When you cross the finish line it will change your life forever
2007
100 Minutes + Extras
Documentary
Available
This film has been four years in the making by director/producer/marathoner Jon Dunham with the team of Mark Jonathan Harris (Executive Producer), Gwendolen Twist (Producer), and Sarah Levy (Cinematographer). Jon has done more research, talked to more people, and filmed more hours (on four continents) than one would expect for any typical running film. But in no way is this production your "ordinary" running film. If you have read the press releases you already know that Olympic bronze medalist and American record holder Deena Kastor stars as she goes for her first marathon victory. Five others are also featured as they line up for the 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon: Daniel Njenga (from Nyahururu, Kenya), Lori O’Connor, Ryan Bradley, Leah Caille, and Jerry Meyers.
Here are some of the on-screen experts, a virtual who’s-who of the sport, each giving their perception of the marathon:
Joan Benoit Samuelson
Frank Shorter
Bill Rodgers
Grete Waitz
Paula Radcliff
Alberto Salazar
Paul Tergat
Dick Beardsley
Toshihiko Seko
Sara Mae Berman
Joe Henderson
Hal Higdon
Amby Burfoot
John Bingham
Tom Derderian
Kathrine Switzer
Roger Robinson
"I think we are made to run. You know, we’ve got these long legs for a reason. They are made to be used and we are not forced to use our legs anymore." ~Joe Henderson
"It’s the perfect distance to truly test the human physiology basically because of the amount of sugar we can have in our tanks." ~Frank Shorter
"It’s really a very brutal distance and the slightest things can make it a great event or make it disastrous." ~Deena Kastor
"When I crossed that finish line I had absolutely nothing left. I was completely shot and done." ~Dick Beardsley
"You triumph over the adversity, that’s what the marathon is all about and therefore you know that there isn’t anything in life that you cannot triumph over after that." ~Katherine Switzer
Yes, the marathon event is unique, challenging, and quite rewarding. Yet what makes the experience so special is each and every story and how lives are impacted through the experience. Whether you have set this goal for yourself, watched a loved one, or just care to take in this movie experience, you may find your perceptions shifted in some deep way. Visit Marathon Movie.com for more information, see biographies of the featured runners, and learn more about the awards from the Film Festivals. You may also purchase this film through Marathon Movie.com store as well as from Amazon.com.
About 20 minutes of additional bonus footage is shown in the theater after the credits of the film (notice the marathon PRs listed with the credits). Deena Kaster and Ryan Hall both share brief comments about the 2008 Olympic Marathon event. Director Jon Dunham shares about how the film was made, including what methods they used to film the runners, music production, overcoming obstacles, and why Chicago was picked to be the featured marathon event. The deleted scenes with Deena cooking dinner and Daniel engaging wild hippos were both welcomed additions that continued to engage the crowd in the theater.
