songs of experience

Amy’s comment has me thinking about Saint Ralph again.

When the movie ended, my first thought was, “Is this a true story?” It sure felt true throughout. I rewound to the beginning to read the disclaimer: “all the characters in this movie are fictitious and are not meant to portray actual people, etc.”
Alas, Ralph never existed in real life, nor did his bronze medalist runner turned priest/coach, nor the mystical coaching manual from which he drew. I wanted it all to be true because then I could go check Thomas Longboat’s book out of the library! [Thomas Longboat, himself, was a real-life runner - a Canadian legend.]
So, my next thought was, “who could have written such a believable story?” (and who directed the film?). I hit my “menu” button for the special features on the DVD and whose mug did I see but my own former teammate and fellow English major from UNC, Mike McGowan. I couldn’t f ‘ing believe it! We rode in the same stinky cross-country van together. He was on the team that got 5th at NCAA’s in 1985 (the one with George Nicholas that Chris Fox coached). This guy wrote and directed a movie runners will watch for years and years to come - like Chariots of Fire. Coaches will make their teams see it before the State meet. Running geeks will buy copies of it for their libraries. No wonder the scenes were so real. McGowan was a low 29’s 10k guy and a 2:18 marathoner. He was also smart, and sensitive, and hilarious, and . . . apparently . . . brilliant.

Go Tar Heels!!

p.s. if anyone knows McGowan’s e-mail address, please send it to me so I can personally (as opposed to virtually) gush.