Day #56: Five Fabulous Running Clips
Kick off your shoes, sit back and enjoy these 5 fabulous distance-running video clips. Get inspired by those who have come before. I especially recommend the 3rd video here – I had not come across it until recently. Arthur Lydiard and company have a show in store for you — replete with great running insights and footage that will Wow!! you. Enjoy:)
Fire on the Track (Voted #1 running movie of all time by LetsRun.com)
This excellent film (this clip is the first 10 minutes of the movie) chronicles American distance-running icon Steve Prefontaine’s epic career (and personality:) as he gives everything he has in the 1972 Olympic 5000 meter final. The film includes extensive footage from that “Munich Masterpiece” as well as interviews with many of the late phenom’s competitors.
Billy Mills Stuns the World at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the 10,000 Meters
This clip shows highlights of Billy Mills’ 1964 10,000 meter gold medal race in Tokyo. The surprise champion shares personal comments at the end of the clip and reminisces that the realization that he had actually won gold was like waking from a dream! If you want more Billy Mills inspiration, be sure to check out the superb film documenting his storied career, Running Brave.
On The Run – Produced and Directed by Sparky Greene
I chanced upon this awesome distance-running documentary as I was perusing another great blog – NaturalRunningCenter. Dr. Marc Cuccazzella’s “Endurance” page featured this New Zealand produced film last summer, and the information, footage and interviews are top-rate. Here’s a synopsis of “On The Run” from its own website:
“This film showcases legendary running coach Arthur Lydiard’s training methods through the example of his acolytes, including reigning Olympic 1,500m champ John Walker. ‘Arthur’s boys’ (Snell, Halberg, Magee) scored attention by winning unheralded medals (two golds and a bronze) at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Lydiard later led the ‘flying Finns’ to similar success. His method revolves around building stamina to complement speed, and was influential in popularising jogging globally. Beautifully filmed, a doco highlight is Jack Foster’s exhilarating scree slope descent.”
George Sheehan – Thoughts on the Run
Granted that this clip is a bit scratchy, but anyone who has studied George Sheehan is undoubtedly familiar with not only Sheehan’s insightful words about running, but also his voice. Enjoy!
Abebe Bikila wins the 1960 Olympic Marathon … in bare feet!
I still remember Coach Jim Westcott – at Colby College where I ran cross-country and track (and played soccer:) – sitting our cross-country team down in a classroom my freshman year, loading up an old film reel, and “making” us watch Bikila run. It still holds true that the language narrating the epic runner’s feat is irrelevant; Bikila’s graceful stride tells it all!
