Running the Sahara

(**I apologize - two posts in one day! And, sorry to drop this in the middle of a three-part post. This is not the expected Part Two of the Trinity...I had intended to just write this one up and post it at the end of the month, but then I realized there was something a little more timely involved, as you will see below.)

I do like running, but I am certainly not considering running across the Sahara desert. Although three people have - and they even made a movie about it! Chris and I can say we've now been to the "world premiere" of a movie - and Matt Damon was one of the producers! (He was not, unfortunately, at the premiere however...darn the luck!)




Back in September, we met up with some people (one was actually a friend of Dr. Wynn's - a Peoria medical world connection) to see the premiere of Running the Sahara, which was shown at the Carolina Theater of Greensboro. One of the three men who took on this insane adventure was Charlie Engle, a Triad area native. (By the way, the Triad consists of Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point).

Three men spent 111 days running over 4,300 miles across a desert that spanned 6 countries in Africa. Can you even imagine? The movie itself is entertaining and awe-inspiring to say the least, but I think it was even cooler knowing that one of the main characters was sitting in the audience with us! I'm pretty sure it's theater release was the end of October, so keep your eyes open for it. (It's definitely not going to be a blockbuster hit, but it is an interesting view).


The other great part was all of the extra footage regarding the H2O Africa project, which is the charitable counterpart of this process involved in digging wells so the people of Africa can have clean water. You see a little bit of this in the movie, but I'm not sure if all of the PowerPoint slides and things we got to see will be in the theaters or not. It truly is moving!

As if running across the Sahara wasn't enough, Charlie recently began a new challenge: Running Across America - from CA to NY in 45 days. Unfortunately, Charlie suffered an injury early on in this endeavor and is having to finish the trip via bike, but his running partner, Marshall Ullrich is carrying on the task. They're actually making this into a movie as well and people can sign up to run sections with them as they come through the area. I just missed the timing of it all for all of you living in Illinois! He just came through on Route 24 (see map) this week, and is currently in Indiana! Bummer! Maybe you got to see the caravan though!

Anyway, may Charlie be an inspiration for all of us to set a goal - no matter how high - and push ourselves to achieve it no matter what!