Running the Sahara

Why would three ultra-marathoners want to spend 80 days becoming the first persons to run 4,000 miles across the Sahara, from an Atlantic beach in Senegal eastward through six countries to the Red Sea shore in Egypt? Because it's there! In fact, the trek took 111 days, with a camera crew following in one of two expedition support vehicles. Directed by James Moll and narrated by Matt Damon (who was also executive producer), Running the Sahara offers spectacular scenery and the drama of Kevin Lin of Taiwan, Ray Zahab of Canada, and Charlie Engle of the United States trotting and sometimes limping through sandstorms and extreme heat and aridity (and the desert's overnight chill), despite fatigue, aching muscles, dehydration cramps, occasional confusion about what borders they would be allowed to cross, spats (on day 98, the expedition's doctor declares Charlie to be “a powder keg waiting to explode”), and periods of discouragement so bad that one of them threatens to quit midway. But there are also oases, villages, and cities where children joyously run alongside the men. After their experience in the Sahara, where water is so precious, Damon and the runners helped launch the H2O Africa project to raise money for clean, safe water programs in Africa, including new wells. DVD extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette and still photos. Recommended. [Note: Nehst Studios is also selling a home video version of Running the Sahara for $14.99 on their website, www.nehst.com.] Aud: H, C, P. (F. Zoretich)