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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Running Brave: Classic running movie about Billy Mills & the heart of a warrior

Posted December 28th, 2006 at 11:27 AM by Kathryn Magro

Section: Motivation, Movies, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

This is part four of the 5-part series: “BILLY MILLS: Overlooked Hero of Running” (Links to the other installments in this series are located at the conclusion of this article).

Running serves a different purpose for everyone. For some, it is solely a method of exercise; others find it to be a means of escape. In Running Brave, a 1983 film showcasing the life and career of Billy Mills, we find that running can also be a way of life. it certainly is for Mills, who states: “Running has been my freedom; my happiness.”

The struggles that Mills (played by Robby Benson) endures throughout the film revolve around his life as an American Sioux-Indian and his use of running to both fit in and remain sane in a seemingly uncontrollable world.
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BILLY MILLS
Compassionate Warrior

Posted December 15th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Jennifer Lipman

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Columns, Olympics, SPOTLIGHT

This is part three of the 5-part series: “BILLY MILLS: Overlooked Hero of Running” (Links to the other installments in this series are located at the conclusion of this article).

For nearly 50 years Billy Mills has channeled his love for running into a passion for fighting against poverty and for encouraging Native American youth to believe in the power of their dreams.

As we mentioned in Part 2 of this series, Mills is a descendant of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) tribe and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. After losing his parents at the young age of 12, he brought athletics into is life.

Since his historic 10,000m gold medal victory at the 1964 Olympics, Billy Mills has used his fame to help children that face the same poverty and rejection that he battled throughout his own life.
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BILLY MILLS
The Olympic Legend

Posted December 14th, 2006 at 9:19 AM by Jenna Sumara

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Columns, Olympics, SPOTLIGHT

This is part two of the 5-part series: “BILLY MILLS: Overlooked Hero of Running” (Links to the other installments in this series are located at the conclusion of this article).

Billy Mills was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota on June 30, 1938 in the Oglala Sioux Indian reservation. Billy’s Lakota name is Makata Taka Hela meaning “love your country” or more traditionally translated, “respects the earth”.

After losing his parents when he was only 12-yrs old, Mills became involved with running at the Haskell Institute; an Indian school located in Lawrence, Kansas. In the late 1950’s, Mills attended the University of Kansas on an athletic scholarship.

At Kansas his hard work and natural abilities on the track continued to flourish. In 1958 and 1959 he was All-American in cross country. In the 1960 Big Eight Conference, Mills won an individual title in cross country. The following year, Mills again became the conference champion in the two mile race; coming in with a time of a little over nine minutes.
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BILLY MILLS
Overlooked Hero of Running

Posted December 4th, 2006 at 1:30 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, SoundOFF, Columns, Olympics, SPOTLIGHT

This year Runner’s World selected running legend Frank Shorter as one of it’s “Heroes of Running”. We don’t disagree with this designation; Shorter was an incredible runner and continues to be an inspiration to athletes around the world.

However, Shorter’s selection highlights a real injustice, but not because Shorter is in anyway undeserving of the award. Conversely, it serves to highlight how the media, and the running & fitness industry as a whole, have spent so much time focusing on runners like Shorter and Steve Prefontaine that many other heroes of running have sadly, been overlooked.

Want an example? How about Olympic Champion Billy Mills; the first and only American to win a gold medal in the 10,000m. Not only did Mills beat the top international athletes on the grandest of stages (Via one of the most dramatic come-from-behind wins in history), but he has also did so while battling prejudice because of his Native American background. Today, Mills has gone on to be a true role model and advocate for several generations of Native American youths.

So why have Mills and his amazing accomplishments been so overlooked? Read the rest of this entry »

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