A feature documentary on the marathon and the inspirational stories that make it such a fitness phenomenon will be shown in theaters across the country Thursday.
Called “Spirit of the Marathon,” the film will be shown at 14 Colorado theaters (nine in the Denver-Boulder metro area) at 7:30 p.m.
“Spirit of the Marathon” tells the story of six runners as they train and run the Chicago Marathon. They include:
• A man trying to meet the Boston Marathon’s challenging qualifying standard after missing it by 11 seconds.
• A woman’s first marathon after taking up running to recover from a broken marriage.
• A 70-year-old man running with his 40-year-old daughter, who was inspired to take up the challenge after watching him break 6 hours for the first time.
• Former Alamosa resident Deena Kastor, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist.
• Kenyan Daniel Njenga, an elite runner with a marathon best of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 16 seconds.
The film’s producers originally announced it would be shown on one night only, but because of extraordinary demand, another showing has been scheduled for Feb. 21. To find a theater for this week’s showing and purchase tickets, go to .
Watch this “Playground”
A special screening of this year’s Warren Miller ski film, “Playground,” will be shown Thursday at the Starz Film Center to benefit SafeHouse Denver.
Tickets cost $25. Every ticket holder will receive coupons for two-for-one lift tickets at Steamboat, Copper Mountain and Winter Park. Cocktails begin at 7 p.m., with the film beginning at 7:30 p.m.
To purchase tickets, go to www.blacktie-colorado.com/rsvp and enter the event code, playground08.
Best race on the planet
One of Colorado’s premier cross country running races will be staged Saturday at Boulder’s Harlow Platt Community Park.
Dubbed “The Best Cross Country Race on the Planet,” the annual event includes a 4-mile race for adults and a 2-kilometer course for children ages 5-14.
Runners may register at the Boulder Running Co., FleetFeet Sports in Boulder or .
Get on the bus, Gus
Echo Mountain will run a shuttle bus from Colorado Mills on Saturday. The round-trip ride costs $15. Shuttles leave the northwest corner parking lot near the Sports Authority store at 9 a.m. and return to the Mills at 5 p.m.
John Meyer, The Denver Post
