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Lead Stories: Friday, August 29, 2008

Running Film Festival:
“All My Life” Promo Video

Posted June 18th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Movies

The Running Film Festival (RFF), scheduled for July 3-5 on the University of Oregon campus, is the first film festival ever devoted to the subjects of track & field, road racing, cross country, marathon and ultra endurance running. This inaugural event will coincide with the U.S. Track & Field Trials and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund.

Many of America’s most well known athletes and motivational icons will be featured in the feature films and documentaries screened over the three day event. In addition, today’s brightest stars, accomplished Olympians, and legends of the sport will make guest appearances and participate in Q&A sessions with the audience.

For more information, to view the complete film schedule and to purchase tickets, please visit: RunningFilmFestival.com

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Running Film Festival to Premier During Olympic Trials; Support Ryan Shay Memorial Fund

Posted May 28th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Announcements, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Resources, Olympics, Trail / Ultra

RFF Release: When nearly 200,000 athletes and fans converge on Eugene, Oregon, for the 2008 U.S. Track & Field Trials, there is no doubt they will enjoy the beautiful scenery and the competitive spirit of “Track Town USA.”

However, when they leave Hayward Field for some well-deserved down time, hundreds will head to the movies. That’s right! Hollywood comes to Eugene, as the city plays host to the first film festival ever devoted to the subjects of track & field, marathon running, and cross country: the Running Film Festival (RFF), scheduled for July 3 – 5 on the University of Oregon campus.

RFF is the brainchild of running enthusiasts and industry entrepreneurs, who formulated the idea after assessing the vast, yet underexposed, collection of celluloid devoted to the sport. The festival signed a title sponsor to join presenting sponsors TheFinalSprint.com and Running Times, and a great event was born. A portion of the proceeds from the RFF will be donated to the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund
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What To Watch: Running & Track Events on TV, Webcast

Posted April 16th, 2008 at 5:30 PM by Jesse Squire

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Columns, What To Watch

Track and Running on TV There’s a lot of track and road running available to watch this weekend, both on TV or the web:

Atlantic Coast Conference Championships
Thursday-Friday-Saturday, ACCSelect.com
(subscription needed)
Florida State is favored to win the men’s title, even without ailing star Walter Dix. Miami and Virginia Tech look to battle it out for the women’s crown.

Big South Conference Championships
Thursday-Friday-Saturday, BigSouthSports.com (subscription needed)
NCAA XC champ Josh McDougal and his Liberty University teammates are clear favorites to win the men’s title, while the women’s is up for grabs.
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Quote of the Day: 11/15/07

Posted November 15th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Martha Jones

Section: Announcements

“I’d like to work it out so that at the end, it’s a pure guts race. If it is, I’m the only one who can win it.”

- Steve Prefontaine in Without Limits

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Quote of the Day: 11/14/07

Posted November 14th, 2007 at 6:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“I can endure more pain than anyone you’ve ever met. That’s why I can beat anyone I’ve ever met.”

- Steve Prefontaine in Without Limits

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Quote of the Day: 9/14/07

Posted September 14th, 2007 at 7:56 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“The real purpose of running isn’t to win a race; it’s to test the limits of the human heart.”

- Bill Bowerman in “Without Limits”

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FINISH STRONG with TFS’s collection of famous quotes!

Posted September 14th, 2007 at 7:06 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes, Special Features, Famous Quotes

From Jesse Owens to Dr. George Sheehan … from Steve Prefontaine to Sir Roger Banister … from ancient philosophers to runners just like you …

The Final Sprint has accumulated the most comprehensive anthology of motivational quotes to help you FINISH STRONG!

Pick out your favorites and read them before a big race or even choose one as your training credo!

Have one you want us to add?

No problem; just send an email to thefinalsprint@gmail.com!

Start Here . . . Finish Strong!
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Quote of the Day: 9/12/07

Posted September 12th, 2007 at 8:22 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“Running, one might say, is basically an absurd pastime upon which to be exhausting ourselves. But if you can find meaning in the type of running you need to do … chances are you’ll be able to find meaning in that other absurd pastime … LIFE”

- Bill Bowerman in “Without Limits”

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Fire on the Track:
The Steve Prefontaine Story

Posted May 7th, 2007 at 2:50 PM by Sarah Mandell

Section: Motivation, Movies, Special Features, TFS Reviews

FireOnTrack_Amazon Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story is a motivational documentary about the success of a young runner from Coos Bay, Oregon. Prefontaine’s story, told through live footage, photographs, and accounts from his competitors, friends, and family, greatly assisted in understanding the awe and inspiration that was Steve Prefontaine’s ; also known by his loyal fans as “Pre.”

At a young age Steve stuck out for his energy towards life. He appeared born to be an athlete, but in junior high he was told that he was too small for contact sports. So instead of heading down the wrong path, he found a sport that he could participate in, running. When Prefontaine began running his goals were mighty for a boy from Coos Bay, stating that one day he was going to go to the Olympics. His mother recalled missing many games due to her busy work schedule, until one day a woman approached her and said, “you really need to go to those meets, your son is Olympic stuff.”
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“Without Limits” - Your Choice & Ours For the Best Running Movie

Posted July 4th, 2006 at 8:08 AM by Steven Schiff

Section: Motivation, Movies, Special Features, TFS Reviews

You guys selected “Without Limits” as your favorite running movie by a large margin in our recent poll. In addition to being a great movie in general, it is also a perfect pump-up film to watch the night before a race. For all of you who haven’t seen it, here is a review of this unbelievable movie by Steven Schiff, one of our newest and most talented writers:

It has been quite some time since I finished my last meaningful competitive lap on a track, and longer still since the last time I watched Without Limits, the 1998 Warner Brothers feature which documents the life and times of America’s greatest distance runner, Steve Prefontaine.

As a high school cross country and track athlete, I was fascinated by Pre. My friends on other teams would ask me constantly why I chose to participate in a sport whose sole occupation of running laps was every other sport’s punishment. I offered Pre as the answer. Here was a guy who not only seemed to possess an indomitable will and superhuman strength, but also was able to elevate himself to rock star status. His cult following would pack Oregon’s Hayward Field and chant his name as he won race after race and smashed record after record. I remember watching this movie for the first time as a high school sophomore or junior and thinking that in the distance runner’s lonely universe, no achievement could be more glorious than Pre’s.

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