GUEST COLUMN: The 10 Best Films About Running of All Time

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The 10 Best Films About Running of All Time

by Kevin Faber

Running is not one of the film industry’s favorite subjects, and few running films are as profitable as dramas, comedies and thrillers based on other topics. Hollywood prefers to stick to stories that can generate the highest sales, but sometimes, a running film breaks through and wows audiences and critics. If you’re a runner or enjoy watching films about the sport, you can check out these ten films that represent the best running movies of all time.

1. Chariots of Fire

Although it’s considered one of the best films ever produced by a British film company, Chariots of Fire flies under the radar compared to other more popular sports films. The story involves a Christian runner and Jewish runner who compete in the 1924 Olympics. While the plot focuses on competitive running, the real heart of the film examines prejudice and how some extraordinary people struggle with and overcome diversity. It won four Oscars, and the sensational soundtrack will stay in your head for days after watching the film.

2. Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is an epic drama, comedy and feel-good movie that impressed critics and thrilled audiences worldwide. Tom Hank’s portrayal of a mentally-challenged man that overcame his disability by running non-stop around the country won him an Academy Award and inspired many fans to take up running. The phrase “run Forrest, run” has become an American symbol for overcoming fear and beating the odds. Forrest Gump may convince you to throw on a crop tank and lace up your running shoes.

3. Run Lola Run

Although the 1998 German film did not make a splash at the box office, Run Lola Run is a unique experimental film that may cause you to pause for breath. Franka Potente (Lola) races through the city streets in desperation to recover the lost funds owed to a gangster holding her boyfriend. The pounding soundtrack and fast-paced running scenes are exhilarating and sometimes terrifying.

4. Race

The 2016 film Race follows the life of Jesse Owens from his meteoric rise at Ohio State University in track and field to his gold-medal performances at the 1936 Olympics. The film shows how the United States was hesitant to feature an African American runner when segregation was still gripping the country. Jesse Owen’s triumph over critics, bigots and the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler is a truly American story.

5. Saint Ralph

In 2004’s Saint Ralph, Adam Butcher (Ralph) is a troubled student at a Catholic school in Canada who is forced to join the cross-country team after he’s caught smoking. When Ralph’s mother is diagnosed with cancer, the young man decides to run the Boston Marathon in hopes that God will save his mother’s life. Ralph enters the race as the youngest runner to attempt the marathon.

6. I am Bolt

No other sprinter on the planet can run as fast as Usain Bolt, and he still holds the honor of being the fastest man in the world. The film I am Bolt follows the athlete as he prepares to make history in the 2016 Olympics. Bolt’s story is inspiring, and thanks to the athlete himself, it’s incredibly funny.

7. Run Fatboy, Run

After Dennis (Simon Pegg) abandons his pregnant girlfriend at their wedding, he realizes he made a serious mistake. Years later, he attempts to win her back, but he discovers his ex-girlfriend is involved with an athletic businessman who plans to run in a charity marathon. Although he’s out of shape and knows nothing about long-distance running, he enters the race after only training for three weeks.

8. On the Edge

The 1986 film On the Edge follows the story of a disgraced former runner who decides to enter the punishing Cielo-Sea Race in his 40s. The film focuses on how the aging athlete trains and eventually runs against much younger athletes.

9. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner is a 1962 film about a troubled young man who is sent to reform school after he’s caught stealing. At the school, he proves himself a talented runner but continuously rebels against authorities and the class system in England.

10. Without Limits

1998’s Without Limits tells the story of distance runner Steve Prefontaine as he trains with his coach Bill Bowerman. Although the runner and coach become close, they initially disagree about Prefontaine’s habit of running a race at full speed from beginning to end.

These ten films are excellent representations of the sport of running and celebrating the human spirit. After viewing the movies, you’re likely to hit the trails for a nice run.