RUNNING THE SAHARA
In the feature-length documentary “Running the Sahara,” an international team of three men — Charlie Engle (USA), Ray Zahab (Canada) and Kevin Lin (Taiwan) – undertake a quest that no human being has ever fulfilled…
They attempt to run across the entire length of the Sahara Desert – anticipating two marathons per day, for approximately 80 days.
The three men are friends who have run together many times throughout the years, during various international ultra-marathons. But this time is different. This isn’t a race. It’s a test of will – and chance to accomplish something that no known person has attempted before.
Each athlete brings his own unique story and motivation, running coast-to-coast across the African continent to prove that the impossible may actually be possible… all the while forging a unique relationship with the Sahara and its people.
This character-driven documentary delves deep into the culture of the Sahara Desert through the eyes of three unique individuals undergoing a life-altering experience.
The expedition’s small support team bolsters the film with alternate perspectives. Through the eyes of our runners and their team, we get a rare glimpse into some of the realities of life in Africa. These realities become underscored by the recurring theme of water – a daily necessity for our runners, and a daily struggle for many people of the Sahara.
Sprawling over 3.5 million square miles, the Sahara is a mystical land, known for its extreme beauty and its complex culture. At the same time, it may well be the most unforgiving place on earth. The daytime heat and the nighttime freezing temperatures have claimed the lives of many who weren’t prepared. Most see the Sahara as only sand, but it has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. In fact, it has nine different ecosystems. Plant and animal life thrive in places so desolate that survival seems impossible.
Through this diverse terrain, our runners attempt an impressive quest -- to run the equivalent of two marathons per day, for more than 80 straight days. The goal is to cross six countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Egypt.
stills
