Happy Friday! I hope that everyone had a great 4th of July holiday. It’s Friday, so that means I’m linking up for Friday Five 2.0 with Rachel from Running on Happy and Lacey and Meranda from Fairytales and Fitness. There are no Friday Five 2.0 themes for the month of July, so this week I’m talking about documentaries.
If you read my Runfessions post last week, you know that I mentioned watching more movies/documentaries on Netflix. This made me think about past documentaries that I have watched an enjoyed. While only one documentary listed below is about running, I think you’ll enjoy the other documentaries if you decide to watch them 🙂
From Fat to Finish Line (Netflix)
From Fat to Finish Line documents the journey of 12 formerly obese people from across the country who team up to run a jaw-dropping 200 mile, Ragnar Relay Race. The race spans from Miami to Key West, and is a scenic but challenging course that would test the endurance of even the most seasoned athlete. The team must continually run, day and night, to make it to the finish line. As they overcome the obstacles on the course, you’ll learn about the obstacles they faced on their weight loss journeys.
I cannot say enough good things about this documentary. Each runner had their own reasons for losing weight and each story was inspiring. As someone that would like to run a Ragnar race, I loved seeing the friendships and sense of community from this team.
Food Inc (Netflix)
Food, Inc. is a 2008 American documentary film directed by filmmaker Robert Kenner. The Academy Award-nominated film examines corporate farming in the United States, concluding that agribusiness produces food that is unhealthy, in a way that is environmentally harmful and abusive of both animals and employees. The film’s first segment examines the industrial production of meat (chicken, beef, and pork), calling it inhumane and economically and environmentally unsustainable. The second segment looks at the industrial production of grains and vegetables (primarily corn and soy beans), again labeling this economically and environmentally unsustainable. The film’s third and final segment is about the economic and legal power, such as food labelling regulations, of the major food companies, the profits of which are based on supplying cheap but contaminated food, the heavy use of petroleum-based chemicals (largely pesticides and fertilizers), and the promotion of unhealthy food consumption habits by the American public.
This film was released quite a few years ago so I’m sure some of you may have already seen it. This film changed the way I shopped for groceries. While I don’t always get organic for every single thing, I try to do my research before buying certain food items.
Just Eat It (Amazon Prime)
We all love food. As a society, we devour countless cooking shows, culinary magazines and foodie blogs. So how could we possibly be throwing nearly 50% of it in the trash? Filmmakers and food lovers, Jen and Grant dive into the issue of food waste from farm and retail, right to the back of their own fridge. In a deliciously entertaining challenge, they pledge to quit grocery shopping and survive only on discarded food.
I watched this documentary last week and it was both eye-opening and infuriating for me. To see the amount of food waste that we produce was astonishing. I still cannot get over that fact that so many fruits and vegetables are discarded because they might have a “defect” – not the right color, not big enough, long enough, etc. Basically if it’s not “pretty” it will never make it to the grocery store. Oh and don’t even get me started on the amount of food that stores just throw out in dumpsters! This documentary really makes you think about what YOU can do to eliminate the amount of food waste in your own home as well. For years I have purchased discounted produce from my local Stop & Shop supermarket. Basically it’s “ugly” produce, but it’s still totally useable. At least I know I can continue doing this to make a difference, even if it’s a small difference.
The Barkley Marathons (Neflix)
The Barkley Marathons is an ultramarathon trail race held in Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tennessee. Runners may elect a “fun run” of 60 miles (97 km) or the full course of 100 miles (160 km) (distances are approximate). The race is limited to a 60-hour period, and takes place in late March or early April of each year. With 54,200 feet (16,500 m) of accumulated vertical climb, the 100-mile run is considered to be one of the more challenging ultramarathons held in the United States, if not the world. It was first run in 1989 and, as of 2017, about 55% of the races had ended with no finishers.
Y’all, this sh*t is cray-cray! I really don’t have any other way to describe it, just watch it! Check out some of the craziness captured on social media for this year’s race.
Vegucated (Netflix)
Vegucated is a 2011 American documentary film that explores the challenges of converting to a vegan diet. It “follows three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. The documentary addresses the resistance that some people feel towards vegetarianism and veganism, the disconnect between farm animals and the purchasing of meat, the origins of omnivorism and the ethical, environmental and health benefits of a vegan diet.
While I don’t know if I can ever make the switch to a vegan diet, I really appreciated that this documentary showed 3 real life examples of people trying to switch from a meat-based to plant based diet. Not only did the documentary have statistics, but the real-life stories really spoke to me. I think that within the next few years I’ll go vegetarian (I already drastically cut my meat intake) and this film provided a lot of great tips on alternative sources of protein, etc.
So that’s it! Those are my top 5 documentaries that I have enjoyed over the years. I hope that you see a few that you would like to check out!
Do you have any favorite documentaries?
Lisa @ Mile by Mile says
I never watch documentaries (or any TV or movies, really) but these look interesting!
kookyrunner says
They really are! I was surprised by how much I liked them!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says
Thanks for sharing these! I don’t watch much tv other than the Today shows & a couple of episodes with my husband at night, so I’ve nothing to recommend actually, but some these definitely sound interesting.
I lean heavily vegetarian, although I still eat everything. My husband is your typical meat & potatoes guy, so I often make different dinners (which is a pain). Sometimes I make him eat veggie too. 🙂 Which is kind of hard, considering he likes few veggies!
kookyrunner says
I’m the same way. I lean like 80% vegetarian but I still eat chicken. I rarely eat red meat. I think it’s easier to eat more veggies when they are the “star” of the meal, and meat is just an accessory, lol
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says
Oh this is fabulous! I was just complaining that I had nothing to watch this summer. Just so happens I am home alone this weekend and I will be checking out a few of these.
kookyrunner says
That’s great! Glad I could provide some great documentaries for you to watch 🙂
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says
I have to watch that Barkley Marathon documentary.
I love music documentaries–I have a few for you: It Might Get Loud, Muscle Shoals, and Twenty Feet from Stardom. You will love them all.
kookyrunner says
The Barkleys Marathon documentary is insane. I have no clue how people are able to run that marathon!
Thanks for the documentary recommendations – I’ll check them out!
Meranda@Fairytalesandfitness says
I just saw the Barkley Marathons movie over Christmas break and when I taught nutrition class I would show food Inc. Another interesting one I would show was “Super Size me”. Have you seen that one?
kookyrunner says
I’ve also seen ‘Super Size Me’ and that was eye opening as well!
Coco says
These look great. My daughter has started following a vegan lifestyle (is that how you put it?) so I should check out the last one asap.
kookyrunner says
That’s so awesome that your daughter is vegan! I commend anyone that can do it!
Megan @ Meg Go Run says
Thanks for these recs! I know there are a lot of great docs on Netflix, I need to keep that in mind for while I’m doing puzzles. Although I normally listen to podcasts because they’re just like little mini documentaries for your ears only!
kookyrunner says
Funny you should say that as I’m getting just starting to get into podcasts!
Cyndi says
I actually just watched The Barkley Marathons a few days ago. It is definitely crazy (just like the inventor!). It’s amazing what people can accomplish. I love watching documentaries. Fat Sick and Nearly Dead is a good one too
kookyrunner says
It’s such a crazy documentary! I have seen Fat Sick and Nearly Dead and it was really good!
Mary Beth Jackson says
Looks like you found some great ones! I would like to watch the team do the Ragnar relay- that has to be inspiring! I have seen a couple documentaries on food waste in America and it is very disturbing to say the least! When did people get so picky? UGH!
Lesley says
I’ve looked for From Fat to Finish Line but Netflix didn’t have it at all. The suggestions they provided for it was rather entertaining, but not even close.
kookyrunner says
Hmm that’s weird. I just checked the website last night to make sure it was still there and it popped up!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says
These all look good – I hear that Fed Up is another good one about the food industry. Now that I have Netflix, I can check them all out!
kookyrunner says
I think I’m going to watch Fed Up this weekend!
Zenaida Arroyo says
I’ve watched The Barkley Marathon. Good one.
kookyrunner says
It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat!
Chaitali says
Interesting! I’ve seen the Barkley Marathon and Food, Inc. documentaries but not the others. I’ll have to look into those.
kookyrunner says
If you get a chance to watch the other ones I hope you enjoy them!
Carmy @ carmyy.com says
I’m adding “Just Eat It” to my list of to watch!
kookyrunner says
You will really enjoy it!
Kimberly Hatting says
I don’t watch many documentaries, but I did see The Spirit of the marathon a few years ago…it was SO interesting! It followed several runners who all were training for Chicago, and all had different reasons for running it.
kookyrunner says
That’s another great documentary. How can you not want to run after seeing that?!
Anna @ Pipers Run says
Have you seen “Finding Traction”? It’s another great running documentary of Nikki Kimball (spelling?) , she’s an ultra runnner.
kookyrunner says
I’ve never heard of that one – thanks for the recommendation!!
Teresa says
From Fat to Finish looks very interesting …I’ll check that one out! I like meat too much for the Vegucated one! lol
kookyrunner says
From Fat to Finish was interesting to me because these were people that never imagined they could run, and here there are running a Ragnar race, it was awesome!
Rachel says
Oooh, these are some good ones. Food, Inc. changed my life. Barkley was cool, too. I haven’t seen the others though and now they’ll obviously be on my list!
kookyrunner says
Food, Inc made me want to watch more documentaries. It was so eye opening for me.
Jenn says
The Barkley Marathons is honestly one of the most fascinating documentaries around. I will watch it over and over, and I’ve almost gotten myself to the point where I feel I could do the fun run. If I could figure out how to register LOL.
Kind of lost interest in From Fat to Finish Line. I should try that one again.
kookyrunner says
I’ve only watched it once, but I feel like I need to re-watch it because there was just SO much going on in that documentary!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says
Documentaries are usually very eye opening to watch. I remember watching Super Size Me for the first time and my jaw being on the floor for entire length of it.
kookyrunner says
Same here! I also saw Super Size Me and I just couldn’t believe it!
Allison says
I’m definitely going to check out from fat to finish line and just eat it because the other three are on my top ten list. Thanks!
kookyrunner says
No problem – Glad to provide you with some new documentaries to watch! 🙂