Spirit of the Marathon

Here is the deal: ONE NIGHT ONLY (January 24, 2008), ONE SHOWTIME (7:30 PM), in almost 500 theaters throughout the United States. Purchase tickets NOW and save this date for this special performance. This is the first running film that has been featured as a "Movie of the Month" prior to being released to the general public. Only time will tell if this feature film has the staying power to be considered one of the best running movies ever made, although in this Olympic year it surely gets 2008 off to a very strong start.

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, to view a trailer, see biographies of the featured runners, and learn more about the awards from the Film Festivals. After the theatrical showing there will be more comments posted and be sure to return to find out when the DVD gets released for home viewing.