The Running Zone sits ten miles south of Sacramento in the town of Elk Grove, California, a suburban, family-friendly place with an active running community. The Running Zone’s unique in that it’s owned by six couples, mostly teachers and coaches. The couples were a close knit group who loved all things fitness related, so in 2005 they had the brilliant idea to purchase The Running Zone as a fun project to build together. They pooled their resources and after moving the store to its new location (8470 Elk Grove Blvd.) they started doing what they’ve always done as teachers and coaches – getting involved in community events to promote health and fitness. The Running Zone has made itself a part of just about every local running event in Elk Grove. The store owners sit on Elk Grove’s Trails Committee and the Planning Committee for Elk Grove’s Food Bank’s annual July 4th Run 4 Independence. They also time the races at the local

elementary school track meet as well as donating to local running groups. The Running Zone is not just here to sell shoes to their customers, it’s a business on a mission – to be the best running store, a positive part of their thriving community. “It’s what makes all the things we do at The Running Zone worth the effort” says Mimi Veiga, co-owner of The Running Zone, “Doing good is a basic tenet for us.”

So it came as no surprise when three years ago a customer of The Running Zone mentioned a middle school track team in Sacramento that only had two pairs of track spikes amongst them and were forced to share. The Running Zone heeded the call. They were soon able to remedy the problem by connecting the team with spikes that had been donated to another local school but weren’t being used. Then last year The Running Zone received a phone call about a running club called “Be Change” at one of Sacramento’s inner city schools. The club needed 60 pairs of shoes and could not afford them on their own. As a small store, The Running Zone knew it would be too difficult to pull off without some help so they asked their customers to donate $20 for one shoe or $40 for a pair. Mimi says, “We encouraged our donors to give in the the name of their favorite runner or walker.” The shoe drive was a huge success and the kids of “Be Change” are able to run countless miles in their donated shoes all while learning the great lessons of running and teamwork.

With their shoe drive for “Be Change” going so well The Running Zone is now in the process of finalizing paperwork for a non-profit organization called The Running Free Foundation which will donate running shoes to student athletes who cannot afford them. So, The Running Free Foundation will connect kids in need with the soles they need. For all their good works, The Running Zone was awarded one of the”50 Best Running Stores in America” in  addition to being chosen the “Best New Running Store in America” in 2007.

Naturally the The Long Green Line‘s messages prompted The Running Zone to become a proponent of the the film. Like The Running Zone, The Long Green Line promises the idea that participating in sports should not only be about doing your best but about being your best.