Motivational moments. The say it is like bathing, it may not last, but it is good to take one every now and then. Every runner, occasionally, needs a little motivation. That extra, to get up in the morning, when you would rather roll over and sleep. Running videos can be that extra. There are many ways to be motivated to run, but few better than a great video. I enjoy watching them on a cold or rainy day or a cross train day when I’m on the treadmill or elliptical. I will set up the TV to watch and they really get me pumped up for days or weeks at a time.
A quick note, many of these are hard to find. I didn’t knock a video due to availability. Either it was good, or it wasn’t. Here are the top 20 motivational/inspirational running videos. Enjoy!
1. Without Limits.
I personally feel this is the best Prefontaine story. The story of a boy from Coos Bay, Oregon and his journey on becoming a running legend. The video intertwines his relationship with his also legendary coach, Bill Bowerman. Bowerman is shown experimenting with different shoes to try to build a better one (the precursor to Nike). It portrays “Pre” warts and all, and his sacrifice to go the distance. Some really great one-liners, a must see.
2. Four Minutes
The inspirational story about Roger Bannister and his quest to break the four-minute mile “barrier.” It was said the human body could not break the four-minute mark. He did so while going to med school. One of the greatest sporting feats in the history of running and mankind. Don’t miss this one!
3. Running Brave.
The amazing and true story of Billy Mills, the 10,000 meter Olympic Gold medal winner. A young, unknown, American Souix Indian, came from obscurity to win the Gold. When Ron Clarke, the Australian favorite was asked if he worried about Mills after the race, he replied, “Worry about him? I never even heard of him.” The story shares his challenges of leaving the reservation to build his own life. He steps out and the rest, as they say, is history.
4. Fire on the Track.
A documentary of Steve Prefontaine. If you’re serious about running, you should know about “Pre.” This is a runner’s only video. You will hear interviews of other famous runner’s talk about Pre. A must watch for runners, however, nonrunners, will probably not enjoy it.
5. Wilma, The Wilma Rudolph Story.
Wilma Rudolph won 3 gold medals in the 1960 Olympics. As a child, she had a crippling disease and she was told she would never walk again normally. Raised in poverty, she overcame many social adversities to become one of the best the world has ever known.
6. Jim Ryun, America’s Greatest Miler
A tough one to find, on VHS format, this is a documentary of the greatest American miler ever. Ryun was quite a bit different that Prefontaine. He didn’t have the “Pre” charisma or his cockiness. He did have a deep faith that carried him throughout his career, from breaking the four minute mile in high school, to the Olympics and later as a U.S. congressman.
7. Run For Your Life, The Fred Lebow Story
He created one, if not the, most amazing running events in the world. An immigrant whose determination and perseverance created the New York City Marathon. This video documents his life and the history of the NY City marathon. Wow, what a story! If you have a passion for running, you will love this video. He loved to run and he ran for the challenge, the people and his city.
8. The Spirit of the Marathon
It’s easy to see why this is an award winning video. The movie shadows 6 different people training for the Chicago marathon (including Deena Kastor). The runner levels go from first timers to elites. It is a documentary, with honest, real life issues, drama and tense moments included. The video is inspirational, instructive and entertaining, including great shots of the Chicago marathon.
9. Running on the Sun
The story of the Badwater 135 Ultra-Marathon. A grueling, inhumane race of 135 miles. It goes through Death Valley with temperatures rising to 125° and an 18 mile stretch that goes up 5000 feet (how’s that for a hill workout?). The competitors include a 68 year old man, a man with a prosthetic leg, a marine (who had to drop out due to severe dehydration, but then did everything he could to help others), a woman who went into debt and lived in tents just so she could run this race. You must finish in 48 hours to win the big prize. What’s the big prize? The accomplishment of course, and a Badwater Belt Buckle. A very hard to find, and expensive video. Try to rent, but expect a long ,long wait.
10. Chariots of Fire.
The all time classic. It is a little long and drags in places. It has been said that no one has watched this from start to finish, in one sitting. It follows two runners in the 1924 Olympic games, shows the changes in their plans, how they rolled with the changes and the path to their success. A required video for runners.
11. Ultramarathon Man, 50 Marathons, 50 States, 50 Days.
This is the story of a man who set a goal of running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. Ouch! I couldn’t even walk after my first marathon, how does he do it? One step at a time and for a good cause . . . to raise awareness of youth obesity. Dean Karnazes is the ultra marathoner who overcomes many obstacles on this crazy goal. Even he felt like quitting, had his set backs, both physical and logistical. He overcomes the obstacles and makes you feel you can also.
12. Running for My Father
This video is about Cody, a regular guy turned runner. Cody lost his father to a brain tumor and this show takes you through his journey finding running as a way to cope. He decides to run a marathon on the eve of the anniversary of his father’s passing. You’ll see his grief, his pain and his perseverance on his way to running 26.2.
13. The Runner, Extreme UltraRunner David Horton
David Horton is a 55 year old ultra marathoner who runs from Mexico to Canada. He shares the pain, the emotion and the revelations of running more than 40 miles a day for 66 consecutive days to set a record on the Pacific Crest Trail. After watching this you think, heh, if this guy can do this, I can run what I am doing. Extra special is his method for finding loose change on the run.
14. Endurance.
This is a documentary of Haile Gebrsellasie, one of the greatest distance runners of all time. Raised in oppressive conditions (you think you’ve got it tough?) in one of the world’s poorest countries (Ethiopia) he overcame, in spite of. He ran 6 miles to school, and back, everyday. The video starts out slow, but picks up. The shots of him running in Ethiopia are humbling and inspirational. It will help you to be grateful for what you have.
15. Prefontaine
Is there space for a third Prefontaine story? I hope so. I feel this is worth watching. With that said, the acting isn’t as good as Fire on the Track or Without Limits, they have taken more “license” with the “Pre” story and is not as well done. Still worth it.
16. The Long Run.
A demanding and famous coach takes an unknown runner and trains her for one of the toughest races, the Comrades Marathon. She is independent as he is tough, a constant battle. A strange ending, a little long, with some slow spots, but worth watching.
17. The Dick and Rick Hoyt Story, My Redeemer Lives
Although this is about the ironman triathlon competition, and is very short (about 12 minutes), if you can watch this and not get pumped up, you are simply brain dead. This DVD is comprised of two segments. The first being video footage from Ironman set to music (“My Redeemer Lives” by Nicole C. Mullen), and the second segment is an interview with Dick and Rick Hoyt (as also seen on the “Can” DVD). The first can be seen on YouTube.com, and is compelling, but not as much as this entire video.
18. On the Edge
A fictional story of a man who, early in his life, was unfairly banned from being an amateur athlete. 20 years, later, he decides to comeback and in a Rocky type of storyline, works for a year then enters a race, unregistered. Attempts are made to remove him, but the runners band together to protect him. Hard to find, but worthy of the effort. Two versions, the older has “romance” scenes (completely unnecessary to the plot), the newer edited one does not have these scenes. The best fictional running video.
19. Jericho Mile.
This is a hard to find video and only in VHS format, but again well worth the effort. A fictional story of an imprisoned man who can run a fast mile and how he is kept from competing. He does so, on his own, watch him run on the prison made course. You will cheer him on through his failures and successes and want to go run. Reminds me of the Nike saying: “There are clubs you can’t belong to, neighborhoods you can’t live in, schools you can’t get into, but the roads are always open.”
20. Saint Ralph
A fictional story of a young 9th grade boy who believes that he must pull off a miracle for his mom, who is in a coma, to come out of it. The boy is frequently in trouble at his Catholic school, but becomes obsessed with winning the Boston Marathon, the miracle of choice. He has a mentor and together they work together towards this goal. The story line is a little far out there for a runner, but if you can go with it, you will enjoy and be motivated by this boys story.
There you have it. The top 20 motivational running videos, well, according to me. I hope you enjoy them. If it takes you an extra step, or you run once, when you didn’t want to, then the time spent writing this for you will be well worth it. Happy running.
