Author and newspaper columnist Michael Sandrock opens this film with the comments: "This is probably the best long distance race ever to be held, not just in the state of Colorado, or Boulder, but in the United States." Although this is a high standard to set, the five featured male athletes of the 2007 USA Cross Country Championships make up a very impressive running resumé. The structure this film takes is meeting each of the elite athletes as they discuss some of their background and those close to them (coaches and family members) share how running has been influential in their life. It is like watching mini biographies that all merge at the championship with only one person taking the title. Here are the athletes, in order of presentation, and some of the footage you will enjoy seeing along the way:
"Eventually, you work hard, patience, and as you develop and become, your body gets used to it and you mature physically and emotionally, the rest will solve itself out." ~Meb Keflezighi, 2004 Olympic Marathon Silver Medalist. He describes starting to run in seventh grade and how he continued at UCLA under coach Bob Larsen. Meb is shown in the 2007 US Half Marathon National Championships where Ryan Hall establishes a new American Record time of 59:43.
"To achieve greatness in the sport you have to take risks because you can’t just go into anything half hearted, and to tell you the truth, no one really remembers second place if it isn’t worth remembering and so you have to make people appreciate what you did." ~ Dathan Ritzenhein, NCAA and High School National Cross Country Champion. Dathan is shown in the United Kingdom racing in the 2006 Great North Run, his first half marathon, as well the Great Ediburgh International Cross Country race in Scotland, both against outstanding international fields. Dathan shares how he started running with his father and his Coach, Brad Hudson, shares his impression of this young up comer.
"You have to be so focused, I mean it’s almost borderline ADD. It’s almost silly at times, you’re like I can’t believe I’m this focused on this thing, but you have to be because somebody else is gonna be and it’s not just the training, it’s all the other little stuff that surrounds it." ~>Alan Culpepper, 2-time US Olympian. You will see home video of Alan running in high school competitions as well as his 1996 NCAA 5000 meter victory in Eugene, Oregon. Comments from his father, Dan, share insights into his development as a runner.
"Running you love from self esteem. It teaches you discipline, like setting goals, like motivation, all this little things you need in life you can learn from running." ~Abdi Abdirahman, 2-time US Olympian. Abdi is seen in the 2006 US Cross Country championships in New York, NY as well as from his training ground in sunny Arizona.
"My career has been something I’m really proud of. Over the years I’ve taken small steps and trying to become the best athlete I can possibly be." ~Jorge Torres, Only athlete to make the High School National Championships four times. Footage is shown from the 2006 10,000 meter US National Track Championships where Jorge pulls away from Meb and Dan Browne on the last lap. Additional racing from the 2006 US Cross Country Championships is also included as well as some discussion about what it is like to also have his twin, Eduardo, being an elite runner.
These stories merge in Boulder, Colorado on February 10, 2007 for the "Showdown" race. After the fast start, segments from each of the six 2K laps are shown, complete with individual lap splits and place being shown on screen. There is one 25 second long shot of Alan Culpepper that is outstanding and captures the speed at which he is racing through the crowd-lined course. Interviews, commentary, and race reviews all follow the conclusion of the race (no spoiler found here).
To order this film by producer Peter Han, who also worked with Wit Productions on the triathlon documentary What It Takes, visit Showdown Race.com or Amazon.com.The extras on this DVD include an interview with Ritz, along with portions of his 8:11 2 mile run at the Prefontaine Classic, held 4 months after the XC Championships.
