Nat Geo & Nike Team for Doc on Distance Runners

National Geographic and Nike are collaborating on the global documentary Breaking2 (working title), centered on the year-long journey of elite distance runners who set out to break the two-hour marathon barrier.

After 12 months of scientifically advanced training, a trio of runners circled the Monza circuit in Italy on May 6, when 32-year-old Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge came within only 25 seconds of breaking the two-hour mark. National Geographic Studios, in association with Dirty Robber, will produce Breaking2. The 60-minute film is slated to make its broadcast debut in September on National Geographic in the U.S. and Europe, and will also be made available on digital platforms around the globe.

Brendan Ripp, the executive VP of sales and partnerships at National Geographic, commented: “With Nike as the perfect partner in telling this remarkable story, Breaking2 is about pushing limits and going further. We hope that viewers will connect with the runners on a personal level. They are super-athletes, but we witness them in incredibly personal moments of their daily lives, hopes and dreams, as well as their training.”

“This project has been over two years in the making and with National Geographic’s unparalleled global reach, we hope to bring this story of passion and courage to create conversation and inspire people to think differently about how they approach their daily lives,” noted Nikki Neuburger, the VP of brand marketing and global running at Nike. “We’re excited to share the story of these three amazing runners, and the team of scientists and product developers, on their journey to challenge the limits of human potential.”

“In certain parts of the world distance runners are as celebrated as NBA or NFL athletes,” added director Martin Desmond Roe. “This film offers a never-before-seen look at these remarkable heroes as they train tirelessly to shatter one of the biggest barriers in the world of sports and human endurance.”