An Important Message from Producer Wendy Shulik

We are now in the final seven months of filming “Miles & Trials”; however, we are still desperately in need of funding and sponsors! The generous donations we’ve received along the way have been really made a difference but the majority of the production costs have come out of my (the Producer’s) own pocket.

We’ve only three more marathons left to shoot: the Chicago Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon (8/14), the Chicago Marathon (10/9), and the Olympic Trials in Houston (1/14/12). Anything you can do to help us film our female Trials hopefuls at these races will be greatly appreciated. We now have over 700 Facebook fans—if each of you donates $10, we’ll have enough to cover costs to shoot all three races! Please click on the "Donate" button on the upper right-hand side of this page to contribute to our Film Fund through PayPal. Help support running films and female athletes!

Sincerely,

Wendy Shulik

Who will be next to qualify?

As of this date, there are approximately 145 women who have qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials. Who will be next to join them in Houston on 1/14/12?

Three Decades, One Dream

L-R: Kristina Pham, Leah Thorvilson, Kerry Camberg, Chelsea VanDeBrake, Wendy Shulik (Producer)

I traveled to Duluth, Minnesota on June 17th to follow Heather Prekop in her third attempt to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials at Grandma's Marathon. While I was there, I met some other women who also have the same goal. They are from different parts of the country, span three decades in age and all have the same dream: to qualify for the Trials!

A few of them were going for their first-ever "B" standard qualifying time (2:46), while others who already have their "B" were trying for the elusive "A" standard (2:39). Those athletes who attain the "A" will receive financial assistance (hotel and travel to the Trials). After interviewing these ladies, it was no surprise that most cited the difficulty of juggling work, family and training and coming up with the money necessary for gear, physical therapy, entry fees and travel to races. Despite this, all of them are determined to do whatever it takes to get to the start line in Houston on 1/14/12.

Here is a video of four of the women I met in Duluth: Chelsea VanDeBrake, Kerry Camberg, Kristina Pham and Leah Thorvilson.