‘Free to Run’ Documentary Explores the Evolution of Running

On any given day, New York City’s Central Park is swamped with runners of all abilities, ethnicities and genders. Races across the country are vibrant hubs of inclusiveness and people can be seen running everywhere, from forested trails to city streets.

But 50 years ago, that wasn’t the case. In fact, back then, you would see very few runners anywhere but on a track. That’s because running on the roads was seen as a fringe activity, especially running long distances. “Free To Run,” a documentary making its U.S. premiere on July 15 at the IFC Center in the New York City’s Greenwich Village, uses historical footage and interviews with change-makers who inspired the first running boom, to look at the evolution of the sport from an elitist activity to something that can be enjoyed by anyone who wants to put in the sweat effort.

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