Your Favorite Running Movies

Well the results are in. Among my friends (or at least those who read the blog and my Facebook postings) there are 12 movies and 4 documentaries which qualify as favorites. In at least one case “running” seems to be interpreted as “running from the law,” which could/should be its own category, perhaps. But I’ve put in everyone’s suggestions – good, bad and silly.

I haven’t seen every recommendation on the first list of movies, but my favorite of those I have seen is Saint Ralph. If you haven’t watched it, you really should. It’s a sweet, inspiring, feel-good movie, if totally fantastical.

On the documentary list, I love Spirit of the Marathon because it features a number of women and back-of-the-pack runners whom I find personally encouraging. I have to give a special thumbs up, though, to the Long Green Line because that documentary is about a high school track coach named Joe Newton who happens to (still) coach at Bill’s high school (York High School) back in Elmhurst, Illinois. He’s coached his team to 25 State Titles during the course of his tenure. Coach Newton even showed up to Bill’s high school reunion in 2009! Check out the film. Check them all out. I welcome additions to the list and/or reviews. Here are the lists….

Movies:
• Running Man (1987) with Arnold Schwartzenegger
• The Miracle of Kathy Miller (1981) with Helen Hunt
• Run Fatboy Run with Hank Azaria
• Gallopoli (1981) with Mel Gibson
• Saint Ralph (2004)
• The Terry Fox Story (1983)
• Jericho Mile (1979) with Peter Strauss
• Prefontaine (1997)
• Goldengirl (1979) with Susan Anton
• Run Lola Run (1999) German film
• Forest Gump (1994) with Tom Hanks
• Without Limits (1998)

Documentaries:
• Endurance (1999)
• Running Brave (1983)
• Spirit of the Marathon (2007)
• Long Green Line (2008)