It’s been flattering that so many of you have asked about the status of the 50 Marathons movie. While I don’t profess to know anything about the film business, I can say that a version of the movie is complete—they call it a “screener,” for what it’s worth—and will be shown for one night only in San Diego before the Rock ‘n' Roll marathon.
I apologize about this limited screening. As I understand it, the film is currently being “shopped around” and the determination of where & how it ultimately gets released (i.e., in theatres, on TV, as a DVD, or some combination thereof) has yet to be solidified. Now I better understand why it takes so long for movies to debut!
For those of you who will be in the San Diego area on May 29th and would like to attend this show, click on the flyer over to the right for more information. Some people have already said to me that they would be running to the theatre, which I love, so clearly this is no red carpet affair. Running attire is gladly welcomed, preferred, actually. In fact, I might just lace up my shoes and be on a mission to hoof it there myself (more on that in future postings).
Over the years, I’ve seen some really good, and some really bad, movies about running. Chariots of Fire and Forest Gump aside, a couple of my all-time favorites would include: A Race for the Soul and Running on the Sun.
I’m sure many of you have seen other running related movies you’ve enjoyed. We want to hear about them! Please share your favorites with the group. My Netflix queue is waiting :-)
Beyond the commonality of being 26.2 miles (or 42.195 kilometers for many of you readers), marathons “run the gamut.” From big-city marathons with tens of thousands of runners, to small-town marathons with only a handful of participants, the variety is virtually endless. According to www.42k195.com, there were over a thousand marathons worldwide this month alone. With so many choices, how do you find the ones that are right for you?
One way is to ask others. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of running a few marathons. Some of my favorites are set in magnificent natural surroundings, making the marathon experience just as much about exploring the great outdoors as running a great distance. This weekend I am participating in the BIG SUR INTERNATIONAL MARATHON, a truly spectacular course set along the rugged Central California coastline. A couple weeks ago I ran the WHIDBEY ISLAND MARATHON along the waterways of Island County in northern Washington, another supremely beautiful area.
I’ve limited my mentions above to relatively small, US-based events held in rural settings. By no means is this list exhaustive. I could have included dozens of other marathons that fall within this same broad category. And that’s where you come in.
Let’s hear about some of your favorite marathons, and why you found these particular choices of yours to be so tremendous. Anything goes here: any country, any size, any setting. We want to hear about your best marathons and the reasons you had such a memorable experience at these events.
I have a suspicion that my proverbial “life list” is going to be expanding over the next few days as the responses start coming in. Carpe Cursus!
Before launching into this latest posting, please allow me to openly confess that the previous column—a purported news story detailing my intentions to carry the Olympic Torch some 8,823 miles from San Francisco to Beijing—was entirely a joke perpetuated by my buddy Hunter Ziesing. Sorry for any confusion it might have created. Initially, I was enamored that some people might actually believe I was going to run that far (along with paddling across the Baring Sea). That quickly changed with the flood of well-wishes I received, leaving me with just one concerned thought, “Do they really think I’m that nuts?”
I guess “nuts” is a relative term, however. This weekend, I’m participating in a race called, The Rely. As the name suggests, the format is a twelve-person relay team. The total distance of The Relay is 199-miles, which is broken into 36 discrete “legs," each terminating in what is called an “exchange point.” The twelve runners are individually required to complete three of these legs along the 199-mile course. Teams compete against one another to see who can complete the race in the shortest amount of overall time.
It’s a supremely fun design, and there are many “relay-style” events across the country, some of which I’ve also done: Hood-to-Coast and Reach-the-Beach, being two, and many more that are on my proverbial (and ever expanding) “to do” list, like the Ragnar Relay series and Outward Bound Colorado Relay.
Now, let me explain why I consider these relay participants “nuts.” Think about it for a moment, if you’re running three segments along a roughly 200-mile course—divided amongst twelve teammates—you’re having to bust out a hard 10K (roughly the distance of each leg) at three points during a relatively short period of time. Forget about recovery, your team is depending on your top performance each time you run. Worse, you might run your first leg at seven in the morning, and not run your next leg until midnight. In between, you’re riding in a cramped van filled with other sweaty and tired runners, the floorboard sticky with residual sports beverage spillage, the air pungent with Ben Gay, everyone fighting for their music selection. I ask you, does it get any better?
Yet, for me, I simply can’t handle the demands of having to run that fast for three segments during the course of a race. It would wreck me, I’m sure of it. That, along with the pressure of knowing I was letting my fellow teammates down with my pathetically sluggish pace, would be too much to bear. So, instead, I opt for the easy way out, claiming that after all the running I’ve been doing lately, I simply don’t have eleven friends left (which, frighteningly, is not actually that far from the truth). Fabrication or not, running 199-miles nonstop seems much easier to me than running three speedy 10K’s at all hours of the day or night.
Although running solo seems less stressful to me, it does get a little lonely out there. So if you happen to be in the San Francisco Bay area this weekend and see a guy hobbling along the roadside, be kind. Throw some food at him. Preferably, chocolate covered espresso beans. Better, lace up your running shoes and join on his team. If you don’t mind your fellow teammate being excruciatingly slow, I would welcome the addition.
Good luck to all you nutso teams out there at The Relay this weekend.
“Team Dean,” the wayward torchbearer, signing off.
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Comments welcomed: I know that many of you reading this column have participated in relay races before. One thing I always find entertaining, beyond the colorful costumes and elaborate vehicle designs, are the imaginative team names. Probably my favorite is, team “Just Watering Your Flowers, Ma’am.” For those of you knowing other creative team names, do share. I’m sure the group would get a kick out of hearing some of them. That is, the ones we can publish :-)
SAN FRANCISCO - The only North American appearance of the Olympic torch disintegrated into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse Wednesday when officials unexpectedly diverted the flame away from spectators and protesters and moved the closing ceremony to the airport.
The continuing chaos after tumultuous demonstrations in Paris and London earlier this week raised concerns about keeping the global part of the relay.
Now, due to more security issues at SFO last night, Chinese officials are taking to the ground instead of by air to bring the torch to Beijing. Ultra Marathon marvel, Dean Karnazes, will run the torch from San Francisco to Canada and cross the Yukon Territory before taking to kayak in the Baring Sea off the Alaskan peninsula. After landing in Siberia, he will then take to the Russian snow fields by foot to encounter the dangerous Tibetan rebels fields around Mt Everest before he gets to Beijing.
"I think under this circumstance, it demands it," said U.S. Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth. "Mr. Karnazes is the obvious choice--let's just hope he makes it by summer."
Dean Karnazes, said he is taking time off of his current desert hopping trip around the world to accomplish the 8,823 mile trek to Beijing and expects to make it by July's opening ceremonies. His family will follow in 4WD tundra vehicles and later in a specially designed kayak for 4 which he will row.
Associated press, 16:40 PM, 12 April, 2008 Hunter Ziesing reporting
It is with great honor that I am letting you know I have been selected to carry the Olympic Torch as it passes through my home city of San Francisco. The selection process had begun quite some time ago, but it was requested that all those being considered for this distinction keep the information confidential.
The Olympic Torch Relay is a highly emotional event,one that accentuates excitement, passion, joy, optimism, and inspiration. It also sets the tone for messages of good-will and unity, hope, peace, harmony, friendship and pride.
As you know, recent events in Tibet have created unrest surrounding the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. It has always been my position that athletics and sport are a way to bring people together, not divide people. To me, the Olympic Games are a place of peace and harmony, not a political forum.
The decision to carry the Olympic Torch comes without reserve on my behalf. In my view, politics has no place in this peaceful worldwide event. The Olympic Torch symbolizes freedom, solidarity and hope. It is my dream that these Olympic Ideals will always shine above all else.
Rather than attempting to smother the Olympic Torch of hope, I have encouraged those opposed to the situation in Tibet to lace up their running shoes and join together in a show of unity and strength. Walk or run alongside the Torch as it makes its way across the globe so that the fire burns so brightly its magic and power cannot be ignored by anyone. Rather than perpetuating further conflict by attempting to extinguish this beautiful sparkle of hope, let us band together peacefully and march in unison across the globe wherever the Torch passes, and even places where it does not.
May the streets be filled with millions of marchers across the world, joined hand-in-hand, running or walking in unison with the Olympic Torch as it enters Tibet on its final leg toward Beijing. Hold up your own flame (perhaps a match, perhaps a lighter, perhaps a small flashlight or cell phone screen) and encourage others to hold up their mini Prayer Flame as the Torch makes its way across the globe. The collective light and warmth of this display would be felt the world over, inspiring positive change, hope and reform.
Perhaps I am a naive dreamer, but to me, that would say more than any violent protest ever could.
Most sincere regards,
Dean Karnazes
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If you have any thoughts or reflections on this, comments are welcomed and encouraged. While I've expressed my individual position, I certainly respect the viewpoints of others and the right to protest. Not to stir controversy, rather to seek a deeper understanding of everybody's perspective, I would be sincerely interested in hearing what your particular stance on the topic may be. While I hold the matters in Tibet as critical global concerns, I do not think protesting the Olympic Games is the right format to bring these issues to light.
Please be respectful and courteous to others in posting your comments. Let us all learn and grow more compassionate toward each other through an open and honest exchange. Mostly, let us keep our shared love of running and adventure as a sanctuary that rises above differences in beliefs and opinions and allows us to remain connected through it all.
The Olympic Torch will pass through San Francisco on Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
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“May joy and good fellowship reign, and in this manner,
may the Olympic Torch pursue its way through ages,
increasing friendly understanding among nations, for
the good of a humanity always more enthusiastic, more
courageous and more pure."
—Pierre de Coubertin
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