Are you seeking motivation to get up, put on your running shoes, and hit the pavement? That's nothing a great training montage can't solve.
These are movies about runners for soon-to-be runners. Take your pick, have a watch, and get motivated.
1. Chariots of Fire
Perhaps the seminal movie about foot racing, Chariots of Fire examines the lives two British sprinters endured leading up to the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Chariots of Fire will light a fire under you.
2. 9.79*
ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary, 9.79*, examines the spread of steroids throughout the world of professional sprinting. After watching this stellar documentary, you'll never see Carl Lewis in the same light.
3. Without Limits
Without Limits is a biopic about Steve “Pre” Prefontaine, the first runner signed to Nike. Without Limits is critically acclaimed and tantamount to a scoop of “Pre”-workout. One watch, and you'll be setting personal records.
4. Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is not a movie about running, but running is an indelible feature of the legendary film. If Forrest was going anywhere, he was run-ning.
5. The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young
This award-winning documentary chronicles a race that only ten people could finish in its first 25 years. Considered the most brutal trail race in the world, The Barkley Marathons combines a treasure hunt with an ultra-endurance race. Think Prison Break meets The Revenant meets Chariots of Fire.
6. Gallipoli
One of Mel Gibson's most underrated movies, Gallipoli tells the story of two Australian sprinters transported from the track to the Turkish battlefields of World War I.
7. McFarland, USA
Once in a blue moon, Disney will make a sports movie that isn't as nearly as cheesy as you'd expect. McFarland, USA, is one of those rare gems. The film documents the unlikely rise of a high-school cross-country team in an impoverished California town.
8. Skid Row Marathon
Skid Row Marathon is a gritty documentary about a judge in Los Angeles who starts a running club, elevating homeless individuals with little purpose into competitive marathoners. If there was hope for these wayward souls, you can dust off the New Balances and go for a jog.
9. Breaking2
A documentary from National Geographic and Nike, Breaking2 documents elite runners aiming to complete a marathon in less than two hours. A combination of elite scenery and elite athletes, Breaking2 is an aspirational film to add to your list. Just don't try to keep pace with the runners in Breaking2.
10. Running for Good: The Fiona Oakes Documentary
Running for Good will be an inspiration for vegan runners. Fiona Oakes ventures beyond the confines of comfort (and beyond meat) as an example of how alternative dieters can still live a hyper-active life.
11. Brittany Runs a Marathon
If you're a novice runner, you might identify with Brittany. Before she decides to run the New York City Marathon, Brittany was a rosé'-guzzling, health-neglecting fool. If that sounds like you, check out Brittany Runs a Marathon.
12. Spirit of the Marathon
Spirit of the Marathon captures the history of the Chicago Marathon and the day-to-day process runners endure before completing the legendary race.
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
