Running Film Review: Without Limits

Posted by David Hanenburg on 04 Mar 2010 at 3:26 pm | Tagged as: movie review

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.” – Steve Prefontaine

Without Limits is a running film based on the legendary years of University of Oregon runner, Steve Prefontaine.

What are some of the running stats of this man affectionately known as “Pre”?

Once held the American record in seven track events ranging from the 2000 meter to 10,000 meter.
Lost only three races in his college career.
Won three straight Division I NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Represented the United States in the 1972 Olympics in the 5000 meter.

The Film

The film focuses on the relationship between the University of Oregon Cross Country coach, Bill Bowerman (eventual co-founder of NIKE), and Prefontaine. Watching Bowerman sketch around a runner’s foot in order to make custom shoes to save weight and the waffle iron used to create a new sole for running shoes – classic stuff.

There is also plenty of running/racing that includes some actual footage of “Pre” from the 70s. Extremely fun, intense, edge-of-your-seat kind of stuff.

Finally, there is a cat and mouse love-interest story between Prefontaine and a fellow female college student.

The film is rated PG-13 which is probably due to a rollin’ in the hay scene. Language is tame.

Film Trailer

Note, the video has OK quality.

(If you can’t see the video, click here.)

My Thoughts

Fluid moving story line – Solid acting – Running – A message that transcends sport

Inspiring! Since this is a film and not a documentary, what you see is not all completely factual, but that is understood coming into watching such a film. That doesn’t diminish the impact and in fact is irrelevant.

In Without Limits, Prefontaine embodied a passion and a message of individual excellence that can directly pertain to each one of us, in all areas of our life that we deem important. Simply, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.”

Soak on that for a while…

Huge.

If you would like to learn more about Steve Prefontaine: