When there is little real racing and we are are still quarantining at home, it takes a lot more motivation to lace up and head out the door. If your running drive is lagging because of COVID-19—and you need a little boost—here’s an idea: host your own film festival (preferably in a cool room during the summer) featuring movies that inspire you to get back out there.

Here, we’ve collected a list of running-themed documentaries, some more well-known and others that are off the beaten path, to get you in the spirit of putting one foot in front of the other. Consider this your go-to binge-watch list for when you are recovering on the couch after a workout, relaxing before a virtual race, running on the treadmill , or hosting a Zoom party for a movie night.

Find the film that’s best for you, and enjoy.

15 Hours With Amelia Boone

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A little less than 10 minutes long, this documentary is one of the shortest on our list, but it still packs a punch. The film follows Amelia Boone , one of the best ultrarunners and obstacle course athletes in the world, through her devastating fall from and return to competition after she suffered a stress fracture in her femur in 2016. For runners who are sidelined with an injury or are going through other hardships, this movie will remind you that even the worst challenges, heartbreaks, and frustrations can be overcome—and you’ll be stronger because of them.

The 41st Day

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When Ryan Hall announced his retirement from professional competition at age 33 in 2016, many in the running community were surprised. But to Hall—who owns the third-fastest American marathon time on a record-eligible course (2:06:17)—the decision made perfect sense. This new doc follows his journey from teenage prodigy to record-setting marathoner, and more.

Runner

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Guor Maker’s incredible life story is the subject of a new documentary, RUNNER. The 87-minute film weaves interviews, news reports on war and famine in Sudan, and running footage from Maker’s high school days with his London and Rio Olympic appearances and two qualifying attempts.

Leadman: The Dave Mackey Story

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Dave Mackey, the winner of numerous ultras and trail races, had to make the tough decision to amputate his leg after a loose rock gave way under his feet during a run. After falling 50 feet down a mountainside, an estimated 300-pound rock landed on his left leg, crushing the bones and skin. But his journey forward with the sport he loves was featured in a new documentary short released in 2019.

Skid Row Marathon

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Many members of the group call Skid Row—a roughly 50-block area in Los Angeles that houses up to 11,000 of the city’s homeless population—home, and many of them suffer from alcohol or drug addictions. This film, however, tells the story of how running brought some light and hope to this section of L.A. (In April, all proceeds of DVD sales will benefit the Midnight Mission.)

The Human Race

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Everyone has a reason for why they run, and this film shares a handful of those stories in inspiring fashion. The documentary spotlights six runners over the age of 50—including a father attempting his very first 5K with his autistic son by his side, running revolutionary Kathrine Switzer , and an 80-year-old running a half marathon in celebration of her birthday—as they train for a monumental race. If you need a reminder that you can accomplish any goal you set your mind to, no matter your age or experience, this is one to watch.

Into the Wind

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Follow the journey of Terry Fox, an amputee runner who was diagnosed with cancer, as he attempted to run across Canada in 1980. The film premiered in 2010 as part of the . The filmmakers (one of which was NBA legend Steve Nash) spoke with those closest to Fox as he set out to cover more than a marathon distance each day in hopes of raising awareness and money for cancer research. Fox was was just 21 years old at the time, and although it’s a true story and easy to find out what happened to the young Canadian, we won’t play spoiler about how it ends.



Unbreakable: The Western States 100



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This doc is available to watch for free on YouTube right now. Following the 2010 running of the Western States 100, Unbreakable tells the story of what is arguably the greatest matchup in the race’s history. The event included two-time defending champion Hal Koerner, undefeated 100-miler Geoff Roes, Anton Krupicka (who at the time won every ultramarathon he started), and a young Kilian Jornet. The film follows the four, with appearances from many other trail running legends, in their lead-up and race from Squaw Valley to Auburn. While many races share the history of the trails they run on, this documentary is great for anyone who wants to geek out on runners adding to that history.

Hood to Coast

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Runners who have ever wanted to participate in the Hood to Coast relay, one of the largest of its kind in the world, might want to take a peek at the 2011 about this popular race in Oregon. The relay is approximately 200 miles long and features more than a thousand 12-person teams, and the film chronicles four groups who ran in the 2008 race. Grab 12 of your closest running buddies, watch the film, and sign up. But it’s a very popular race, so don’t hesitate.



Boston: The Documentary

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This , released right before the running of the 121st Boston Marathon, chronicles everything from the origins of one of the world’s most iconic races to the tragedy in 2013 at the finish line. It’s a complete look at everything Boston Marathon from some the people who know it best. The film is narrated by Boston’s own Matt Damon.



The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young

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The name says it all, chronicling one of the most brutal races that only a handful of brave souls can actually try. For years, the Barkley Marathons was a race that nobody talked about. You had to know somebody who knew how to enter to even have a chance at entry. gives a great look at the trials and tribulations that a small number of runners put themselves through each year, and why the race director, Gary Cantrell, designed the devilish race in the first place. Another new film, titled Where Dreams Go to Die, documents the two-year stretch where ultrarunner Gary Robbins attempted to complete all five loops. You can view it on YouTube now.



Run For Your Life

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Learn about the man who made the New York City Marathon what it is today. Fred Lebow’s life and work are brought to the screen in this , which describes how he turned the New York Road Runners Club from a small group of men running in the Bronx to a group that oversees the biggest marathon in the world that crosses all five boroughs of New York City.



Spirit of the Marathon

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follows six runners, including American legend Deena Kastor and Kenyan elite Daniel Njenga, through their training and lead-up to the 2005 Chicago Marathon. You get a great look at how top runners train and mentally prepare for 26.2 miles, but you also see how regular folks prepare for their own big races. For anyone thinking about signing up for the marathon, this is a great, first-person look at what it’s like to put in the four months of work before race day. A follow-up documentary, Spirit of the Marathon 2, follows runners as they prepare for the Rome Marathon.



Gun Runners

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This is a human-interest piece following two Kenyan runners—Julius Arile and Robert Matanda—who put aside their life as countryside warriors to focus on the sport. Director and filmmaker Anjali Nayar debuted in 2015. It shows how Kenyan runners go from poverty to reaching local and national fame in the sport. But it also displays just how hard it is to make it big in a country full of talented runners.

Karl Meltzer: Made to be Broken



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Famed ultrarunner Karl Meltzer is followed in his journey to run the Appalachian Trail in record time. Red Bull sponsors this documentary, and they document Meltzer’s third and final attempt at breaking the course record, set by Scott Jurek in 2015. While it’s probably not a good idea to attempt the feat after watching the film, you will definitely be motivated to get your feet wet and dirty on a trail right afterward. (Watch the whole film on Redbull.tv or watch it on Netflix.)

Showing Up



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Follow the lives of several November Project runners and athletes as they explain the reasons why they got into the grassroots free fitness movement. The movie chronicles every day people in cities like New York, Boston, Washington D.C., and Kansas City who hold themselves accountable by showing up at 6:30 a.m. for workouts a couple times a week. Chris Mosier, an elite duathlete who is transgender, plays a prominent role in the film as a member of the group. You can watch the full documentary on YouTube.

Desert Runners



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If you are up for watching runners go through excruciating pain, then of a group attempting to complete the 4 Deserts ultra races is right up your alley. Each race for these amateur runners is a little north of 150 miles and runs through the Atacama Desert, the Gobi, the Sahara, and Antarctica. Brutal.



Breaking 2

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Nike’s Breaking2 project was the talk of the running world in 2017. Relive the real-life running science project in this documentary, presented by National Geographic. Three Nike runners, led by Eliud Kipchoge, tackle the Italian race track in Monza in an effort to do the impossible in marathoning—break the two-hour mark for the first time in history. Nike announced he Breaking2 Project late in 2016, and the film goes through the year-long process it took to get to race day.

Transcend

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Learn more about the life of 2012 Boston Marathon winner Wesley Korir on and off the roads as a politician in Kenya. Korir went from professional runner to marathon winner to elected official in the Kenyan parliament. The film gives a deeper look at the man, and how he used that major win in Boston to give back to his countrymen and women.

Finding Traction

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follows Nikki Kimball, an ultrarunning icon who has won the Western States 100 along with several other endurance races, in her attempt to set the speed record on Vermont’s 273-mile Long Trail in August 2012, when she was 41 years old. The crew spends four days capturing Kimball’s triumphs and struggles on the trail, which traverses the beautiful but difficult Green Mountains of Vermont. Watch if you need an escape from your standard neighborhood loop—the rolling green hills will surely transport you, at least for a moment—or if you need a boost of motivation to tackle that challenge that you’re scared to commit to.

Hailey Middlebrook Digital Editor Hailey first got hooked on running news as an intern with Running Times, and now she reports on elite runners and cyclists, feel-good stories, and training pieces for Runner's World and Bicycling magazines.

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