My Journey Through Running: A Documentary Reflection
I’m thrilled to share something truly special with you all: a short documentary about my journey as a runner, produced by Julian McIntosh and Teo Galli as part of the Art of Documentary One Day Doc challenge. The entire documentary was filmed in just 24 hours, but it beautifully captures the essence of why I run and the message I hope to share with the running community and beyond. Before I dive into the details, here’s the video for you to watch:
How It All Started
In 2024, I received an unexpected yet heartwarming message via my website. Julian, a talented documentary filmmaker, reached out with these words:
"I hope this message finds you well, and maybe even after you've just had a good run! ;) I’m reaching out to you because I just stumbled upon your 10km August Run event with Lululemon, and then found your blog. Unfortunately, I’m not much of a runner, but I am a documentary filmmaker, and I was inspired by your approach to running and how you use it as a tool to grow, connect with yourself, and bring people into better mind-body connections within themselves!"
If I am honest, I was 100% sure it was spam. My website isn't exactly super active... when I told some friends about it they were surprised that I had a website at all. That should give you an idea. I looked up Julian's Instagram and everything started to be a bit more legit.
"I know the event is just around the corner, but I would love to meet up and discuss the possibility of working together on a short documentary of you and this event as a Lululemon ambassador. As a documentary filmmaker, I love finding unique stories that can be insightful and inspiring for others. Here is a short documentary I made last year: [Insert Documentary Link Here]. I believe that this story and yours have a somewhat similar theme of overcoming internal and physical obstacles, as well as finding connection with ourselves. If you are intrigued by my proposal, I would love to have a chat and see if this could be the awesome collaboration I think it could be. I hope you will reach out soon :)"
A call can never hurt. It felt really abstract. Fast forward a few months, and we were filming a story that’s as much about running as it is about life itself.
The Finished Documentary
The final product exceeded all my expectations. The video introduces me as an ultra-marathon runner and lululemon running ambassador for the Netherlands. It highlights my message for anyone and everyone interested in running, whether you're a beginner, recovering from injury, or simply finding running difficult. This message isn’t just about running—it’s about overcoming internal and physical obstacles and finding connection with ourselves.
Here’s how Julian and Teo described the project:
"Mirjam is an ultra-marathon runner and lululemon running ambassador for the Netherlands. In this short documentary, she shares her message for anyone and everyone interested to get into running, whether you're a beginner, recovering from injury, or just find running difficult; this message is for you.
This documentary was filmed and produced as part of the Art of Documentary One Day Doc challenge and was an AOD collaboration with Teo Galli. We filmed everything in just 24 hours.
Huge thanks to Mirjam for sharing her story and trusting us with it! And thanks to Teo for joining me on this project, which was a big learning experience for us both.
Whether you're a runner or a filmmaker, Mirjam's message holds true and should be applied to all areas in life."
What This Means to Me
This project is close to my heart because it captures why I’ve been running for 25 years. Running is more than a physical activity; it’s a way to grow, to overcome, and to connect with both myself and the world around me. It’s my hope that this documentary inspires you to take the first step, no matter where you’re starting from.
Thank You
A huge thank you to Julian and Teo for their hard work, creativity, and trust in telling my story. This collaboration has been such a meaningful experience for me, and I’m excited to share it with all of you.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the documentary! Has running played a transformative role in your life? Let me know in the comments or reach out via my blog or social media.
Happy running, and remember: every step forward is progress.
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