ABOUT
Going the Distance is a documentary short about the Masters Men's 75-and-older 100m dash at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. It premiered at the Salem Film Festival in March of 2016, and was subsequently screened at the NBC Sports Conference in conjunction with the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX, the Independent Film Festival of Boston, and many more.
You can watch it here on Vimeo.
You can watch it here on Vimeo.
SYNOPSIS
Every year, more than 100,000 track and field fans flock to the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field at the to attend the Penn Relays – a three-day track and field carnival that hosts nearly 20,000 runners at all levels of competition. Now in its 122nd year, the Relays have become a Mecca to runners and running enthusiasts alike, showcasing the world’s top athletes on the cusp of their spring and summer competition schedules.
On Saturday – the premiere day of the Relays – one race stands out from the rest: the Masters Men’s 75-and-older 100m dash. Run since 1989, this event has become a crowd favorite at the Relays. It interrupts the Saturday schedule of top collegiate and professional races to showcase what many consider the “essence” of running: the pure joy of competition. Going the Distance profiles three runners in the 2015 event: Champ Goldy (age 98), Ed Cox (age 88), and Betty Leander (age 86).
The film depicts not only the event itself, but also the spirit of youthfulness behind the race. The runners embody the ideas that you’re only as young as you feel... and that age is just number.
On Saturday – the premiere day of the Relays – one race stands out from the rest: the Masters Men’s 75-and-older 100m dash. Run since 1989, this event has become a crowd favorite at the Relays. It interrupts the Saturday schedule of top collegiate and professional races to showcase what many consider the “essence” of running: the pure joy of competition. Going the Distance profiles three runners in the 2015 event: Champ Goldy (age 98), Ed Cox (age 88), and Betty Leander (age 86).
The film depicts not only the event itself, but also the spirit of youthfulness behind the race. The runners embody the ideas that you’re only as young as you feel... and that age is just number.
SCREENINGS
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Awards
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PRESS
- New England Film, Festival Interview: Going the Distance
- The ARTery, WBUR, From Aging Athletes to Zombies: 10 Must-See Short Films At IFFBoston This Year
- Emerson College News, Emerson Filmmakers Loom Large Over IFFBoston
- BU Today, BU Filmmakers on Local Screens This Weekend
- BU Today, BU Alums Finish in Top 3 in NBC Contest
- Shape Magazine, 85-Year-Old Woman Makes History Racing Against Men In 100-Meter Dash
- Self Magazine, This 85-Year-Old Grandma Running The 100-Meter Dash Is Our New Hero
- Team USA, Breaking New Ground: Skeleton Athlete Caitlin Stuetz Trains Her 86 Year-Old Grandmother to Race Against Men
- Age Group News, Going the Distance
- Simple Most, Old People Running The 100 Meter Dash Will Make Your Day
- Senior Planet, Video of the Week: Going the Distance
- Purpose 2 Play, True Athletes: Penn Relays Feature 100-Meter Dash For Those Over 75