We ARE Distance Runners:

Untold Stories of African American Athletes

Anthony "Tony" Reed, Writer & Director

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, plus information about Ted Corbitt, an American pioneer.

Theodore "Ted" Corbitt - The first African-American to represent USA in the Olympic Marathon (1952); the second person in the world and the first Black to run over one-hundred marathons and ultras (1966); conceived of transitioning the New York City Marathon course to running through the city's five boroughs.
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); RRCA National Distance Running Hall of Fame (2022).
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).

Film Festival Awards and Recognition

2023 Winner - Best Feature Documentary, Global Film Festival Awards
2023 Winner - Best Biographical Film, Oniros Film Awards® - New York
2023 Winner - Best Short Historical Film, BLUEZ DOLPHINS Monthly Online Intern’l Short Film Fest
2023 Winner - Best Short Social Message Films, BLUEZ DOLPHINS International Short Film Fest
2023 Winner - Best Human Interest Story, NewsFest, True Stories International Film Festival
2023 Winner - Best Interview Format, Talk Show, or Podcast, NewsFest
2024 Winner - Best Biographical Feature Film, The Independent Creators Expo (ICE) CineFest
2024 Winner - Best Feature Documentary, The Independent Creators Expo (ICE) CineFest
2024 Winner - Veteran & Military Award For Best Director, Orlando Urban Film Festival
2023 Finalist - Best Sports Film, Oniros Film Awards® - New York
2023 Honorable Mention - Best Inspirational Film, New York International Film Awards
2023 Honorable Mention - Best Inspirational Film, Oniros Film Awards® - New York
2024 Honorable Mention - Best Feature Documentary, Black History Film Festival
2024 Honorable Mention - Best Feature Documentary, The People’s Film Festival
2024 Honorable Mention - Best Short Film - TX Showcase, ATX Short Film Showcase - Austin's Monthly Film Festival
2023 Semi-Finalist - Best Short Documentary, Luleå International Film Festival - Monthly
2024 Exceptional Merit - Best Feature Doc., WRPN Women's International Film Festival
2024 Exceptional Merit - Best Sports Doc., WRPN Women's International Film Festival
2023 Award Nominee - Best Women's Short Doc., Black Panther Intern’l Film Festival
2023 Award Nominee - Best Documentary News Story Over 30 Minutes, NewsFest
2023 Award Nominee - Best Family History Story, NewsFest
2023 Award Nominee - Best True Story (Documentary Style), NewsFest
2023 Award Nominee - Most Inspiring, NewsFest
2024 Award Nominee - Best Short Sports Doc, Seattle Film Festival
2024 Award Nominee - Best Feature Documentary, Orlando Urban Film Festival
2024 Award Nominee - Best Social Impact Film, Orlando Urban Film Festival
2024 Award Nominee - Best Documentarian, Orlando Urban Film Festival
2023 Official Selection - Best Short Documentary, Crown Point International Film Festival
2023 Official Selection - Best Short Documentary, Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival
2023 Official Selection - Best Short Documentary, Stockholm City Film Festival - Monthly
2023 Official Selection - Best Short Documentary, St. Louis International Film Festival
2024 Official Selection - Best Feature Documentary, Austin Lift-Off Film Festival
2024 Official Selection - Best Feature Documentary, Paris Awards Film Festival
2024 Official Selection - Best Inspirational Film, Paris Awards Film Festival
2024 Official Selection - Best Feature Sports Documentary, Seattle Film Festival