Tony Vice, owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Stockton, CA was an overweight child. By the time he reached his senior year of high school his doctor was so concerned that he laid down the law. He told Tony he was killing himself. The Vice family history was such that diabetes, heart disease and other ailments ran rampant.  Tony

was only seventeen but he was totally overwhelmed by the notion that he could die from being fat. Time to take charge and make a change. By the end of his senior year he’d shed 48 lbs and gained a new attitude. He heard about triathlons and with his trusty bike, good swimming skills and adequate running ability he said to himself, “What the heck.”  And that was that. Tony Vice now leads an active lifestyle and after going through the bowels of hell he never wants to go back…he bikes, runs, swims, walks and does yoga – “Just keep active,” that’s his motto.

Vice’s greatest inspiration is in helping others achieve a healthy, active lifestyle, which is what brought him to open Fleet Feet Stockton in the first place. The store opened on April 1st, 2005. When it came to running, Stockton was starving for a place to call home. From hardcore runners to first timers, Vice feels blessed to help people everyday. He says, “It’s our FITLOSOPHY – It’s an uncommon word that defines an idea based in common sense.  When something fits, it’s right. When it doesn’t, it’s wrong.”

The Long Green Line fit right into Vice’s worldview. After watching the entire film, he knew that is was full of good messages to send to Stockton’s community of young, high school runners. Coach Newton’s primary message of getting kids to do the right thing now and using fitness to teach life lessons for tomorrow and adulthood made sense. If only this film had been around when Vice was in high school. He says, “It’s our responsibility to further this message to the next generation of community leaders.”