diff --git a/cmd/run.go b/cmd/run.go
index f932e07..399aa83 100644
--- a/cmd/run.go
+++ b/cmd/run.go
@@ -3,8 +3,19 @@ package cmd
 import "github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
 var runCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "run",
-	Short: "Run 'makeshift' locally with plugins",
+	Use: "run",
+	Example: `
+  # set up environment
+  export MAKESHIFT_HOST=http://localhost:5050
+  export MAKESHIFT_PATH=help.txt
+  export MAKESHIFT_ROOT=./test
+
+  # run locally similar to 'download'
+  makeshift run --plugins jinja2 --profiles default
+  makeshift run --root ./test -p help.txt --plugins jinja2 --profiles default
+`,
+	Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
+	Short: "Run locally with plugins and profiles",
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 
 	},