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Home , Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Daniel Njenga, Deena Kastor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information Contact: 8/4/08 Block Korenbrot Public Relations Rebecca Fisher or Max Buschman [email protected] [email protected] 323-634-7001

Spirit of the

Winner Audience Choice Award, International Film Festival 2007 Winner Best Picture Award, Mammoth Film Festival 2007

Acclaimed running documentary to re-open in New York and Los Angeles for Academy Award consideration

Los Angeles, CA – August 4, 2008 – The International Documentary Association has selected “” as one of 20 outstanding documentary films, which will re-open in theatres in New York and Los Angeles for Academy Award consideration as part of the organization’s annual Docuweek. The acclaimed running documentary, which was released in 460 theatres on January 24, 2008 by National CineMedia in association with Wasserman Media Group and Active.com will play August 8-14 at 3:15 and 8:30 at the IFC Center in Manhattan and August 22-28 (times vary) at the Arclight Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles.

“We couldn’t have asked for better news or better timing” said “Spirit of the Marathon” Director Jon Dunham. “With the film re-opening in Manhattan the same day as the Olympics begin and competing in the Women’s Marathon in Beijing, it’s a very exciting time for American distance running.”

"It was a thrill to be a part of ‘Spirit of the Marathon’ and even more exciting to see the essence of this great sport captured so beautifully,” said Deena Kastor, 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist and featured runner. “It is my greatest hope that millions will relate to ‘Spirit of the Marathon’ and that many more be inspired by it.”

Four years in the making, “Spirit of the Marathon” is the collaborative effort of three-time Academy Award winner Mark Jonathon Harris and filmmaker/marathoners Jon Dunham and Gwendolen Twist. Filmed on four continents, the movie brings together a diverse cast of amateur athletes and marathon veterans including:

. Deena Kastor – 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist – As a professional runner for more than a decade, Deena has set numerous American and world records but never attained a marathon victory. The 2004 Olympic Bronze medalist in the Women’s Marathon, Deena set her marathon sights on the before winning the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials.

. Leah Caille – First-time Marathoner – Picking up the pieces from her failed marriage, single-mother Leah found herself at an all-time low. Leah regained health and happiness by joining a running program and completing many races before deciding to train for and run the Chicago Marathon.

. Gerald “Jerry” Meyers – Four-time Marathoner – Jerry has been a runner since the 1970s but never ran a marathon until he was 65. He runs in the Chicago Marathon at 70 years old with his 40-year-old daughter who was inspired to train by her father’s marathon accomplishments.

. – World Class Marathoner – A native of Nyahururu, , Daniel lives and trains in Japan where he is a two-time winner of the International Marathon. Daniel has finished in the top three in the Chicago Marathon for six consecutive years with a personal best of 2:06:16 which ranks him as one of the all-time fastest runners in the world.

. Lori O’Connor – First-time Marathoner – Lori, a Northwestern University student persuing her doctorate in sociology, trained for four months to race in the Chicago Marathon while raising funds for Genesis of Pittsburgh, the non-profit adoption agency that matched her with a family as an infant.

. Ryan Bradley – Marathon Hopeful – Ryan’s participation in and completion of the Chicago Marathon will ultimately help him reach his goal of running in the – a goal he previously missed by 11 seconds. Cameras follow Ryan as he trains for the Chicago Marathon and ultimately experiences the marathon in a way he never imagined.

For more information about the film, future playdates and creative talent visit: www.marathonmovie.com