Without proper footwear to identify them, track stars are often assumed to be frightened paranormal experts fleeing unbusted ghosts. Keep ahead of the invisible crowd with today's Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of running shoes and apparel at Runner's Gate in Lakeville.

With a passion for running and 20 years of fitness-industry experience, Phil Hoffland, the owner of Runner's Gate, leads a team and curates a collection of sportswear that Runner's World magazine named 2008's Best Running Store in the Northern Midwest. A visit to Runner's Gate begins on a treadmill, where the crew analyzes each client's gait and striking pattern to identify his or her ideal pair of shoes, such as the cushy, moisture-wicking Saucony Triumphs ($130). Runners also armor themselves with apparel, such as high-tech Mizuno thermal shirts ($32); the shirts are sewn from a poly-wool blend that generates warmth and boasts thumbholes that help keep wrists covered and warm when hands are performing open-heart surgery on a snowman. Shoppers can slip into a pair of Brooks shorts ($32) to fill out a pair of high-performance chaps or paw through the apparel collection ($18–$110) for gloves and socks to protect extremities. Runner's Gate fosters community among the fleet footed through its running group, and readies advanced dashers for long hauls with marathon-training tips.