I received an email yesterday informing me about a documentary called “Spirit of the Marathon II” that is coming to theaters for one day only on June 12th. This documentary follows the journey of seven different marathon runners from six different countries to the finish line of the Rome Marathon. They come from all walks of life and each face different challenges both physical and emotional along the way.
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“Spirit of the Marathon II” is a project put together by marathon runners, accomplished filmmakers Jon Dunham (director) and Gwendolen Twist (producer), three-time Academy Award® winner Mark Jonathan Harris (executive producer) and Academy Award® nominee Megan Williams (producer).
From the Press Release:
“In the sea of humanity at the start of every big city marathon, each individual has reasons to run that go beyond 26.2 miles,” said 25-time marathoner Dunham.
“It is our intention to bring these stories into focus with the ‘Spirit of the Marathon’ documentaries,” said Twist, who recently qualified for the prestigious Boston Marathon.
Filmed during the sweeping panorama of the 2012 Rome Marathon, the documentary brings together a diverse cast of amateur athletes and marathon veterans, including:
Julie Weiss – Veteran Marathoner – At the Rome Marathon, Julie began a quest to run a marathon a week for a year to honor the memory of her father on an emotional journey to spread awareness and raise money for pancreatic cancer – the devastating disease that claimed his life.
Ylenia Anelli – First-time Marathoner – While struggling to keep her mom-and -pop running shoe store open in Milan and raising two children, Ylenia takes on the challenge of training to run her first marathon.
Vasyl Matviychuk – Olympic Marathoner Hopeful – The elite marathoner trains with the pride of country in his heart in hopes that a fast time at the Rome Marathon will earn him the last spot on the Ukrainian National Olympic Team.
Mimmo Scipioni – Veteran Marathoner – The good-natured, hard-working owner of “Pizzeria Il Podista” (The Runner Pizzeria) in Rome, Mimmo has lined his pizzeria’s walls with photos and trophies from the more than 40 marathons he has run. It is a pre-race tradition for runners to carbo load with Mimmo. For Mimmo, the family tradition of running the Rome Marathon is in jeopardy due to a nagging injury.
Domenico Anzini – Veteran Marathoner – Prodded by his cousin Mimmo, it took a lot of convincing for Domenico to give running a try. Now, 18 years later, the 73-year-old has run in every Rome Marathon since its inception. The camaraderie and humor the cousins share during their training runs goes to the heart of family.
Cliff Scott – First-time Marathoner – Scott’s bucket list decision to run his first marathon in his 60’s is an inspiration unto itself. When faced with an unimaginable family tragedy he struggles to make peace with himself during training runs in the woods. It is painfully obvious that his loss has taken its toll and calls into question whether he will be able to finish the Rome Marathon.
Epiphanie Nyirabarame – Two-time Olympian – One of the few professional runners in Rwanda, Epiphanie proudly represents her country around the world to create change for women. Having been deeply affected by the genocide in 1994, Epiphanie uses her resources to invest in her community, advocating for progress and growth, especially for the future generation of runners.
NCM Fathom Events teamed with Dunham, Twist, Harris and Wasserman Media Group in 2008 to bring the documentary “Spirit of the Marathon,” which chronicled the journey of six runners in the 2007 Chicago Marathon, to hundreds of U.S. movie theaters, many of which sold out. The documentary has emerged as a cult favorite in the running community.
“Spirit of the Marathon II” is more than a sports event – it’s an opportunity for runners and non-runners alike to come together as a community in their local movie theaters to experience seven different inspirational journeys with each of these runners,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom Events. “The 2008 event featuring the first ‘Spirit of the Marathon’ drew tens of thousands of attendees. ‘Spirit of the Marathon II’ is a must-see for those who run and those who don’t. It’s an extraordinary experience for all.”
Check out the trailer:
As a runner, I think that this sounds like it will be a very inspirational and awesome documentary! It is showing at select movie theaters on June 12th at 7pm local time. Go here to find out where it is showing in your area.
Did you see the first “Spirit of the Marathon” documentary? If so, what did you think?