Prince George’s County’s First Running Specialty Store Celebrated Grand Opening February 21
Weekend of Events Included Fun Run, Shoe Demos from Top Brands, and Local Run Club Fair

By PRESS OFFICER
Haraka Run and Walk

HYATTSVILLE, Md. (Feb. 16, 2026)—Haraka Run and Walk, Prince George’s County’s first running specialty store, celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, February 21, 2026, with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. and a weekend of events for the running and walking community.

The grand opening weekend included a pre-grand opening fun run on the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, shoe demos from Brooks, Altra, ASICS and other major brands, a local run club fair, giveaways, discounts, and surprises.
 
“Montgomery County has four running specialty stores. D.C. has five. Fairfax has ten. Until now, Prince George’s County—home to nearly one million residents—had none,” said co-owner Jesse Holland. “That changes now. Prince George’s County deserves the same level of specialized service that our neighbors have enjoyed for years.”

Haraka—meaning “speed” in Swahili—opened December 26, 2025, at 5501 Baltimore Avenue in Hyattsville. Owners Carol and Jesse Holland, Bowie residents, are the inaugural recipients of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition’s RUN THE BLOCK grant, a $200,000 award with mentorship from major brands. Haraka is believed to be one of only a handful of Black-owned running specialty stores in the nation.

Co-owner Carol Holland is a Prince George’s County native and the first Black female All-American track athlete in U.S. Naval Academy history. She won the NCAA Division II championship in the 800 meters and was inducted into the Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The Naval Academy still presents the Carol Womack Holland Award annually to female athletes who exemplify exceptional grit.

“I know what it’s like to push through barriers—on the track and in life,” Carol Holland said. “Haraka is our way of opening doors for the next generation of runners right here in the county where I grew up.”

The store’s mission extends beyond retail. Prince George’s County faces significant health challenges, including higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease compared to surrounding areas. Haraka addresses these disparities by making running and walking accessible through expert guidance, community programming, and the Wednesday Weekly Walk on the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail.

The grand opening took place during Black History Month—a fitting time to celebrate a store that honors Black excellence in motion while serving runners, joggers, and walkers of all backgrounds.

The doors are open. The trail is waiting. At Haraka, they’re fast forward.

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