Pep Talk

"Well, that was a good pep talk."
-Yumke, as the credits were rolling for "Spirit of the Marathon"

I wish the entire Pig-bound crew (eight runners in total, more on that another time) came out to see this documentary, a one-time showing across the country tonight. But it was just me and Yumke. I relived quite a few emotions tonight as the 100-minute drama unfolded. I watched six runners juxtaposed in six stories about their personal journeys toward competing and completing the 2005 Chicago Marathon (the year before I ran it).

I found myself at the edge of my seat, wondering if Deena Kastor was going to survive the fast-closing Constantina Tomescu-Dita. And even though I already knew the result, I still clapped a little when she did win. My heart sank when Daniel Njenga still couldn't claim a victory in his fourth trip to Chicago, after coming so close each time (small complaint: I wish to know more of his story -- a Kenyan living and training in Japan away from his family? Tell me more!). I teared up as the runners lined up at the starting line, then again when they crossed it. I laughed when one runner's husband said he didn't understand why people run long distances. I laughed again when the runner wondered if marathon training had changed or stressed their marriage in any way (Answer: He gets time to himself when she's out for a couple of hours on a long run. Yes the long run he doesn't understand.) These questions have come up in my own life. I cheered at the Chicago scenery. I also saw some of myself in the father-daughter combo who trained and went the distance. I saw some walls. I saw these walls being punched through.

It's definitely the ultimate pep talk for anyone who's a runner. But it's also a film that non-runners would enjoy as well. Did it make me want to immediately sign up for another marathon? No, not exactly though Yumke said I could still upgrade my Pig registration to marathon....

(oh ya, and I'm on my third rest day this week).