Film “Running the Sahara” Inspires Opp Lab Team
By Rebecca Horne − January 12, 2012
“In 2007 a marathon runner named Charlie ran a race in North Africa, and after the race he wondered if anyone had ever run across the SAHARA. Of course not, it was insane to think anyone could run 4500 miles across sand dunes, rocky terrain, through cities, in 140 degree heat and 30 degree cold and ferocious wind, storms. But Charlie was a nut job and he called 2 of his sick friends and conned them into doing it. Then, when they learned about the water crises in North Africa, they conned Matt Damon into narrating and executive producing a film on this insane journey. One of the runners had only been running for 2 years.
If you would have asked world class runners or sports medicine doctors if someone could run 180 consecutive marathons without a day off, across some of the most unforgiving terrain in the world, what would they have said? Impossible?
Well, it wasn’t. They did it in 111 days, consuming 10,000 calories a day and each losing over 25 lbs. Most inspiring was what they did after they reached the red sea in Egypt after running across Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Egypt. They raised money to build 300 wells serving about 300,000 people and the film, RUNNING THE SAHARA has been shown around the world.
If we could break through the mental, physical and spiritual barriers they did, what could we create? What now is impossible? Or possible.” –Mark Monchek, President of The Opportunity Show
Years have passed since Charlie Engel’s team ran across the Sahara desert, and yet “Running the Sahara” still provides inspiration and food for reflection today as The Opportunity Show looks ahead to the possibilities in 2012. From running through physical pain to attracting worldwide attention to Africa’s water crisis, these runners mirror the OppLab’s goals for teambuilding, innovation, and opportunity discovery. Just as the men in this film defied expectations and accomplished the “impossible,” so the Opportunity Show team seeks to surpass superficial limitations and realize exceptional results.
The Opportunity Show invites you to join in this New Year’s exercise and see how “Running the Sahara” relates to your own life goals in 2012. As shown by Charlie and his friends, a common passion and commitment can be all that it takes to effect both personal discovery and international change.
Charlie, Ray, and Kevin run the Sahara
The team witnesses desperation for water
Countless friends are made along the way
