Ever since our ancestors started walking upright, running has been a part of the human experience. Throughout history, we’ve been running. To get somewhere fast, or to get away from something. We run to hunt and we run for sport.

As soon as a child learns to walk, he longs to run. The symphony of movements that is running comes to us as naturally as breathing. Running is at the very heart of our understanding of space and time, of our place in the world – of our selves.

THE CHALLENGE
It may well be that running is the oldest of all sports. It is the measure of man. Something deep inside of us wants to race. And to this day, we cheer on our athletes as they step up to the challenge.

The Unknown Runner is all about the top sports achievements of long-distance runners. How do they prepare for a race? What does it take to excel? What are the sacrifices they make?

But it is also a story about cultural differences. In the west, running is a sport – but in Africa is it also still a mode of transportation. How do the African runners who have risen to prominence in the international running scene shift between these modes of running? What drives them?

GEOFFREY KIPSANG
Join us and follow our protagonist, Geoffrey Kipsang. He is a talented young runner, and we will follow him on his way to his debut at a major marathon in the west. He grew up in a world where you ran to get from A to B. How did he become the long-distance runner he is today?

Geoffrey is one of many Kenyan runners who are among the world’s top performers. These athletes did not emerge out of nowhere (although it may seem so), and we will trace their story by telling Geoffrey’s in a new film documentary.

A RUNNER’S MIND
What fascinates us about running is that, as you run, you become fully aware of your body. A runner becomes a well-tuned machine that, in perfect harmony, is all about one thing: moving along. The run occupies your mind and your thoughts fade away. Why do we do this?

Discover the dreams Geoffrey Kipsang pursues in his running. Does he run for fame? Maybe it’s for a plot of land he wants to buy for himself and his family. Or a new marathon world record. How far will he go?