Running

Running

Year: 1979

Runtime: 102 mins

Language: English

Director: Steven Hilliard Stern

Drama

An Olympic‑hopeful marathon runner believes that winning will heal his troubled marriage and resolve personal issues. As he trains for the big race, he must find the courage to stay true to himself, confronting the pressures of competition and the strain on his relationships, learning that true success lies in authenticity.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Running (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Running (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1976

The story takes place in the mid-1970s, culminating with the Montreal Summer Olympics. It follows the lead-up to the Games, focusing on Olympic-level training, qualification, and the pressure to perform. Although anchored in 1976, the film emphasizes the era's competitive spirit and athletic ambition.

Location

Montreal, Canada

Set in Montreal, Canada, during the 1976 Summer Olympics, the film follows the marathon as a test of endurance. The race takes place on city streets that lead to the Olympic Stadium, where the finish line is celebrated. Roads are reopened after earlier races, allowing the final legs to unfold and a dramatic close to the competition.

🏟️ City 🗺️ North America 🏃‍♂️ Marathon

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:42

Main Characters – Running (1979)

Meet the key characters of Running (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Michael Andropolis (Michael Douglas)

A US hopeful for the 1976 Montreal Olympics who starts races with great energy but struggles to manage his stamina and avoid early exhaustion. His unwavering ambition is tempered by personal turmoil, including a fraught marriage and unemployment. He embodies resilience, pushing through injuries to reach the finish line.

🏃‍♂️ Ambition 🧭 Focus 💪 Resilience

Susan Andropolis (Jennifer McKinney)

Michael's wife who wants a divorce, adding emotional strain to his Olympic quest. She travels to Montreal to watch him compete and promises to come home with him regardless of the outcome. Her presence highlights the personal costs of pursuit and the possibility of reconciliation.

💔 Strain 🧭 Support 💬 Relationship

Andrea Andropolis (Lesleh Donaldson)

One of Michael's two daughters who watches the events unfold, embodying the family stakes of the marathon. Her perspective from the stands or screens mirrors the audience's emotional investment in his success. She represents hope and the next generation rooting for perseverance.

👧 Family 🧵 Hope 📺 Viewer

Coach Walker (Lawrence Dane)

Michael's coach who is initially reluctant to endorse him for the Games. He embodies the tension between belief and doubt, yet ultimately supports the athlete's grit. His skepticism contrasts with moments of pride as Michael perseveres.

🎯 Coaching 🧭 Skepticism 🏁 Mentorship

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:42

Major Themes – Running (1979)

Explore the central themes of Running (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏃‍♂️ Perseverance

The film centers on Michael's relentless drive to compete, balancing personal turmoil with training. He battles fatigue and injuries, learning to pace himself rather than sprinting to victory. His stubborn resolve becomes the engine that sustains him through the race's hardest moments.

💔 Family Struggle

A crumbling marriage and unemployment frame the stakes off the track. The protagonist's home life creates emotional pressure that mirrors the physical strain of the marathon. The pursuit of Olympic glory collides with the need for stability and reconciliation.

🏁 Finish Line

The climax centers on crossing the line, not just winning but proving something to himself and his family. The finish becomes a symbol of endurance, grit, and the possibility of redemption. The crowd's cheers and the support of loved ones underscore the meaning of completing the task.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:42

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Bittersweet Sports Triumphs like in Running

Stories where the real victory isn't the win, but the personal growth.Explore more movies like Running, where athletes face intense personal struggles alongside their professional ambitions. If you liked the story of a marathon runner finding himself through adversity, you'll appreciate these similar dramas about perseverance, resilience, and the bittersweet nature of victory in sports.

determinedgrittytriumphantresilienthopefulstrainedinspiring

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a linear training-to-competition arc, where external pressure and internal doubt are the primary antagonists. The climax is often a physical test that serves as a metaphor for the character's emotional journey, culminating in an outcome that values personal achievement over conventional victory.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the athlete's internal journey. They blend the grit of sports competition with heartfelt human drama, resulting in a hopeful yet grounded tone that finds beauty in the struggle itself.

Character-Driven Redemption Stories like Running

Hopeful dramas about ordinary people rebuilding their lives step by step.Find movies similar to Running that focus on a protagonist's steady journey of personal redemption. If you enjoyed watching a character confront their flaws and rebuild their life with resilience, these dramas offer the same compelling mix of hopeful tone, steady pacing, and emotionally satisfying character arcs.

hopefulresilientstrainedintrospectivedeterminedtensetriumphant

Narrative Summary

These narratives are straightforward and character-centric, often built around a single protagonist overcoming a defining crisis. The conflict is both internal and external, with the story unfolding at a consistent pace that mirrors the character's gradual process of learning, adapting, and ultimately finding a more authentic version of themselves.

Why These Movies?

They share a coherent mix of medium intensity, steady pacing, and a hopeful tone, creating a reliably engaging and emotionally substantive viewing experience. The focus is on the relatable process of personal transformation, making the journey feel genuine and earned.

Unlock the Full Story of Running

Don't stop at just watching — explore Running in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Running is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Running Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Running, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Running Summary

Running Timeline

Track the full timeline of Running with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Running Timeline

Running Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Running that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Running Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Running

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Running: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Running

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