I watched loads of ultra-endurance documentaries over lockdown and beyond and compiled a big list of them. This has been sat in my drafts for years so I am just going to hit publish. If you are looking for some running and cycling documentaries, here are the ones I’ve watched.
Iron Cowboy
One of my favourite documentaries. James Lawrence tries to complete the 50-50-50: 50 Ironmans, in 50 days, in all 50 US states. If you are ever going to do an Ironman, watch this first as you cannot help but coming out of it thinking “if James Lawrence can do that, I can do one Ironman”.
Brittany Runs a Marathon
This is a comedy drama and it’s a lot of fun.
3100: Run And Become
This documentary follows runners on around the 3100, a 5,000 kilometre race that takes place in New York named the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race. They use a 883-metre loop that runners loop for 18 hours a day for nearly two months.
Safety to Nome
The Iditarod Trail Invitational is a 1,000-mile race that follows the Iditarod dog sledge course on either foot or fat bike.
The Race That Eats Its Young
Possibly the best Barkley Marathons documentary out there, following the 2012 race where Brett Maune set the course record and the only year ever to have three finishers.
Where Dreams Go To Die
Follows Gary Robbins in his attempt to complete the Barkley Marathons.
Last Woman Standing
Yorkshire’s own Nicky Spinks attempts to be the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons.
Kim Swims
Kimberley Chambers attempts to become the third person ever, and the first woman, to swim from Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Running The Wainrights
This is a feel-good running story as Paul Tierney attempts to set a new FKT for running the 214 summits of the Lake District as described by Alfred Wainwright. It’s a little over 510 km of fell running in less than seven days.
Icarus
Bryan Fogel attempts to make a documentary about doping in cycling and finds himself in the middle of Grigory Rodchenkov, head of the Russian anti-doping lab and mastermind behind the Russian state-sponsored doping of Olympic athletes, exposing the Russian scheme.
Stop At Nothing
This documentary looks at Lance Armstrong and how the widespread doping in the US Postal Service cycling team came out.
The Least Expected Day
It follows the Movistar team through their 2019 cycling season, where Richard Carapaz took a surprise win at the Giro d’Italia. It is in Spanish with English subtitles.
Once Is Enough
Jeffrey James Binney presents his experience going from non-runner to 100-mile ultra runner in a film that is half documentary and half live comedy show talking about what happened.
From Fat to Finish Line
A group of overweight individuals who found running come together to complete a Ragnar relay race.
Running for Good
Follows Fiona Oakes as she attempts to complete the Marathon des Sables to raise money for her animal sanctuary.
Inspired to Ride
Follows the Trans America bike race, an unsupported race across America (not to be confused with RAM).
London Edinburgh London
Follows the London-Edinburgh-London audax, and features A-Soc’s Chris Tedd!
Dragon’s Back Race
Follows the second-ever running of the Dragon’s Back race. Originally run in 1992.
Running for Freedom
Follows Gerald Tabios, a Filipino runner, as he attempts to complete his 5th Badwater 135 ultra.
Skid Row Marathon
Follows a running club started by a judge.
Being Unstoppable
Follows several first-time Ironman athletes.
Finding Traction
Nikki Kimball attempts to complete the Long Trail.
Tugende
Documents the 1,000 km unsupported race around Rwanda. Lots of beautiful scenery but difficult to follow at times as everything is explained by brief title cards.
The Longest Journey
RAM, also Race Across America and 3089 Miles Across America. I don’t even know what I wrote here. Are these separate documentary names?
Ultimate Triathlon
Follows Luke Tyburski as he attempts to complete a 2,000-kilometre triathlon from Morocco to Monaco. it has an irritating voiceover that you find on Channel 5 documentaries.
The Bill Chill
This documentary follows Gary Robbins’s attempt to be the first to link up multiple trials around his home in Chilliwack.
Wild Man to Ironman
This documentary follows Mat Pritchard doing a ultra-distance triathlon around the entire border of Wales.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 at 11:00 am and is filed under Distractions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.