The Olympics are a chance to honor the strongest and fastest athletes in the world, but we rarely hear about the weakest or the slowest. Shizo Kanakuri is the exception. He holds the world record for the slowest time in the Olympic marathon. He finished the race after 54 years, eight months, six days, 5 hours and 32 minutes.
A Hidden Tribe of Superathletes
What if a hidden tribe in Mexico holds the secret to health, happiness, and long-distance running? A tribe of super-athletes lives hidden in caves along the cliffs of northern Mexico. Men, women, and even young children often run the cliff ledges for sport. Sometimes they run for days, covering hundreds of miles without more than a snack break.
Running For Your Rights
Bobbi Gibb is a woman who doesn’t believe in running away from prejudice. She believes in chasing her dreams and breaking down barriers. Ever since she was a young girl Bobbi loved to run. She was never happier than when pounding the pavement. Running was a spiritual activity for Bobbi. She said, “When I run, I feel alive and part of the universe.”
Iceman
Wim Hof’s nickname is the Iceman, because he can withstand extreme cold and heat. The 57-year-old Dutchman has broken 26 world records. He has run a full marathon in the desert without drinking water. He has run a half marathon in the snow in his bare feet. He has even climbed Mount Everest wearing only shorts. He holds the record for the longest swim under solid ice at 80 meters at the North Pole. He has also broken the world record for sitting in an ice bath up to his neck for 1 hour and 52 minutes.
Floating Runner
Every time Kayla Montgomery crosses the finish line, she collapses into her coach’s arms. Her legs are completely numb, so much so, that she pleads with her team to “find” her legs as they place ice packs on her to cool her down. At 18, Kayla is one of the top distance runners in the U.S, but she also suffers from a debilitating disease called “MS” or Multiple Sclerosis.