RETAIL/LEISURE

Keeping Pace: Americans, it seems, have seen every fancy sneaker that ever squeaked across a hardwood basketball court, trotted across the living room carpet or chased down a wandering toddler.

That may be part of the reasoning behind the Walking Store, which just opened at MainPlace/Santa Ana. Finally, a place to walk, not run.

Or should it even be called walking? These days, the cool thing to say is “striding.” And for yuppies with weak knees, there are plenty of choices in laces, shorts, socks and, yes, walking shoes.

Visitors to the store are serenaded by such songs as “Walk on By” and “Walking After Midnight.” After all, those shoes were made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do.

The store also conducts seminars for groups organizing walk-a-thons. There is also the Pacer’s Club, a group for senior citizens who take early-morning walks at shopping malls.

Now, if they can only organize a club for sleep walkers.