Steve Angerman owner of Running Fit (seven stores across Michigan) picked up a few copies of The Long Green Line because he thought some of his customers would  really enjoy it. He liked the message it sent, teaching kids to give 100% to be their best. He was also impressed by Coach Joe Newton’s philosophy of leading from the bottom up and his combination of strict but fair rules coupled with recognition to all  runners on his cross country team. In his forty year running career these were the rules he lived by so The Long Green Line was a natural for Running Fit.

One night he brought the movie home to his wife and twelve year old son Nick, he wanted their impressions, to see if they thought much of it. When the movie was over his wife was a bit teary but his son gave no indication that The Long Green Line had had any impact at all. Steve was surprised, how could his son get nothing from this film? It was full of kids just like him. His son wandered off to bed so he and his wife did the same, somewhat perplexed.

The next morning, much to his surprise, Steve found a note written by his boy that said, “Dear Mom and Dad. I went out running. Back in an hour.” Steve chuckled to himself, The Long Green Line’s impact was now clear. Steve says, “Before seeing this movie he never woke up before me, let alone to go out and run. He’ll probably want us to move to Illinois.”

Steve has been running since junior high, over 40 years, before there was Nike and when GU was something you stepped in. He was motivated by his older brother who ran cross country in high school. Even though Steve had no idea what cross country was he joined the team and was hooked. There was freedom in running and he soon grew to love the competition. But his secret motivation came from being terrible in other sports. Cross country was his last opportunity. “Good thing the Wii was not available,” Steve says with a laugh. His son Nick agrees, if it had been around 40 years ago his dad never would never have left the house.

Steve and his business partner Randy Step, who he actually met on training runs, have worked together for over 25 years. They own 7 running stores in Michigan and are blessed with a great staff at all their stores. They put on many events and training programs and Steve is inspired daily by all the runners he meets through the stores. “Not by performances, but by their passion, dedication, and commitment to the sport…I feel very fortunate to have taken this path in life.”

Running Fit
42 Enterprise Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-929-9022
www.runningfit.com