Run For Your Life

by Brett Hoover — posted on 11/1/2011

Run for Your Life — the only documentary to make the Runner's World list of the top five films of all-time — will be on display this week in the lead up to the ING New York City Marathon.

Ajee Wilson — NYC Marathon founder, Fred Lebow

And with an Armory twist. Included in Judd Ehrlich's film, which chronicles the life of Fred Lebow — one of the most unlikely American icons — are Armory Executive Director Dr. Norbert Sander and Armory Foundation Chairman of the Board Michael Frankfurt.

In fact, Frankfurt's son, David, a two-time runner of the Marathon, will represent The Armory on a panel following a screening of the film Thurs., Nov. 3, at the Brooklyn Museum. The screening will begin at 7 pm in the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium on the museum's third floor. Advanced purchase is recommended at museumtix.com.

"Starting in 1976, when I was on the Verrazano Bridge to watch my father run in the first five-borough NYC marathon, I became hooked on running," said David Frankfurt. "Since then I have cheered my father on for the many years he has run the race, run two marathons myself and continue to watch it every year as it has become a great day in NYC."

The film, which premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, will also air on THIRTEEN for WNET New York Public Media. A day before the ING NYC Marathon (Nov. 5) it will be shown at 1 pm and then again on Marathon Day at 7:30 am and midnight.

Even if you're not in the New York area, you can still watch the acclaimed documentary on iTunes, Netflix, VUDU, Amazon Instant, and DVD with an hour of extras. For the latest news, follow them on Twitter and "like" their new Facebook page.

In other Marathon news...

From Erin Sharoni — "The New York Road Runners have partnered with MapMyFitness to develop a GPS-based mobile spectator app which aims to simultaneously take advantage of this revenue generating opportunity and enhance spectator experience — whether fans are watching the race locally on the streets of New York City or remotely, from any location in the world." Click here to participate in the experience.
From NBC Universal — "Once known primarily as the organizers of the grandest marathon in the world, the New York Road Runners have expanded in recent years to heavily assist youth running initiatives as well as promoting the sport's role in healthy lifestyles. To better represent this broader mission, the New York Road Runners have rebranded, unveiling a new logo, a new taglines, a new manifesto and a soon-to-be re-designed website."
Says Mary Wittenberg in an interview with the Big Lead — "The Marathon is rising toward the top of a list of the most powerful sports properties. Working with NYRR, we offer so many forms of activation and engagement, and partners want it all. This is a pro sport. It is a national event. It is on international TV. But that is just part of it. We have all of these stories about the human spirit, about people trying to succeed against all odds. We are trying to raise $30 million for charity. These are the types of things with which marketing partners want to be associated."
Standing under a tent at the Heps Championships last Saturday, ArmoryTrack reporter Elliott Denman was the first to wonder aloud, "What if [a freak winter storm] happened next week at the Marathon?" Stop that thought! Here's a Sports Illustrated story on the Central Park cleanup.