Watch Spirit of the Marathon, and you will know what I meant when I wrote in my review of Chariots of Fire that I wished it had been “more about running.”
This movie was not everything I could have hoped (because I am a pain in the ass), but it definitely came pretty close. From the first scenes, where they had cutaways of the elites (Khalid! Tergat! Paula!), I was riveted. (In fact, I was hoping for more audience participation, as if we were at a sporting event, but I was the only nutter cheering.) When the film introduced Deena, and they showed her winning the bronze at the 2004 Summer Olympics, I cried for her win, and for the beauty of her performance. That’s right, 10 minutes into the film I was teary-eyed, and I pretty much stayed that way until the lights came up. But you see, I am highly susceptible to the drama of the marathon, no matter if I am spectator or participant.
Perhaps my one complaint would have been more time on the elites! I cracked up when Paula Radcliffe says that the Chicago Marathon holds a special place in her heart because “it’s where I set my first world record.” Ah, relativism. I could watch the finish of Joanie Benoit coming into the Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles a million times & it would never fail to move me. It was a total thrill for me to listen to athletes like Kathy Switzer, Bill Rodgers, and Amby Burfoot opine in soundbites about the marathon, and about their marathons. These are the runners who inspire me, their past performances awe me, and their experience pushes me forward. The honesty and unflagging champion’s attitude Deena gave the camera during her injury made me respect her more (if possible) than I already do. And I got a total kick out of spotting Brian Sell and his other HBDP teammates at the front of the pack when the documentary finally showed the start of the race everyone had been training for.
I cried when the doctor told the guy who was hoping to BQ that he had to put aside his marathon plans because of a torn miniscus. I cried when the Kenyan came in third. I cried when the older guy crossed the finish line with his daughter. (See? I wasn’t exaggerating when I said was susceptible.)
It would have been great if they had delved a little deeper into the experience of the fundraising runners, but I suppose that could almost be a whole nother movie. Nevertheless, I left the theater wanting to immediately watch the movie again. (Memo to Husband: this DVD = great gift!)
You can find other reviews of this movie on these blogs: Paul Merca, Absolut(ly) Fit, Bethree.com, Normal Rockstar, Mike Fox’s Marathon Blog, and Pursuit of Runningness
Pigtails Flying 
TK – Thanks for the encouragement over on my blog. Your perspective was very helpful in showing me that what I’m already doing will get me to the finish line.
I’ll check in every so often to see how you are doing leading up to this year’s NY Marathon!
Great post! I’m planning on training for the Marine Corps Marathon with my brother this upcoming fall and since I didn’t get to see “Spirit of the Marathon” in theaters, am definitely going to order the DVD when it comes out!
Also, thanks for showing other sites where you can see reviews. The BeThree one was hysterical!
I am VERY slow at getting caught up on my blogs for the past two weeks, so I’m just getting to this now. Thanks for the link!
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