Spirit of the Marathon

One runner describes the marathon race as “every man's Everest.” Directed by marathon runner Jon Dunham, Spirit of the Marathon follows a half dozen runners who aim to compete in Chicago's annual marathon, examining the complex motives driving runners to make personal sacrifices while enduring rigorous training in the quest to complete an epic 26-plus mile race. One, a single mother rebounding from divorce, is unhappy with her body image; another is a senior citizen who “just wants the T-shirt,” as he trains along with his adult daughter. Unlike two world-class athletes profiled here, most of the runners, of course, have no realistic chance of winning the race. Covering the runners' physical conditioning and dietary preparations (as well as concern over the always looming threat of injuries), the documentary also details the origins of marathon running in ancient Greece, as well as the modern revival during the early 20th-century Olympic Games, and recent struggle of women to be accepted as serious long distance runners. Spirit of the Marathon effectively builds drama as it proceeds from shorter runs and trials to the big day of the Chicago Marathon, where (for most) the race is “a journey, not a destination”—just like life. DVD extras include a “making-of” featurette. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)