The story of how one Team RunRunner, Jared Younger, is merging his love for running and fashion, with self-expression and creativity.
The first thing that probably springs to mind when you think of running gear is high-performance clothing, clothing designed for functionality rather than fashion. Jared Younger, founder of Museum of Distance Running (MODR), wasn’t satisfied. At the heart of MODR is a passion for self-expression and freedom, on the run and beyond. MODR is about more than fancy fabrics and stylish designs; it’s about using running gear to showcase one’s unique style. Jared has produced something genuinely original by fusing his personal passion for running, fashion, and art.
MODR: Solving the Problem with Most Running Brands
The story of Museum of Distance Running begins with Jared’s personal running experience. Coming from a background in design, especially apparel and fashion, Jared was always aware of the power of self-expression through what you wear. But as he began his running journey, he quickly realized that most running brands didn’t speak to his personal taste. “The running gear available at the time was mostly performance-driven. You’d put on your Asics or Nikes, then change into ‘real’ clothes afterward. I didn’t feel natural wearing the ‘running uniform,’” he explains.
Determined to solve this issue for himself, he started experimenting with running in vintage tees, soft 50/50 blends, and retro mesh hats. Eventually, the gear he wore for runs became the gear he wore when he wasn’t running—at coffee shops, or just hanging out. And that’s how MODR was born. “I pulled in my fashion and design references, creating pieces I wanted to wear,” Jared says. He wasn’t afraid for MODR to stand out, in fact, he welcomed the brand feeling “ left of center from mainstream running apparel”.
The name “Museum of Distance Running (MODR)” was born during Jared’s trip to Sweden visiting the Moderna Museet with his girlfriend in 2023. One painting in particular had “this infinite, cyclical quality that felt very reminiscent of life and my relationship to running” Jared recalls. “And that got the ball rolling in terms of using art references to make a [clothing] brand that lives in the world of design and art” in collaboration with what he felt was lacking in the running apparel space.
Fusing Running with Business and Creativity
Unsurprisingly, running and MODR are inexplicably intertwined, both being vehicles for freedom and self-expression. For Jared, “Running gives me space, and it frees me up, which is exactly what I want MODR to do. Like running, MODR has a casual tone that gives you space to lean into who you really are.”
The act of simply putting one foot in front of another offers him mental space to let his ideas flow freely, which often leads to new inspiration for his work. “Sometimes, that leads to ideas that go straight into the projects I’m working on. Other times, it’s just a way to clear my mind and let my thoughts wander.”
Early Wins and 1st Birthday Celebrations
As MODR celebrates its 1st birthday, Jared reflects on the brand’s high points so far and its immediate impact. “We launched in March 2024 with a collaboration with The Speed Project. The hats and shirts we did for them sold out in a day,” Jared recalls. “Nobody had even heard of us before, so that was extremely unexpected and exciting.”
But even beyond the early success, Jared is simply grateful for the opportunity to create something that resonates with people, while staying completely true to himself. “I feel lucky that I get to do this,” he says. “When someone connects with what we’re doing, it’s such a rewarding feeling.”
The Difficulties of Establishing a Brand on Your Own
It’s never simple to build a brand, especially without a team or financial backing, but Jared is far from naive to the challenge. Jared and his business partner, Lucie Beatrix, are Museum of Distance Running, crafting the brand from scratch alongside their regular day jobs. “It’s a passion project for sure,” Jared acknowledges. “We aren’t in this to try to sell anybody anything. We don’t do marketing, which is convenient because we don’t even know how. But we are trying to create a world and perspective and find the people that relate to it.”
The focus on quality over quantity and staying true to their core values shines. Jared shares, “we’ve turned down a few collaboration opportunities because we are still building our world. We are looking for something that can stand on its own before trying to muddle our messaging.”
As idealistic as that sounds, the difficulties are real for these two young, emerging entrepreneurs. From clothing and web design, to managing taxes and accounting, the pair wear many hats. But Jared wouldn’t want it any other way. “Not having a boss and instead getting to build your own vision is a privilege. And when we see success, it makes it that much sweeter. Every person that wears MODR is greatly appreciated. We ship the orders out ourselves. We see your names, and we write notes to all our customers. The small scale makes everything very personal.”
Why Museum of Distance Running is Not a Performance Gear Brand
Establishing a running apparel brand isn’t an original idea; as running has exploded since the pandemic, many startups and indie brands have flocked to the space, hoping to capitalize on the growing trend. What sets MODR apart and, I believe, gives them staying power, is the depth of their vision and values. They’re not trying to sell to everyone or compete with the giants like Nike, and MODR proudly is not a performance brand.
Here’s Jared again: “Right now, with this running boom we have, we see a lot of emphasis on performance. We have amateurs training like pros. The science on nutrition, training methods, shoes, etc is readily accessible to all. We love this stuff, too. But we appreciate that running is also an expressive act. It’s performance art as much as performance. It’s a raw, gritty, and bold experience. So MODR is more interested in expressing that individuality and offering the freedom to do running your way, with a sense of personal style at the same time.”
Jared works to “create pieces that extend this perspective off the roads, letting you express this side of yourself whether you are running or going to a coffee shop. There are a ton of brands doing performance gear really well. And we cheer them on. But adding to that category isn’t what we are interested in. We are looking for a lifestyle expression.”
Team RunRun and the MODR Experience
Jared highlights how “the Team RunRun newsletter is filled with inspiring personal stories. All of us are doing this for our own reasons, and each person does running their own way. There are no rules to this. So those stories give me optimism that people are being intentional about how they are existing in the world, with goals and purpose. And I hope that everyone is doing it their way, embracing their uniqueness.” It is this spirit of running, the individual experiences each of us bond over, that MODR looks to embody in every piece they produce.
When it comes down to it, Jared’s goal for MODR is simple: he wants people to feel confident, free, and excited when they wear the brand. Jared hopes MODR inspires others “to go against the grain and encourage them to find ways to express themselves.”
Upcoming Releases and Connecting with Museum of Distance Running
Extending the museum metaphor further, every collection release is an “exhibit”. Museum of Distance Running’s Exhibit 004 is in the works, alongside another special project that Jared is extremely excited about. Each exhibit is completely original with limited quantities, with sales run entirely through their website. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. No restocks. (Though hopefully the next exhibit is on the horizon!) There are still a few pieces from Exhibit 003 available here. Jared is kindly offering the Team RunRun community 10% off with code “TRR10”.
To ensure you don’t miss the release of Exhibit 004, and to get early access to new drops, consider subscribing to their email list on their website. And of course, give them a follow on Instagram @museumofdistancerunning to see MODR’s latest releases and more unique content.
by Ruby Wyles
This article is not sponsored by Museum of Distance Running (MODR) or compensated in any way by the brand. Instead, we wanted to share how one Team RunRunner, Jared Younger, is merging his love for running and fashion, with self-expression and creativity. He invites you to do the same.