dogs, Shaw and Sammie.
Julie started running at Beverly High School in the late 1970s and continued on at UMass and University of Oregon. Post-collegiately, she blossomed while riding the Title IX wave and competing for the U.S. on several national and international teams. She qualified and ran in the first five Olympic Marathon Trials from 1984 through 2000, placing 13th in the 1992 Olympic Trials in Houston, Texas. She still competes today with Liberty Athletic Club and the North Shore Striders. Julie joined the New England Running Company & Trail staff in 2020 and finds her physical therapy background comes in handy with gait analysis and proper shoe fitting. She is happiest in motion and loves the positive energy of the store team.
Shannon is a North Shore native and Ipswich High School alumna. She has been on the New England Running Company & Trail team for over 15 years. Shannon began running in high school to keep in shape and for the sports that she played. She continues to run on a regular basis and does many 5K races across northern New England solely for the social aspect of it. She completed her first half marathon in 2013 and has done a few more since. In addition to running, she enjoys travel, biking as much as possible, kayaking, hiking, both downhill and cross-country skiing, and watching live music. In addition to her duties at the store, Shannon works at a high-tech firm in Gloucester.
Deneen began her career in footwear in 1999. She owned and operated a run specialty shop in Baltimore, Maryland, from 2002 to 2008. In 2008, Deneen received certification in pedorthics from Robert Palmer School of Biomechanics. She then went on to become a product manager for brands such as KangaROOS, MBT, and Reebok. Currently, Deneen works with top global footwear and apparel brands supplying recycled performance yarns for product builds. In addition to knowing the footwear business from a retail, product, and brand perspective, she is also an accomplished athlete. She has completed more than 16 marathons and four Half Ironmans, and recently completed her first full Ironman in Ottawa, Canada. When not at the store, Deneen enjoys being outside and active with friends, keeping up with home improvements and spending time with family.
Sebastian is a lifelong runner, having competed all four years at Masconomet Regional High School, where he was captain for three seasons and Northeast Conference champion in the mile. While attending college he joined Notch Run Club in Salem. In addition to running, Sebastian is an avid four-season hiker and backpacker, completing many of New England’s highest peaks. He was also president of Boston University’s Outing Club and guided for BU’s Outdoor Programs. You may find Sebastian playing guitar, bass, or keys with his band at various watering holes in the area or spending time outdoors with his fiancée, friends, and family.
