Meet the Owners

Grant Catloth and J. Jenkins, co-owners of Ad Astra Running

We believe Lawrence and its environs deserve a running store that’s locally owned and locally focused.  We care about this community because we’re part of it, and we want to spend our days working with and for all its members—be they runners, walkers, or those simply seeking comfortable shoes that fit their needs (as well as their feet).

Ad Astra Running—the name comes from our state’s motto:  Ad Astra Per Aspera (“to the stars through difficulties”).  We chose it because we want our store—your store—to be rooted in this area we’re proud to call home.

Plus we thought it sounded cool.

Thanks for reading and see you soon!

—J. and Grant

J. Jenkins was born at a young age in Kansas City, MO, studied in Oklahoma and Minnesota, and came home to Lawrence, KS, in 2006.  He started working at the local running store in 2010, became manager in 2012, and after that store went corporate, left and with business partner Grant Catloth opened Ad Astra Running in 2015.

J. ran competitively in high school and one season of cross country at the University of Tulsa as a walk-on.  After college he returned to North Kansas City High School where he coached boys and girls cross country for five years.

J. is a major proponent of Jeff Galloway's Run/Walk/Run training method, having used it to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2012 and complete numerous ultramarathons since.  In 2013, he started the Heartland Galloway Training Program, which has helped hundreds of local runners reach their goals.

"I've found something I love doing and hope to continue doing until the day I die.  I also hope to live a while longer.  So please shop at our store." - J. Jenkins

Grant Catloth grew up in Baldwin City and as a boy had aspirations of playing baseball and basketball.  But as a freshman in high school he discovered his love of running and a natural talent for it.

He spent the next four years running Cross Country and Track for Coach Spielman at Baldwin High School.  He went on to run two years of Cross Country and Track at Johnson County Community College.  Grant finished his college degree at the University of Kansas, training for all distances from the mile to the marathon.

Grant has over fifteen years experience in running specialty retail and has a strong desire to work with new runners, experienced runners, walkers and athletes who desire to achieve their best.

When not working at Ad Astra Running, Grant can be found running on the river trails, looking for lost golf balls (his own) at any of the area’s premier courses, and enjoying the company of his young and growing family.