Product Description

Running the Sahara is a feature documentary narrated and executive produced by Academy Award winner Matt Damon and directed by Academy Award winner James Moll. This powerful and inspirational film chronicles an attempt by three ultra marathoners to run across the entire length of Africa's Sahara Desert, tackling not only the elements, but also unimaginable physical and emotional obstacles. Their goal is to run across six African countries, anticipating two marathons per day, for eighty days ... without a day off. Charlie Engle from the United States, Kevin Lin from Taiwan, and Ray Zahab from Canada, have run together in marathons before. But this time is different. This isn't a race. It's a grueling test of will and a chance to accomplish something that no known person has ever achieved. The films score was produced by Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer, composed by Heitor Pereira, with songs from U2, Pearl Jam and original songs performed by Wyclef Jean and the African Children's Choir.

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches; 2.88 ounces
Director ‏ : ‎ James Moll
Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Dolby, Surround Sound, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 43 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 9, 2009
Actors ‏ : ‎ Mat Damon, Charlie Engle, Kevin Lin, Ray Zahab
Studio ‏ : ‎ Independent Producers Alliance
ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0982350104
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #323,678 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #6,797 in Sports (Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 76 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

76 global ratings

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Dave Anthold

Absolutely Mesmerizing!

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2013

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Running The Sahara is a brilliant documentary documenting three individuals - Charlie, Ray and Kevin - who attempt to run across the the entirety of the Sahara - from Senegal to the Red Sea. The film shadows the three runners at home and on the journey. The film tracks their 111 day journey across the Sahara through sickness, wind, sand storms, getting lost and visiting with old friends and new friends they meet along the way. They go through more than 100 pairs of running shoes and battle mental and physical fatigue to pursue a never before done feat.

The film's executive producer - Matt Damon - narrates this film and the cinematography is nothing short of a feature film. The camera moves, angles and the use of the "russian arm" car mounted camera jib provides some of the most spectacular images across the desert.

Running the Sahara: Beyond the Expedition is a 45 minutes "behind the scenes" view of the documentary expedition and highlights some of the struggles the expedition faced including gaining permission to enter Libya. If you love running or great documentary, you will want to watch this epic documentary.

One person found this helpful

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Dr. Evan Fiedler

Conquer Your Distance

Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2016

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Running The Sahara is more than a tutorial on endurance. It is an interactive experience with multiple interesting tidbits that will fuel your next adventure. I have watched this movie several times and reflected on the commitment of these three athletes in their most trying scenarios when turning-over deep in a tough 20-miler. My personal resume (for credibility) is 39 full marathons and completed-to-this-date 37 weeks of 100+ miles/week with the goal of one year...still running.

One person found this helpful

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Carmen

Great Movie

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2013

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Great Movie, Definitely worth seeing. Extremely inspiring and really shows how your mind will quite before your body. You'll learn that your body is capable of so much more than your mind will tell you it.

Matt Damon did a great job narrating.

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Amazon Customer

Great runners! respect

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2017

Verified Purchase

You want more! Only runners watch this. Its so incredible interesting that they did it all three! How did they come together? The presentation in the beginning is so breef, so quick. You want more slow and long running pictures, a minute is long in a film it should have been more long sequenses with the three runners. And of course HOW COULD HE CHICKEN OUT???? " I have other oblgations" My ass! this was the one thing, a once in a life time thing and he is not there!? The man who made it possible left them WHAT is that? so embarrassing to watch. Great runners! respect! Love the film How come Matt Damon is in this? is he a runner (dumb question of course he must be :))

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cheerdanz

Makes me want to run with them

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2015

Verified Purchase

Great story and even great for watching while I'm on the mill on long runs. Sadly my neighbor hood is not safe for running outdoors so it's a good movie to run to.

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2020

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Loved it
Inspiring!

One person found this helpful

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Adean

Great!

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2012

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If you've got an avid runner in your family or friend circle, this is a must have! My brother does Ironman triathlons and he loved this as a gift!

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Ranchlady2004

product failure, movie ok

Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2017

Verified Purchase

received copy, was excited to watch and DVD quit 1/2 way through. What i watched was interesting, but frustrated when DVD failed.

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EB_Coach Moose

Running the Sahara

Reviewed in Canada on December 24, 2010

Verified Purchase

I met Ray Zahab prior to watching the video and was quite impressed by his motivation, personality, and social awareness. In a world where it seems every cause has a run / walk / action, I was truly impressed with this feat. These gentlemen RAN ACROSS THE SAHARA DESERT. 'Nuff said.

C. K.

nicht mein Fall...

Reviewed in Germany on September 21, 2012

Verified Purchase

Meine Meinung:

Man sollte nicht zu viel erwarten: wer einen guten Lauffilm bzw. Dokumentation sehen will, sollte sich das anschauen: [...]

Falls der Link nicht mehr gehen sollte, hier der Name: Sich die Welt erlaufen - Wahnsinn Wüste
Das ganze ist mit Christian Schiester. Ich finde den Film sehr motivierend und er kommt wesentlich kompakter daher.

Ansonsten einen Stern für den Lauffilm an sich und einen zweiten für die Leistung der Drei.

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PMG

Ultra Running Beyond Belief

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2009

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This film is well deserved of its acclaim as for someone whom running is a passion this film takes ultra running to new highs. Running 2 marathons a day for 111 days goes beyond belief for most even the hardest of ultra runners and how they all find the will to carry on when so many would've given up way back down the road is inspirational. I'll always think of this film when i'm on a long run miles from home and feeling like I want to stop.

The only downside to this film is the fact that after a while of watching it you begin to forget just how far they've actually run even though they flash the distances up at regular intervals. Also part of the film is to bring to attention the water problem through the African Sahara but only on a couple of occasions are you remembered of this fact.

Overall 5 stars for a brilliantly well made documentary showing once again how far us mere mortals can be pushed.

5 people found this helpful

Mr. J. Aram

Inspirational film

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 23, 2010

Verified Purchase

I have run several marathons and do not intend to run further than 26.2 miles any time soon, but this film still instills a sense of "what if I did that?...". It charts the progress, ups and downs of three blokes who overcome the barriers just to reach the start line; when the start line is an ocean, and the finish is a sea more than 4000 miles away, that's quite some challenge!
Well produced film (especially considering most of it is filmed thousands of miles from "civilisation"!) covering a great story.

One person found this helpful

Athreya Chidambi

A must watch

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 23, 2009

Verified Purchase

A must watch for everyone. It's not only for runners. I took it to my parent's place to watch and they loved it too. Very well made and very inspirational. Watched it the day before my 1st 100km run.

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Format	NTSC, Dolby, Surround Sound, Widescreen
Contributor	Ray Zahab, Charlie Engle, James Moll, Mat Damon, Kevin Lin
Runtime	1 hour and 43 minutes