This documentary includes some historical footage and reminiscences about the title race, but mainly focuses on six runners, whose quest to compete in the 2005 Chicago Marathon is chronicled with contextual footage about how the training fits into their lives. Since two of these individuals are elite, their running is naturally primary, while the others make the necessary sacrifices, and impose on their families when required (however willingly), to get in the miles. The movie succeeds in the juxtaposition of these two levels of ability and focus, but does little to illuminate the world of the elite runner; from this film, there is virtually nothing other than their training, nor any commentary about this lifestyle, with no coaches even mentioned, let alone heard from; nor why running, let alone the marathon, is so personally compelling or fulfilling for the amateur four (in summing up what it meant to go through it, one said "it's indescribable"). In this way, the film would not tend to excite much interest in knowing about the former, or inspire passion to take up the path of the latter. A missed opportunity.
Review of Spirit of the Marathon
