(Kristina Boede recommended a review of this movie. If you have a favorite running movie, please suggest it to me and it will be reviewed.)
Without Limits was one of the two movies about Steve Prefontaine that came out in 1998. In fact, I saw the movie with Team Runners High because they distributed a number of free tickets to runners in the area.
The story of “Pre” is a sad one, because in the 70s, it was difficult to be an amateur. You were restricted to certain kinds of races, and you could be barred from certain international competition, if you competed in races with prizes, even if you didn’t accept the prize.
Steve Prefontaine had this amazing talent to lead a race from start to finish. He had the attitude of Why bother to compete unless you are the fastest? He didn’t believe in the strategy of dragging along the pace and then seeing which one could outkick the other.
Billy Crudup gives a command performance as Pre, as well as Donald Sutherland as his coach (and the man who started Nike). The movie follows his short life and career, and juxtaposes well the balance of running hard, living hard and fighting the unfair TAC/AAU machine. Without Limits is available on DVD and Video.