26 March 2008

"Run For Your Life"

For those of you NYC runners out there, a much-anticipated documentary film Run For Your Life will be premiering at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival in New York this Sunday, April 27th at 3:30pm EST.

Mentioned as the remarkable story of how one man ran for his life and inspired millions to do the same, the film centers on Fred Lebow. This is the man who founded the five-borough New York City Marathon which, in many people's opinion, is possibly the greatest marathon event ever put together. Widely considered one of the most influential and unlikely American icons, Lebow fled his orthodox home in war-torn Europe and found his calling when he brought together a ragtag group of runners for the first NYC Marathon in Central Park. In 1976, Lebow took the race through all five boroughs, bringing a divided city together and sparking a worldwide fitness boom. Lebow lived for the NYC Marathon yet only ran the five borough race once, in a race against the odds. He passed away in 1994 at the age of 62.

An added bonus, the film also includes the last known interview with Ted Corbitt, an Olympian and pioneering African-American runner who founded what would become the New York Road Runners Club (NYRR). Known as the “Jackie Robinson of running,” Corbitt died while the film was being made, on December 12, 2007.

Directed by Judd Erlich, this inspirational tribute shows how one man's imagination, determination, and love for running created one of the world's most popular sporting events.

If you are looking for a preview of this soon-to-be runner classic, check it out below.



1 comment:

Nancy said...

Geez, Mike, you don't disappoint. I swear you are a running encyclopedia. :D (I meant that in a good way!)

Did you see the brief snow just now? Unbelievable.