RUNNING THE SAHARA (TV)
Summary
This documentary follows three men as they attempt to jog across the 4,300-mile expanse of the Sahara.
Narrated by Matt Damon, the production opens by showing 30-year-old graduate student Kevin Lin in Taipei, Taiwan, 44-year-old small business developer Charlie Engle in Greensboro, North Carolina, and 37-year-old personal trainer Ray Zahab in Chelsea, Quebec, all of whom are in training to jog across the African desert. The three tell how they became friends on a recent race and decided to tackle the Sahara when realizing that it had never been done.
In Senegal, the runners discuss the trip with their team: Donovan Webster, expedition co-leader; Mohamed Ixa, Saharan guide; Jeff Peterson, expedition physician; and Chuck Dale, expedition trainer. The group travels to the former slave port of St. Louis, Senegal, to begin the journey in November 2006 on the Atlantic Ocean's shore, with plans to cross the continent and reach Egypt's Red Sea in approximately three months. By the end of the first day, they get to Senegal's border with Mauritania.
The trio subsequently opts for twelve-hour running days in the intense heat, quickly resulting in dehydration, blisters and rashes. Despite fatigue, the trio keeps moving, reaching Timbuktu on day thirty. On day thirty-nine in Eastern Mali, the runners meet a seven-year-old boy who had never seen white people, then learn about the difficulty for many Africans to obtain clean water. Upon crossing into Agadez, Niger, the trio visit Ixa's project to make wells for the nomads. On Christmas Eve, the men discuss their immediate problem: not having permission to cross through Libya. Zahab's wife, Lin's girlfriend, and Engle's girlfriend fly in for Christmas dinner, and weigh in on the dangers of running through the landmine-filled Chad and Sudan, as well as politically troubled Darfur, as an alternate route. Lin considers leaving due to his concerns, but Engle talks him into postponing a decision until reaching the Libyan border.
After New Year's Day, the trio find themselves in Niger's Tenere Desert, a virtual "ocean of sand" until spotting the oasis of Fachi. Upon weathering a brutal sandstorm, the men receive news from Webster that they will be allowed to travel through Libya. Tensions arise, however, when Webster says that he may have to leave the group before they reach Cairo, causing a fierce argument between Engle and Webster. Once reaching Libya, the group meets with A. Omar Turbi, U.S/Libya relations expert, who facilitated the trek through Libya. As fatigue sets in, the runners become annoyed with security measures enforced on them by Libyan officials.
Meanwhile, Zahab gets an injury to his shin that he fears might keep him from finishing. In additon, Dale is forced to treat Peterson, who develops an upper respiratory problem. On nearing the border with Egypt, Webster finally leaves the group for another obligation after stating his regrets. On day one hundred and three, the men pass into Saloum, Egypt. When Dale and Peters return from Cairo with additional medical supplies, Engle voices disapproval over the duration of their trip. Engle becomes more disagreeable after developing a "baseball-sized" blister.
On day one hundred and ten, the trio jogs past the pyramids of Giza, after which they decide to run non-stop to Cairo and the Red Sea. Though Engle's foot injury causes the group to temporarily split up, the three reunite -- along with many friends - for the last few miles. On day one hundred and eleven, the trio reaches the Red Sea and celebrates their accomplishment. Finally, the three are seen being interviewed on "The Tonight Show" by Jay Leno as they promote the need for clean water in Africa.
Details
- NETWORK: Showtime
- DATE: November 18, 2009 7:15 AM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:42:22
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:93537
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Running; Africa
- SERIES RUN: Showtime - TV, 2009
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Matt Damon … Executive Producer
- Jim Van Eerden … Executive Producer
- Scott Putman … Supervising Producer
- Malcolm S. Morris … Co-Executive Producer
- Philip Berber … Co-Executive Producer
- Donna Berber … Co-Executive Producer
- Nomar Garciaparra … Co-Executive Producer
- Mia Hamm Garciaparra … Co-Executive Producer
- Jonathan Carroll … Co-Executive Producer
- Pankaj Shah … Co-Executive Producer
- Paul M. Brooks … Co-Executive Producer
- Jackie Gilardi, Jr. … Co-Executive Producer
- Daniel De Liege … Co-Executive Producer
- Mark Koch … Co-Executive Producer
- Christian Tureaud … Co-Executive Producer
- Daniel Salzberg … Co-Executive Producer
- James Moll … Producer, Director
- Marc Jourbert … Producer
- Keith Quinn … Producer
- Larry Tanz … Producer
- Rick Eldridge … Producer
- Shannon Dill … Co-Producer
- Irena Mihova … Co-Producer
- Sarah Regan … Associate Producer
- Lisa Hennessy … Consulting Producer
- Tim Beggy … Consulting Producer
- Hardy Ophuls … Field Producer
- Michael Rosen … Field Producer
- Christopher Benson … Writer
- Keith Quinn … Writer
- Heitor Pereira … Music by
- Matt Damon … Narrator
- Chuck Dale
- Charlie Engle
- Mohamed Ixa
- Jay Leno
- Kevin Lin
- Jeff Peterson
- A. Omar Turbi
- Donovan Webster
- Ray Zahab