ESPN and ESPN Deportes are releasing a 30 for 30 documentary called "The Infinite Race." This film, directed by Bernardo Ruiz, shows a less discussed dimension to the lives of the incredibly talented Tarahumara, who call themselves "Rarámuri," which means “light feet” or “runners on foot."
Isabelle Lopez, Communications Manager for ESPN films and Original Content, recently published a press release on the documentary. In the release, she quotes documentary director Bernardo Ruiz's perspective on his work:
“Many sports documentaries focus on celebrity athletes or high-profile rivalries. What intrigued me about ‘The Infinite Race’ was the challenge of telling a lesser known story that nonetheless speaks to some of the big debates of the moment.”
Bernardo is a two-time Emmy® Award-nominated documentary filmmaker and a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
The Tarahumara gained wide recognition amongst the worldwide running community after Christopher McDougall’s bestselling book "Born to Run." One topic of the book was the Tarahumara runners consumption of Pinole, a ground corn superfood.
In this 30 for 30 documentary "The Infinite Race," Ruiz shares an unfortunate reality that plagues the Tarahumara people. As Lopez states in the ESPN press release:
"The documentary explores the story of the Tarahumara, an indigenous community in Mexico, famed for their legendary running ability, and their preference for running barefoot, who inspired an ultrarunning craze across the world, and what’s happened as their homes and communities were ravaged by drug cartels and violence."
@thepinoleproject Wow! Nuevo documental 🎥 Credit: @espn @espndeportes Gracias por darnos sus permisos! ##Raramuri ##Tarahumara ##indigena ##indigenous ##mexicantiktok ##fyp
♬ Palms And Memories - BLVKSHP
The presence of the cartel has made their lives much more challenging. As shown in the documentary, the Tarahumara run as a form of resistance. Running is a form of empowerment in the wake of extreme obstacles.
The ESPN documentary is released December 15, 2020 at 8pm.
