Haraka Run and Walk looks to close the distance

Carol Holland did not own running shoes when she joined Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s track and field team. To make matters worse, Prince George’s County had no dedicated running store where she could buy them.

Until this year, the closest stores where county residents could get personalized fittings and expert advice on running shoes were nearly an hour’s drive away. The distance could act as a barrier to entry and access in running.

Holland still excelled in the sport. She specialized in the 800-meter run and went on to compete for the U.S. Naval Academy and win an NCAA Division II championship. She was the academy’s first Black female All-America track athlete.

Despite these successes, Holland speculated that the absence of a specialized running store in Prince George’s County held her back. If one had been closer, she said, she may have entered the sport earlier. She believes the availability of running gear and resources would have helped her go further in the sport.

“I think there’s infrastructure that creates young athletes,” Holland said. “Where could I have gone? How could I have progressed?”

This is part of what spurred her and her husband, Jesse Holland, to open Haraka Run and Walk in Hyattsville this year. The county’s estimated 150,000 runners shouldn’t have to go far from home to get fitted for shoes and buy their athletic gear. The duo hopes Haraka, which means “speed” or “quick” in Swahili, becomes a hub for runners, walkers and anyone else looking to incorporate more movement into their lifestyle.

“We have a big vacuum and a demonstrated need for it,” Carol Holland said. “Our county deserves a run specialty store.”

Some of the state’s top track and field teams are located in Prince George’s County, including DeMatha Catholic High School, just down the street from Haraka.

Olympic runner Quincy Wilson — a recent graduate of Bullis School — hails from Prince George’s County. The 18-year-old Bowie native set world records in his age group for the 400-meter dash and competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Wilson hosted an event at Haraka this year to celebrate the launch of his signature collection with New Balance. The store features a wall dedicated to Wilson and his collection. It displays images of the young star and multiple signed singlets.

Carol Holland said she hopes to see more of Wilson at Haraka in the coming years as he competes for the University of Maryland in College Park.

Running on community

The Hollands kick-started Haraka with help from the Running Industry Diversity Coalition — a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access and inclusion in the sport. The organization provided the Hollands with a $200,000 grant and ongoing mentorship as they opened their store in the majority-Black county. The store held its grand opening in February.

In addition to fitting shoes and selling gear, Haraka hosts multiple free events each week, including early Friday morning runs and Wednesday evening walks down the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail. The trail is just steps from the storefront in Hyattsville’s Arts District. The walks began last summer and draw 10-30 community members each week, including regulars who keep coming back.

“The neighbors get to know us,” Carol Holland said. “We get to know the neighbors. I think it’s one of the best things that we do.”

University Park resident Rebecca Letsome started attending the walks only last month but has quickly found herself immersed in the welcoming community. The 45-year-old attorney and her sister were looking to get out of the house after their mother died this year.

“We pulled ourselves together,” she said as she walked down the Trolley Trail. “I feel good about the fact that I leave the house and talk to people.”

On a recent Wednesday, Jesse Holland brought up the rear of the weekly walk. He kept a close eye on the group ahead of him.

“On your left!” he boomed when bikes and scooters flew by.

Jesse Holland said he represents the “and Walk” in Haraka’s name and had a very different entrance into running from his wife’s. He thinks he’s the only person who works at the store who didn’t run in high school.

“For the majority of my time in high school, running was a punishment,” said Jesse, who played basketball. “You ran when you did something wrong.”

Only after marrying Carol did Jesse dip his toes into running. He credits his wife with getting him into it. He’s training for his first 10K.

Even though they co-own a running store, the Hollands never run together. They’ve tried a couple of times, but it did not go well.

Running together is “just a bridge too far,” Carol Holland said. Her husband needs quiet when running, but her instinct is to pepper him with advice.

“We have different styles. Carol is very competitive,” Jesse Holland said. “I am not out there to break any records. I’m out there for enjoyment. She’s so serious about it, and I’m just trying to get my steps in.”

Along with their own running preferences, the Hollands bring different skill sets to help manage their business.

Jesse Holland, a journalist, professor and author, takes care of Haraka’s social media and communication. He’s also the one with the big ideas and vision for the store, Carol Holland said.

She’s a Navy veteran and civil engineer and is the worker bee behind the scenes. She tries to turn her husband’s big dreams into reality.

They work well together “most of the time,” Carol Holland said with a laugh.

Customers of Haraka and attendees of its events agree and credit the Hollands with creating a community they can count on.

“It is a really special place,” said Hyattsville resident Caitlyn Burnitis, who regularly attends the Wednesday walks. “I think that [Prince George’s] County needs a lot more stores like Haraka that are community focused.”