Watch Desert Runners

Desert Runners is a documentary film released in 2013, directed by Jennifer Steinman. The film follows four amateur athletes from different backgrounds who attempt to run four of the most grueling ultramarathons in the world, all within one year. These ultramarathons include the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt, and the Last Desert in Antarctica.

The four runners are Samantha Gash, a lawyer from Australia, Tremaine Kent, a construction worker from New York, David O'Brien, a family man from Ireland, and Ricky Paugh, a photographer and adventurer from the United States. Throughout the course of the film, the runners must endure extreme heat, freezing temperatures, sandstorms, blisters, and exhaustion as they run over 150 miles in each race.

The documentary provides an intimate and inspiring look at the athletes and their motivations. Many of them are running for personal reasons – to push themselves to their physical limits, to raise money for charity, or to find meaning in their lives. We see their struggles and triumphs as they confront the harsh realities of the desert and their own limitations.

The film also features interviews with other ultramarathon runners who offer insights and advice on how to survive in extreme environments. They stress the importance of mental toughness, perseverance, and self-belief. The runners' support teams, including friends and families, are also shown in the film providing encouragement and assistance during the races.

In addition to the personal stories of the runners, Desert Runners also highlights the stunning beauty of the deserts they traverse. The film captures breathtaking footage of the landscapes and wildlife of each race, from the snow-covered mountains of Antarctica to the sandy dunes of the Sahara. The cinematography helps to convey the sheer scale and majesty of these natural wonders, while also emphasizing the vastness and emptiness of the desert.

Overall, Desert Runners is a deeply moving and inspirational documentary that explores human resilience, determination, and the power of the human spirit. It showcases the transformative potential of endurance sports and the ways in which they can push individuals to explore their inner selves and connect with the natural world. Anyone who has ever faced a physical or mental challenge will find something to relate to in this film, and anyone who is curious about ultramarathons or the deserts of the world will find plenty to admire and marvel at.

Desert Runners is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.