A Passion for Running

one last link (I think!) for my sidebar menu. This post is very much in draft form right now. I will complete it shortly.
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Running Heroes

1. Ed Whitlock: Ed Whitlock is over 75 years old and running 3 hour marathons. This just astounds me. He is #1 on my list of running heroes because he is the perfect example of what sustained fitness can do for us into our later years. The other reason I am inspired by Ed is because he runs 2 to 3 hours a day. No, that was not a typo. The guy is the perfect example of what running lots of miles can do for you. Ed: If you ever read this, please know that I am in complete awe of you. You rock! Oh! Did I mention Ed is Canadian?
2. Emil Zatopek: I’m not sure exactly why but I’ve always been drawn to Emil Zatopek. Maybe it’s because he defines what hard work and determination is. Maybe it’s because he listened to his inner voice. Maybe it’s because he won the 5000 meter, 10,000 meter and Marathon all in the same Olympics. Wow.
3. Steve Prefontaine:So much has been written about “Pre”. He is a compelling historical figure because he flat out refused to put forward anything other than his best. I think, more so than most people we see in athletics.
4. Hicham El Guerrouj: They call him the King of the Mile - because he is. He’s the mile world record holder (3:43:13) and every time I see him running on video, I’m mesmerized. Poetry in motion. More than anyone, watching him makes me want to run fast.

Inspiration

1. My Family: In my hierarchy of needs, fitness is very important. Why is it important? Well, as much as I want for myself to be fit into my old age like Ed Whitlock, I also want to be fit so I can be a good role model, inspire and do stuff with my kids. Every parent has moments that they remember forever - moments that define the relationship we have with our kids. One moment for me was running around a track with my then four year old daughter just prior to the start of a marathon I was to run on my 35th birthday. That moment was special. I hope Cassandra and Christopher pick up running because it would be so great to run with them in their teen and adult years.
2. The Running Blog Family: (Coming!)

There is a new running movie on the horizon called, Land of the Gods: Legends of the Marathon.

The trailer looks fantastic - a beautifully photographed film that captures the stories of a wide range of runners (beginner to elite, old and young) while they train for and run in the Chicago Marathon.

If the movie is anything like the trailer, it will be sensational.

I can’t wait.

Have you seen this? It’s the story of Roger Bannister and his breaking the four-minute mile. I haven’t seen it but the reviews on amazon for it are excellent. I think I’ll order it unless someone tells me that’s a bad idea.

Today is Martin Luther King day. What a good reminder for us all to practice love, kindness and tolerance for others.

Martin Luther King Day is today but he was actually born on January 15, 1929.

Here is a link to his famous I Have a Dream speach.

My roger bannister beats lance armstrong on sport feat list post got some neat feedback. The last comment was from Eric who told me about the amazing Kenyan runner, Daniel Komen. All I have to say is WOW!

My Roger Bannister post from the other day got me thinking about legendary runners and that lead me to Running past - a terrific website that exists to honor those legends. It’s got facts, figures, photos and video clips of some pretty awesome running legends including Steve Prefontaine, Billy Mills, Emil Zatopek and more. Check it out!

Forbes recently came out with a list of what it believes are the top 20 athletic achievements of all time. At the top of the list is Sir Roger Bannister - famous for breaking the 4-minute mile barrier. To be sure, Bannister’s achievement is legendary but I wonder if it belongs at the top of the list. Personally, I might choose Lance Armstrong’s 7-time domination of the Tour de France (2nd on the list) over Bannister’s record, simply due to how long I think Armstrong’s record will stand compared to Bannister’s. What do you think?

The Forbes list is here and I’ve provided the remaining of the top six achievements below:

-Jesse Owens: Four World Records In 70 Minutes
-Nadia Comaneci: Seven Perfect 10s
-Joe DiMaggio: 56-Game Hitting Streak
-Muhammad Ali: Three Heavyweight Titles

Just a little shout out to one of the truly elite athletes we have in the Running Blog Family Directory. Make sure you check out joan nesbit mabe’s blog.

She’s smokin’ fast and a wealth of knowledge.

Technorati Tag:running

You’ve reached my running movies links page. Links to movies about running are shown below. Click on running links if you want to get back to my main running link page. A movie about running makes a great gift for the runner in your life. For other ideas, check out my running gifts links page.

Please let me know if there is a movie not on this list that should be added by leaving me a comment. Thanks!

Documentaries/Dramatic Documentaries About Runners

Fictional Dramas About Running

Instructional Running DVDs

Dramas With a Running Sub-Plot

Movies with Running Scenes in Them

Did ya know Paula Radcliffe has a website? She even has a blog!