The Mountain Runners (2012)

The Mountain Runners: Directed by Todd Warger, Brian Young. With Michael Bart, Sandy Brewer, Brian Brunkow, William B. Davis. The Mountain Runners is the story of America’s first mountain endurance/adventure foot race, which took place in Bellingham, Washington. First run in 1911, the grueling 28 to 32 mile race to the glacial summit of Mount Baker and back lasted only three years due to its intrepid dangers. Told in a docudrama style, the film incorporates vintage images, historic film, visual graphics and 3D effects, and recreated dramatizations staring William B. Davis (X-Files, Smoking man). The film is well supported by a cast of Cascadian historians, descendants of race participants and a group of world-renowned experts in their field. Interviews with multiple contemporary champion athletes and authors, including: alpine speed-climbers and climbing author, Steve House and Chad Kellogg; ultrarunners Krissy Moehl, Scott Jurek, and Doug McKeever; and Second Wind author Cami Ostman, reveal a look back at the accomplishments of their endurance-athlete predecessors with astonishment. The men who ran these races in 1911-1913 were the early ultramountain runners of their generation. They were not professional athletes, but practiced a variety of vocations, including; woodsmen, loggers, coal miners, a bedspring maker, postman, a milkman and a wrestler. All who ran the race defied death and injury for a $100 purse of gold coin. This is truly an extraordinarily and amazing true story.

“I would recommend this documentary to anyone who enjoys history, the Pacific Northwest, marathon racing competition, stories of how our present is influenced by the past or just want to see a great movie. Like any marathon runner, a good pace was kept throughout the movie and the audience was cheering at the end. As a resident of Whatcom County, I see Mt. Baker in the near distance and could not have imagined how the racers were able to do this race. This movie made it come alive for me. It was not only a lot of fun to watch, but appeared historically accurate. Loved the use and balance of character acting, old-time clips, historical expert opinions, and interviews.”