Marathon Challenge (NOVA/WGBH Boston Video)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Episode: B-

 

 

In a nice change of pace, WGBH’s NOVA series presents a deep look at running and jogging by following and recording 13 persons who decide to take on a marathon situation in Marathon Challenge, using the 2007 Boston Marathon in this case.  The choices are interesting, including a diabetic and more than a few obese persons.  Shot over nine months, they all go into conditioning that is monitored unusually close and the results go far beyond any race.

 

It lands up revealing all the health and body conditions that one can go through and really, beyond any marathon.  A mythbreaker, this is one of the best examinations of such activity to date and I wondered if this information could have prevented the death of runner and best-selling author Jim Fixx.  Either way, it is another solid installment of the series more than worth your time.

 

The letterboxed 1.78 X 1 image seems to have originated in HD of some kind, but the benefits are limited here, though this is nicely shot.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 is simple stereo at best and the combination pretty good considering its limits.  Extras include weblink, captions, descriptive track and DVD-ROM printable educational materials.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo