With the Oscars coming up I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the most remembered running scenes from the movies.  Here are some short summations with the help of the Michigan Running List subscribers, running friends, my local video store and lots of caffeine to keep me up reviewing them.

Fast and Furry-ous, 1949, The RoadRunner and Wile E Coyote:

It would have been cheaper to buy dinner at a local restaurant than all the time and money Coyote spent chasing this little varmint.

The Hasty Hare, 1950, Bugs Bunny:

Gee Doc, I wonder who wins, the Tortoise or the Hare?

Jim Thorpe - All American, 1951, Burt Lancaster:

It took producers 15 years to find Lancaster for the part of Jim Thorpe. He gives a powerful portrayal of Jim's jubilant decathlon and pentathlon victories at the 1912 Olympics and the sadness that followed.

North by Northwest, 1959, Cary Grant:

Grant in his standard suit and tie outruns an airplane through the cornfields of Prairie, Indiana in this Hitchcock thriller

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, 1962, Tom Courtenay:

Courtenay is picked to run on his reform school track team after he is sent there for a petty theft. He uses running to forget his past and elevate himself from working class struggles to the runner's hero.

The Naked Prey, 1966, Cornel Wilde:

Wilde (who also directed this film in Rhodesia) is stripped and given a head start, then pursued by the African tribe's 10 best runners (with spears). Will he make it to safety at the end of the movie?

The Graduate, 1967, Dustin Hoffman:

Hoffman sprints to the Church (after his car runs out of gas) to stop Katharine Ross from getting married.

Marathon Man, 1976, Dustin Hoffman:

The film starts out with Abebe Bakila (Winning the Olympic Marathon) then Hoffman running around the reserveroire in Central Park.  Hoffman, training for a marathon has Bakila's photos pinned up in his apartment for inspiration.

Rocky, 1976, Sylvester Stallone:

Rocky races up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum with arms raised in triumph at getting back in shape. Rocky's Theme song has become a running event classic.

Running, 1978, Micheal Douglas:

One of the dumbest scenes in running: Douglas takes off his tie and uses it as a headband as he starts running down the street.

Manhattan, 1979, Woody Allen:

Allen races down the streets of New York City to Mariel Hemingway's apartment to try to stop her from going to England. Here she delivers the last and best line in the movie, "You have to have a little bit of faith in people".

The Jericho Mile, 1979, Peter Strauss:

Strauss plays Murphy who discovers a way to free himself from his slow death in Folsom Prison. He finds release and momentary happiness in long-distance running. Murphy realizes that he is a superb runner, capable of competing in the Olympics if given the chance. Though others share this belief, Murphy is not allowed permission to run outside the facility. Eventually, Murphy still competes within the walls of the prison.

"10", 1979, Bo Derek:

Bo gained fame as the perfect fantasy woman with the trend-setting corn row hairstyle while running along the beach.

Chariots of Fire, 1981, Ben Cross & Ian Charleson:

Many great running scenes, two that stand out: The British Olympic team of 1924 running in slow motion on the beach to the music of Vangelis. It became the movie poster. And Ben Cross as Harold Abrahams (after getting beat by Eric Little played by Ian Charleson) telling his girlfriend that he doesn't run to lose.

Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981, Harrison Ford:

Ford is shown running after acquiring an ancient artifact/skull. Poison darts are firing at him as he stays just ahead of the crumbling ancient ruins then to top things off a large boulder is heading straight towards him.  Run for your life!

Personal Best, 1982, Mariel Hemingway & Patrice Donnelly:

Hemingway moves from clueless hurdler to 1976 Olympic qualifier through her mentor and competitor Donnelly. Friendship blossoms into love as the two are beautifully filmed on the track as well as racing up sand dunes.

The Big Chill, 1983, Kevin Kline:

Kline buys Nike running shoes for all of his friends from the Running Dog Athletic store who makes deliveries to his house. For someone who runs he spends most of the time walking.

Running Brave, 1983, Robbie Benson:

Benson depicts American Indian Billy Mills with an amazingly accurate recreation of Mills' stunning last lap in the 1964 Olympic 10,000 meter race in Tokyo (but with one laughable flaw -- a football field is clearly visible on the infield.)

On the Edge, 1985, Bruce Dern:

Dern comes out of retirement and a suspension to train for a major trail race.  The film uses footage from the Dipsea which is the second oldest and one of the most beautiful footraces in the United States. The scenic 7.1 mile course from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, California has stairs and steep trails that make it a grueling and treacherous race. And its unique handicapping system has made winners of men and women of all ages including Dern. 

Across the Tracks, 1990, Brad Pitt & Rick Schroder:

Pitt looks and runs like a real track star but can't beat his reform school brother, Schroder, who trained in prison.

The Firm, 1993, Tom Cruise:

Cruise outruns The Firm's henchmen to safety after he discovers that he's signed up for a lifetime commitment to the mob's law firm.  This is one of many films where Cruise is shown running.

Forrest Gump, 1994, Tom Hanks:

Jenny (Robin Wright) delivers the line "Run Forrest Run" as he (Hanks) breaks away from braces to Alabama football stardom.  Later, he leaves the past behind during his 3 year run back and forth across the country. We witness spectacular panoramas of America while he runs to the tunes of "Running on Empty" and "On The Road Again".

Without Limits, 1998, Billy Crudup:

Crudup gives a portrayal of American running legend Steve Prefontaine's life and death. Produced by Tom Cruise

The Bachelor, 1999, Chris O'Donnell:

1,000 brides chase O'Donnell through the streets of San Francisco in hopes of marrying him by 6:05 pm that day so they can inherit his grandfather's multi-millions.

The Runaway Bride, 1999, Richard Gere & Julia Roberts:

Gere sprints after Julia Roberts, who is in a Fed Ex truck, after she leaves him at the altar. Later she turns in her running shoes to him as a marriage offering.

Endurance, 1999, Haile Gebreselassie:

Life story of Haile played by himself. Real footage of him winning the Olympic 10km

Run Lola Run, 1999, Franka Potente:

Franka as the flame-haired Lola plays the tireless heroine who pounds the pavement and racks her brain to save her lover from danger.