Summaries

Synopsis

200 Miles

Three days before Eric Gelber attempts to run a record 200 miles around New York's Central Park to raise awareness and $1 million dollars for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Eric and Tani Gelber review a checklist of supplies needed for the effort. The Central Park Run, also known as the "Journey Towards a Cure", is the hardest run Eric has attempted, especially considering Eric had hip surgery less than one year before. This is his third and final attempt.

On Friday at 4:45 a.m. Eric and Tani leave the house for Central Park in New York City. His goal is to finish the 200-mile run, but also to raise $250,000 for the MMRF bringing Eric's total fund raising to more than $1 million. Before his run begins Karen is at the start line. She is a 50-year old woman who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. She and other cancer patients stop by to pick up their t-shirts and make donations. Eric dedicates the run to his friend Anita who was a close friend of his parents and treated like part of their family. Anita was the first individual that Eric knew who was sick and dying. Previous to this 200-mile run, Eric dedicated his 2007 New York City marathon run to her and gave her his medal.

Alan, Anita's husband begins the race. On a sunny morning on Friday, September 16, 2016, at 8 a.m. the first mile is run. Each lap is about 6 miles after which Eric stops to eat and hydrate. He sets a comfortable pace at a beat he can sustain. His first attempt at the distance was for just for one person, but he now is dedicated to the dozens of names of cancer victims on his t-shirt. At mile 18, Eric is greeted by more cancer survivors who appreciate Eric and are inspired by Eric to continue their fight against the deadly disease.

By 7:15 p.m. the run is nearly twelve hours old and the fatigue makes Eric feel low. The crew that runs and supports Eric needs to motivate him and push him along through the night. By 8:00 p.m., Eric has covered 50 miles. Cancer patients much like the long-distance runners They go through pain, suffering, loneliness and fear that they might not make it through the physically demanding treatments. One woman who jogs with him discovered her disease when she was five months pregnant. She found it difficult to enter the cancer center and start chemo just as they were starting a new family.

At 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, Eric is 79 miles into the run. The strategy now to complete the distance includes a 20-minute rest with feet up after each loop. Eric is back on the road for his 14th of 33 loops. Eric is frustrated because he miscounted and thought he had just completed his 14th loop. Eric uses memories of his friend Anita to motivate him to keep running.

At 8 45 a.m., Eric begins mile 90. Tani, his wife and crew chief, walks a tight rope of emotions balancing how hard to push Eric, yet struggling with the emotions of seeing him suffer the consequences of the effort on his body and mind. One cancer survivor describes how her time in treatment with chemo and stem cells caused her great depression. However, it also drew her close to her parents. He mother fed and bathed her as a child. She and her father watched every Yankee games together and she was able to attend a playoff game at the end of the season. She emotionally healed from cancer because of her support team.

At 1:47 a.m., Eric has completed 128 miles. Between loops, Eric's team deals with a massive blister that has formed on Eric's big toe. By mile 138, Tani has definite worries that Eric will not be able to complete the distance. Eric complains of great pain, but plods onward. On Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m., there is suddenly allot of activity in Central Park. The New York Road Runners are hosting an 18 mile tune up run. The event includes about 7000 people and Tani believes Eric will be able to feed off the energy of runners around him.

Having gotten through the second night, Tani incites the crew to push Eric toward the goal. She fears Eric will be devastated if he fails on his third try at the distance. Eric's father arrives on Sunday morning. He describes Eric as a kid who easily go into trouble. When Eric was 16, he would only dress in black. Anita always supported Eric. Her decision not to be a victim in life, rubbed off on Eric and was the source of change in turning around Eric's life.

One man who runs with Eric talks about the awkwardness moments of losing his hair because of his cancer treatments and going into work the next day where few people knew about his illness and the silence it evoked. During that time, the man met Eric and urges him forward just as he has moved forward to beat the disease. They find inspiration in each other.

Eric is not a professional runner and it gives those that know him a superhuman kind of hope. Eric approaches mile 177 where he will surpass his previous record distance. At mile 183, Eric and the crew know the end is in sight. At 4:38 p.m. on Sunday, Eric has covered 183 miles. A short time later they away Eric out on the course to begin his final lap. Eric knows when his race is over, he will climb into bed and when he arises, everything will be fine. When his friends climb into bed and they are still sick.

The last 6-mile loop begins at 6:21 pm on Sunday, September 18, 2016. Eric is in disbelief as he nears the finish. Just yards from the finish life, Eric joins hands with his family and they run through the banner ending his 200-mile journey. In his 2016 run, Eric raised over $320,000 for Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation bringing his grand total to nearly $1.1 million dollars. Since its inception, the foundation has aided the development of 10 new drugs which have tripled the life expectancy on those inflicted with multiple myeloma.