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Run for Your Life

Play trailer Poster for Run for Your Life 2008 1h 39m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Blending archival and contemporary footage with recollections from past champions, recreational participants, volunteers and local politicians, this documentary looks at the life and passion of Fred Lebow, founder of the New York City Marathon. From extremely humble beginnings -- in 1970, less than 100 people participated in the inaugural 26.2-mile race through the five boroughs -- the race evolves into a global happening, drawing competitors and spectators from all over the world.
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Run for Your Life

Critics Reviews

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Martin Tsai Village Voice 12/23/2014
Lebow's physical endurance as a runner wasn't as intriguing as his sheer determination to succeed as a promoter of the sport. Go to Full Review Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News 10/31/2008
3/5
Made primarily for those who already know why Fred Lebow deserves his own documentary, this biography of the New York City Marathon founder isn't quite compelling enough to draw couch potatoes from their living rooms. Go to Full Review A.O. Scott New York Times 10/29/2008
4/5
A new documentary offers a salutary and touching reminder that the race, like nearly everything else great about New York City, was the creation of a stubborn visionary. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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10/10/2012 Watching this to get psyched for the Fred Lebow 5M tomorrow morning in Central Park See more 12/26/2011 The story of the origins of the NYC Marathon. For something of such a grand scale, it is always interesting to see how it all started. Really, you can pick apart just about anything and make it interesting. That's what History's Modern Marvels is all about. But the NYC Marathon was about people, in particular Fred Lebow, who first started a marathon in Central Park, then later made the more familiar NYC Marathon that is internationally known. As one reviewer says, it's a documentary for people who already know what Fred Lebow deserves his own documentary. Definitely, most of the people featured in the film were near and dear friends of Lebow. But who else is going to tell the story? The lamos like on A&E biography who never actually met the biographied individual? That said, the production value is not all that great. And the story, as interesting as it is, is not so compelling to overcome this. It's a decent watch because the Marathon is a big deal so why not learn about it. It's not anything spectacular because, well, it's about running a lot. See more 03/17/2011 Loved this! For those who 'get it' and understand the journey :) See more 10/12/2010 Having recently read the biography of Fred Lebow's life, it was fascinating to see the gist of the story full-flushed in technicolor and wonderful to set my eyes upon the actual cast of characters in his life. An amazing little man with a completely undaunted vision. When watching the footage of him running his last marathon two years before his passing at a terribly young age, yeah, I admit, I cried like a little baby. See more 01/08/2010 Watching this to get psyched for the Fred Lebow 5M tomorrow morning in Central Park See more 02/21/2009 I finally had an opportunity to rent this film. It's phenomenal to see how an event as luminous as the NYC Marathon started from Fred Lebow's vision. See more Read all reviews
Run for Your Life

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Cast & Crew

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Judd Ehrlich

Director

Judd Ehrlich

Producer
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Run for Your Life

Run for Your Life (2008) Run for Your Life (2008) Run for Your Life (2008) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Blending archival and contemporary footage with recollections from past champions, recreational participants, volunteers and local politicians, this documentary looks at the life and passion of Fred Lebow, founder of the New York City Marathon. From extremely humble beginnings -- in 1970, less than 100 people participated in the inaugural 26.2-mile race through the five boroughs -- the race evolves into a global happening, drawing competitors and spectators from all over the world.
Director
Judd Ehrlich
Producer
Judd Ehrlich
Production Co
Flatbush Pictures
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 39m
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