We ARE Distance Runners: Untold Stories of African American Athletes
There’s a myth that African Americans are sprinters, not distance runners. This documentary seeks to dispel this myth by interviewing six accomplished African American distance runners and coaches.
Richard “Dick” Gregory – National high school one-mile recordholder; MO state one-mile and cross country champion; NCAA All American distance runner; ran over 3,500 miles from LA to NYC; National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame inductee (2017).
Dr. Ronald Gregory – National high school one-mile and two-mile recordholder; MO state half-mile, one-mile, and cross country champion; NCAA All American distance runner; National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame inductee (2017)
Anthony “Tony” Reed – First Black in the world to complete 26.2-mile marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica (2007); Completed 132 marathons and marathons in all fifty states; National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame inductee (2017).
Shalisa “Lisa” Davis – Set the Guinness world record (female) for running marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica (2017); Completed over 200 marathons, marathons in all fifty states, and the Abbott Marathon World Majors; National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame inductee (2024).
Alphonzo Jackson – Carried the 2002 Olympic relay torch; ranked third in the world in the 5k (16:28) and ½ marathon (1:15:28) in his age division, in 1996 at 50 years old; coached over 10,000 runners; finished 3rd in the PAUSTF Track & Field Grand Prix Championship in 1998; served as the Head Coach for Team-in-Training’s East Bay Run Team for over 10 years and was the Athletic Director/Coach for Students Run Oakland; National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame inductee (2015).
Lisa Felder – Completed over 300 marathons and 111 ultra marathons; coached over 10,000 runners; coached the East Bay run team for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program (TNT) from 1998 through 2009; launched the first ever TNT Ultra Team, the largest endurance program in the world in 2009; National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame inductee (2015).
