Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense, awe-inspiring docu about extreme marathoners.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Desert Runners
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The driest desert on the planet (Chile's Atacama Desert), the windiest desert (China's Gobi Desert), the hottest desert with temperatures in the range of 111 to 116 degrees (Africa's Sahara), and the coldest desert (Antarctica) provide the challenges for a group of ultramarathon runners who are determined to cover 250K in each desert within one calendar year. In DESERT RUNNERS, Samantha, an Australian law student; Dave, an English businessman; Rick, an American consultant living in the U.K.; and Tremaine, an English private-security specialist each undertake the marathons for personal reasons, all of which are explored in depth. Filmmakers follow the selected runners before, during, and briefly after all the demanding, life-changing events. Neither the runners nor the filmmakers (nor the viewer, for that matter) could possibly have predicted the endurance required, the life-threatening crises, or the critical dilemmas they will face.
Is It Any Good?
Astonishing photography, personalities who engage and inspire, and the all-around sure-handedness and sensitivity of director Jennifer Steinman and her crew help make this an unforgettable film. Audiences will watch in awe and disbelief as seemingly ordinary human beings demand the all-but-impossible from themselves. It isn't necessary to be an athlete or a fierce competitor or even a sports fan to appreciate the people you meet here. By the time the final credits roll, you can't help but feel as though you've been in those breathtaking (literally and figuratively) deserts along with the runners. Steinman has successfully captured the exhaustion, the exposure to the elements, the shattering decisions that must be made, and the emotional journey of each of her subjects. Desert Runners is best for mature teens as the near-devastation that the four central participants encounter is depicted just as it happened.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what drives these athletes to participate in such dangerous experiences in Desert Runners. How can an individual determine for him or herself how much is too much? Where would you draw the line when evaluating whether or not to participate in any activity that may be life-threatening?
Were you surprised by the decisions some of the contestants made? Did you agree with them?
Which runner did you most identify with? Why? What filmmaking techniques did the filmmakers use to bring these people so strongly into focus?
How does Desert Runners promote perseverance and self-control? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 17, 2013
- Cast : Samantha Gash , Tremaine Kent , David O'Brien , Rick Paugh
- Director : Jennifer Steinman
- Studio : Smush Media
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Self-control
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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