By UltraRunning Magazine

04/16/2015

On April 4, Dana & Sarah Films premiered their award winning documentary GOSHEN: Places of Refuge for the Running People. The powerful film is an entertaining and educational account of the plant-based diet and athletic endurance of the Tarahumara running tribe. The Tarahumara, a light-footed indigenous people who live in the remote depths of Mexico’s Copper Canyons, are renowned globally for their ability to run long distances. They are also know for their low risk of the top killers in modernized society – type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer – which is credited primarily to their plant based diet and active lifestyle. The filmmakers share an eye opening investigation of the Tarahumara people’s diet, ultra-running endurance, and minimal footwear.

READ MORE: http://www.ultrarunning.com/headlines/ultrarunning-news/new-award-winning-documentary-features-tarahumara-running-tribe/

The Tarahumara of Mexico's Copper Canyons have become legendary for their ability to run ultramarathon distances across rugged terrain in homemade sandals, fueled by a diet consisting mostly of corn and beans. A new documentary by Dana & Sarah Films, "Goshen: Places of Refuge for the Running People," takes a look at the culture of this running-based society, as well as some of the threats facing it, including famine and drug violence.

In addition to footage from a 2013 trip to the Copper Canyons, "Goshen" includes interviews with Christopher McDougall, who wrote about the Tarahumara in his 2009 bestseller Born to Run; Will Harlan, an ultrarunner who founded Barefoot Seeds, a nonprofit seed bank in Urique, Mexico; and others involved with the Tarahumara.

A short trailer can be viewed here; the full film can also be rented or purchased through Vimeo On Demand.

A new film sheds light on the running culture of the Tarahumara tribe.

For those familiar with the Tarahumara, it’s most likely due to their running prowess, Christopher McDougall’s bestselling book Born to Run or their seemingly curious footwear—historically they’ve run in sandals made from supplies they had at hand. However, as a tribe, they have a low incidence of heart disease, cancer and diabetes—inspiring filmmakers Dana Richardson and Sarah Zentz of Dana & Sarah Films to produce “GOSHEN,” their award-winning documentary about the Tarahumara tribe.

RELATED: Hungry Runner Girl: 5 Favorite Books About Running

“Our original desire was to raise awareness about how to people can reduce their risk of modern chronic diseases through changing their diet and increasing their physical activity,” say Richardson and Zentz.

However the scope of the film expanded after this year’s Ultra Caballo Blanco Marathon, taking place in the Copper Canyons, was cancelled due to drug war activity in the area.

“The cancellation reignited awareness of the drought, famine and threats that Tarahumara culture is facing,” Richardson explains. “Our hope is that ‘GOSHEN’ will raise awareness of the urgency for solutions and inspire people to take part in preserving the endangered native seeds and running traditions of the Tarahumara.”

RELATED: Born To Run Legend

Mexico’s Copper Canyons, where the Tarahumara live, is remote, imposing and arduous to get to. These factors are what kept their culture intact and largely uninfluenced by the outside world. They live a subsistence lifestyle—surviving by farming and foraging. Running and physical activity are integral aspects to the culture, and their diet is simple and primarily plant-based. Most time is spent on life-essential activities, such as collecting water, farming, grinding corn and making food.

“We were in awe of the incredible endurance and strength of the Tarahumara women,” Richardson says. “From watching women hiking endless miles while herding goats across rugged canyons to tirelessly grinding corn into tortillas from scratch, we were inspired to push the boundaries of physical activity in all aspects of our daily lives.”

Running, whether by long-distance travel necessity, entertainment or festival celebration, is a common cultural thread for both men and women. The film shows the Rarajipari, a ball race traditionally for men, as well as a hoop race for women (that can last the length of a marathon!) called the Ariweta.

“The one thing that impacted us the most was the laughter and joy the Tarahumara women exuded while running an Ariweta,” Zentz said. “They were not running just to compete. The race was a celebration and an event that involved the entire community.”

Christopher McDougall, “Born to Run” author who releases his second book, “Natural Born Heroes,” this month, appears in the film.

Read more at http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2015/04/news/new-film-explores-running-culture-of-tarahumara-tribe_37541#R9kPZrOHIExy4dqL.99

A new documentary was released on April 4 about the Tarahumara people of Mexico’s Copper Canyons. The film, titled “Goshen: Places of Refuge for the Tarahumara”, focuses on the now-famous tribe’s diet and active lifestyle.

The new documentary is about challenges facing the tribe and their way of life. Drought and famine have threatened their healthy lifestyles. The tribe’s diet and culture of long distance running is believed to be the main reason behind their low rates of ailments such as obesity and hypertension.

The film was directed and produced Dana Richardson and Sarah Zentz. The two also worked together on “Back to Eden” in 2011, a documentary on organic gardening.

The new documentary is available on Vimeo on Demand, a web streaming service. Viewers can rent the film to stream for 12 hours or purchase a copy for download.

The Tarahumara tribe was featured in Chris McDougall’s bestselling book Born to Run and the author is featured in the documentary.

Also in preliminary planning is a movie adaptation of McDougall’s book starring Matthew McConaughey.


Read more at: http://runningmagazine.ca/new-tarahumara-documentary-goshen-released/

An in-depth film documenting the lives of the Tarahumara Indian tribe that inspired a barefoot running movement in the U.S. 

On April 4, “Goshen: Places of Refuge for the Tarahumara Tribe” will premiere digitally on Vimeo On Demand. The documentary directed and produced by Dana and Sarah Films looks at the diet and active lifestyle of the indigenous Tarahumara tribe who have lived away from modern society in the Mexican Copper Canyons for centuries.

“We first learned about the Tarahumara by reading Christopher McDougall’s book, ‘Born to Run,’ which educated us about minimal footwear and natural running form. Inspired to learn more about the Tarahumara way of life, we discovered that the Tarahumara have low incidence of the top 3 chronic diseases—cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease—linked to their plant based diet,” says directors Dana Richardson and Sarah Zentz who both enjoy running in minimalist sandals themselves.

RELATED: The Legacy of ‘Born to Run’

Having lived among the remote Tarahumara community for one month, filming this running tribe’s day to day life, Richardson and Zentz also discovered that localized drug violence and famine due to recent droughts are seriously endangering the Tarahumara’s ability to maintain a self-sustainable community and their reliance on native seeds for planting.

“Recently, some of their traditional races have been lost because they don’t have the calories to run for hundreds of miles” says Will Harlan, a cast member of “Goshen” and winner of the Caballo Ultra Marathon. In response to the Tarahumara drought and famine crisis, Harlan co-founded Barefoot Seeds, a nonprofit Tarahumara native seed bank in Urique, Mexico.

Along with Harlan, “Born to Run” author Chistopher McDougall also makes an appearance in the small independent film. Its success so far has won the film the Award of Merit from the Accolade Global Film Competition in March.

“Goshen reveals how the Tarahumara tribe’s plant-based diet, minimal footwear and natural running form can not only transform runners’ health and fitness, but may also be the key to preserving Tarahumara culture. Our hope is that Goshen will inspire people to take part in preserving the endangered native seeds and running traditions of the Tarahumara,” Richardson says.

To learn more about this film endeavor, check out the trailer.

Read more at http://running.competitor.com/2015/04/news/tarahumara-running-tribe-featured-in-a-new-documentary_125766#mMHxfTm3sKFckRPP.99

GOSHEN World Premiere is at the Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo, CA on March 11 at 4PM! You can purchase tickets from the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival online or in person the day of the screening! 

We hope to see you there! 

Click here for screening details.

After 3 years of producing this documentary, we are thrilled to announce GOSHEN has been accepted into the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival! It feels wonderful to receive our first Laurels from our hometown! Screening details coming soon!