♪ ♪
>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING IS A
PRESENTATION OF HBO SPORTS.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: TONIGHT, ON "REAL
SPORTS":
SINCE THE BOSTON MARATHON WAS
AMONG THOSE APRIL EVENTS
CANCELED BY THE COVID PANDEMIC,
HOW FITTING THAT THE MAN WHO HAS
BEEN CHARGED WITH ORGANIZING THE
RACE FOR THE PAST 34 YEARS, IS
NOW INVOLVED IN GETTING
BOSTONIANS VACCINATED, SO THE
RACE AND LIFE CAN RETURN TO
NORMAL.
>> Dave: WE KNOW HOW TO MOVE
PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
YOU KNOW, ATHLETICALLY, WE MOVE
'EM.
BUT WE CAN MOVE 'EM IN OTHER
WAYS TOO.
>> AND YOU'RE VACCINATED.
>> ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AMID CANCELLATIONS AND EMPTY
STANDS, THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON
SPORTS HAS BEEN ALL TOO OBVIOUS.
LESS OBVIOUS HAS BEEN ITS IMPACT
ON ATHLETES, SPECIFICALLY THOSE
YOUNGSTERS WHO ACCORDING TO SOME
EXPERTS ARE NOW SUFFERING FROM
DEPRESSION IN RECORD NUMBERS
AFTER BEING DEPRIVED OF SPORTS.
>> Allison: WHEN HE HAD SOCCER,
HE HAD THAT SENSE OF JOY IN
HIMSELF, AND THE SENSE OF
CONFIDENCE.
AND HE'S LOST ALL THAT.
>> RUNNING IS RARELY LISTED
AMONG THE WORLD'S MORE EXTREME
SPORTS.
BUT EVERY YEAR IN TENNESSEE A
MAN NAMED LAZARUS LAKE STAGES A
RUNNING EVENT THAT IS SO
EXTREME, SO DEMANDING, AND SO
PAINFUL, THAT OVER THE PAST 35
YEARS ONLY 15 PEOPLE HAVE EVEN
MANAGED TO FINISH HIS RACE.
>> Mary: WHEN A RUNNER'S GOTTA
QUIT THE RACE, YOU REALLY DO
PLAY TAPS FOR THEM?
>> Lazarus: WELL, YEAH, THEY
DIDN'T MAKE IT.
>> TO HEAR ITS PROPONENTS TELL
IT, BACK COUNTRY SKIING IS ONE
OF THE GREAT THRILLS OF THE
GREAT OUTDOORS.
BUT THE COMBINATION OF TWO
FORCES, THE COVID CRISIS AND
CLIMATE CHANGE, HAVE COMBINED TO
MAKE THE SPORT MORE DEADLY THAN
IT'S EVER BEEN.
>> GO!
>> AVALANCHE!
>> Kyle: I WAS JUST IN A RIVER
OF MOVING SNOW, AND IT WAS
MOVING REALLY FAST.
THAT WAS, TO ME, CERTAIN DEATH.
>> Announcer: AND NOW, YOUR
♪ ♪
BRYANT GUMBEL.
>> Bryant: GOOD EVENING, AND
WELCOME TO "REAL SPORTS," WHERE
THE MONTH OF APRIL IS, FOR US,
TRADITIONALLY HEADLINED BY THE
START OF THE BASEBALL SEASON,
THE MASTERS AND THE BOSTON
MARATHON.
THE FIRST TWO WENT OFF OK, BUT
THE 125th RUNNING OF THE BOSTON
MARATHON, TRADITIONALLY HELD ON
THE 3rd MONDAY OF APRIL, WAS
ONCE AGAIN CANCELED BY THE
PANDEMIC, LEAVING ALL CONCERNED
YEARNING FOR BETTER DAYS THAT
FINALLY SEEM CLOSE AT HAND.
IN HOPES OF HASTENING THE
ARRIVAL OF THOSE DAYS, THE MAN
WHO HAS LONG BEEN IN CHARGE OF
THE MARATHON, DAVE MCGILLIVRAY
HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON A DIFFERENT
KIND OF FINISHING LINE OF LATE.
HE'S BEEN PUTTING HIS ORGANIZING
SKILLS TO WORK BY HELPING TO GET
BOSTONIANS IN GREATER NUMBERS
VACCINATED SAFELY AND
EFFICIENTLY.
IT'S JUST THE LATEST OF MANY
ACHIEVEMENTS FOR A MAN WHO
LIKENS HIMSELF TO FORREST GUMP.
OUR ANDREA KREMER EXPLAINS.
>> FOR SHEER LOGISTICAL
COMPLEXITY, FEW SPORTING EVENTS
ON EARTH CAN COMPARE WITH THE
ANNUAL BOSTON MARATHON.
WHICH INVOLVES 30,000
COMPETITORS, A SMALL ARMY OF
SUPPORT STAFF, AND A PLAYING
FIELD SPREAD OUT ACROSS EIGHT
DIFFERENT TOWNS.
>> Dave: THIS ISN'T A SIMPLE
BEACH VOLLEYBALL EVENT WHERE
IT'S CONTAINED, WHERE YOU CAN GO
LIKE THIS AND SEE IT ALL.
2 MILES.
500,000 TO A MILLION SPECTATORS.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
>> SIDE OF THE ROAD.
>> AS THE MARATHON'S LONGTIME
RACE DIRECTOR, DAVE MCGILLIVRAY
ALWAYS PRIDED HIMSELF ON BEING
PREPARED FOR ANYTHING.
>> Dave: I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT
THIS INDUSTRY IS BULLETPROOF.
AND THEN THIS PANDEMIC CAME
ALONG AND PROVED ME WRONG.
>> SUDDENLY MCGILLIVRAY AND HIS
TEAM, WHO ORGANIZE DOZENS OF
RACES A YEAR, WERE OUT OF A JOB,
AND THEY HAD TO THINK ABOUT HOW
ELSE THEY COULD USE THEIR
SKILLS.
>> Dave: WE KNOW HOW TO MOVE
PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
YOU KNOW, ATHLETICALLY, WE MOVE
THEM.
BUT WE CAN MOVE THEM IN OTHER
WAYS TOO.
>> SO HOW MANY STATIONS WOULD
YOU SAY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE?
>> I THINK WE'RE RUNNING 52.
>> OVER ON THIS SIDE.
>> SO HE MOVED HIS "PEOPLE
MOVING SKILLS" TO ANOTHER KIND
OF MASS EVENT, THE RACE TO GET
THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS
VACCINATED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.
>> OK, 1, 2, 3.
>> YEP.
>> AND THIS IS HIS NEW
RACECOURSE, GILLETTE STADIUM,
NORMALLY HOME TO THE NFL'S NEW
ENGLAND PATRIOTS, BUT NOW A
MAKESHIFT CLINIC WHERE 7,000
PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED A DAY.
>> AND YOU'RE VACCINATED.
>> ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> Dave: DOING THIS IS JUST LIKE
DOING A MARATHON.
ONCE THE BELL RINGS, AND WE'RE
READY TO OPEN, THEY'RE DIRECTED
OVER TO HERE AND THEN TO THE
VACCINATION STATIONS.
THEY CHECK IN, THEY DO A HEALTH
ASSESSMENT.
AND WHILE THAT'S ALL GOING ON,
PREPPERS ARE TAKING THE VACCINE
OUT OF THE VIALS AND LOADING THE
SYRINGES.
THEN WE HAVE RUNNERS AND THEY
WILL TAKE THE SYRINGES AND
REFILL THE STATIONS.
THE PACE IS RELENTLESS.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
I'M EILEEN.
>> MCGILLIVRAY AND HIS TEAM CAN
GET A PATIENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE
PROCESS IN LITTLE MORE THAN FIVE
MINUTES.
>> Linda: THIS IS A REALLY
AMAZING OPERATION.
THE DIRECTIONS ARE GREAT, AND
IT'S WELL MARKED.
>> Andrea: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
KNOW.
BUT THE MAN WHO'S RUNNING ALL
THE LOGISTICS IS THE SAME MAN
WHO RUNS THE BOSTON MARATHON.
>> Linda: GET OUT.
>> Andrea: NO.
>> Linda: REALLY?
>> Andrea: DAVE MCGILLIVRAY.
>> Linda: OH, I KNOW HIS NAME.
HE'S AWESOME.
GOOD GUY TO PICK, HUH?
>> IF YOU'RE SURPRISED TO SEE A
GUY LIKE MCGILLIVRAY IN THE
MIDDLE OF MASSACHUSETTS' EFFORT
TO VACCINATE THE STATE, YOU
SHOULDN'T BE, BECAUSE IN MANY
WAYS, HE IS BOSTON'S REAL-LIFE
FORREST GUMP.
THE ICONIC MOVIE CHARACTER WHO
ALWAYS SEEMED TO SHOW UP AT
IMPORTANT MOMENTS AND SOMEHOW
CHANGED THE WORLD.
>> FORREST GUMP!
>> Dave: PEOPLE CALL ME FORREST
ALL THE TIME.
>> MY MAMA ALWAYS SAID LIFE WAS
LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES.
>> Dave: I HAVE THE ACTUAL BOX
OF CHOCOLATES THAT WAS IN THE
MOVIE.
>> Andrea: THE ACTUAL BOX?
>> Dave: YEAH.
>> Andrea: HOW DID YOU GET THE
BOX?
>> Dave: IN AN AUCTION.
I BID ON IT IN AN AUCTION.
>> MCGILLIVRAY SAYS HE RELATES
TO THE CHARACTER.
>> RUN FORREST, RUN AWAY.
>> JUST AS FORREST WAS ONCE A
LITTLE BOY WHO COULDN'T QUITE
MEASURE UP, SO WAS DAVE.
>> Dave: I WAS THE SMALLEST KID
IN THE PLAYGROUND.
I WAS INEVITABLY THE LAST ONE
PICKED.
I PUT A SIGN OVER MY BED.
AND THE SIGN READ, "PLEASE GOD,
MAKE ME GROW."
SON OF A GUN.
[LAUGHS]
MAYBE HE WAS ON VACATION OR
ANSWERING SOMEONE ELSE'S PRAYER
AT THE TIME BECAUSE HE CERTAINLY
DIDN'T MAKE ME GROW.
>> MCGILLIVRAY WOULD TOP OUT AT
5 FEET 4.
387 INCHES, OR SO HE SAYS, WHICH
WAS CRUSHING FOR A BOSTON SPORTS
FANATIC WITH A VERY SPECIFIC
DREAM.
>> Dave: I WANTED TO BE A
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE.
IDEALLY, I WANTED TO PLAY SECOND
BASE AT FENWAY PARK.
>> IT WAS NOT TO BE, BUT
MCGILLIVRAY WAS STILL DETERMINED
TO MAKE IT ON TO THE FENWAY
FIELD.
SO HE HATCHED A PLAN.
>> Dave: I SAW A SIGN OUT IN
RIGHT FIELD.
SIGN SAID, "HELP MAKE A DREAM
COME TRUE.
SUPPORT THE JIMMY FUND."
SO I JUST PICKED UP THE PHONE
AND CALLED THE JIMMY FUND.
>> THE JIMMY FUND RAISED MONEY
TO FIGHT PEDIATRIC CANCER.
MCGILLIVRAY MADE THEM AN OFFER:
IF THEY COULD GET HIM ON THAT
FIELD, IN FRONT OF THE FENWAY
CROWD, HE'D DO SOMETHING
REMARKABLE TO BRING AWARENESS TO
THEIR CAUSE.
AND SO, 15 YEARS BEFORE FORREST
GUMP RAN FROM ONE END OF THE
COUNTRY TO THE OTHER IN THE
MOVIES, MCGILLIVRAY DID IT IN
REAL LIFE.
>> DAVID MCGILLIVRAY WHO IS 24
YEARS OLD.
>> HE RAN COAST TO COAST TO
RAISE MONEY FOR THE JIMMY FUND.
>> HE BEGAN OUT WEST, AND RAN 50
MILES EACH DAY, EVERY DAY, UNTIL
HE ARRIVED BACK IN BOSTON, AND
HIS ULTIMATE DESTINATION.
>> A FENWAY PARK GREETING FOR
DAVE MCGILLIVRAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Dave: I COME OUT AND THE
CROWD STOOD UP AND SCREAMED SO
LOUD.
THE PLAYERS, ALL THE PLAYERS
THEY COME OUT OF THE DUGOUT AND
STOOD ON THE STAIRS AND THEY
WERE CLAPPING AND SCREAMING.
I KEPT RUNNING AROUND AND AROUND
'CAUSE I SAID, "I JUST RAN
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
I'M NOT GETTING OFF THIS FIELD
ANY TIME SOON."
>> Andrea: YOU COULDN'T BE THE
SECOND BASEMAN BUT THEY COULD
STILL STAND FOR YOU AT FENWAY
PARK.
>> Dave: TO THIS DAY NOTHING HAS
EQUALED THAT FEELING.
>> BUT THE RUN TURNED OUT TO
HAVE AN EVEN LARGER AND
LONGER-LASTING IMPACT.
WITH ALL THE ATTENTION IT
GAINED, MCGILLIVRAY'S EFFORT
STARTED A TREND: THE NOW COMMON
PRACTICE OF RUNNING FOR CHARITY.
TODAY, THE PRACTICE GENERATES
OVER A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
FOR NON-PROFITS.
>> Andrea: DO YOU REALIZE WHAT
THIS SPAWNED?
>> Dave: I DIDN'T REALLY PUT
THAT TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S
CHANGED THIS ENTIRE INDUSTRY.
>> MCGILLIVRAY WAS THRILLED BY
THE ATTENTION HIS RUN RECEIVED,
AND THE CHALLENGE IT PROVIDED,
AND WANTED MORE OF BOTH.
>> SO HE CAME UP WITH NEW FEATS
TO ACHIEVE.
HE BIKED NON-STOP FOR 24 HOURS,
SWAM FOR ANOTHER 24, AND THEN
RAN FOR 24 MORE, THIS TIME
FINISHING ALONGSIDE THE HULKING
MEN OF THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.
>> THANK YOU, DAVE MCGILLIVRAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Ryan: HE'S NOT REALLY BUILT
LIKE HULK HOGAN.
BUT HE COULD PRETTY MUCH DO
ANYTHING.
RYAN MCGILLIVRAY IS DAVE
MCGILLIVRAY'S ELDEST SON AND HAS
HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO IT ALL.
BUT SAYS THAT ONE EVENT WAS
ALWAYS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE
REST.
>> Ryan: THE BOSTON MARATHON IS
LIKE, OUR BIGGEST HOLIDAY OF THE
YEAR.
THIS IS OUR CHRISTMAS.
HE EATS, SLEEPS AND BREATHES IT.
>> Dave: THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL
OF MARATHONING THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD.
EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER LACED UP A
PAIR OF SHOES AND WANTED TO RUN
A MARATHON, WANTS TO RUN THE
BOSTON MARATHON.
>> AND LIKE FORREST GUMP, WHO
SEEMED TO SHOW UP IN EVERY
CROWD, MCGILLIVRAY HAS SHOWN UP
EVERY YEAR AT THE BOSTON
MARATHON WITHOUT FAIL SINCE
1972, VOWING TO RUN IT FOR THE
REST OF HIS LIFE WHEN HE WAS
JUST 18, EVEN RUNNING IT WITH
BLINDERS ON ONE YEAR.
EVENTUALLY, THE RACE'S MOST
DEVOTED RUNNER WAS ASKED TO
BECOME ITS DIRECTOR, AND IN
1988, MCGILLIVRAY OVERSAW THE
MARATHON FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THE ONLY PROBLEM?
THAT MEANT HE COULDN'T RUN IN
IT.
THEN, AT THE END OF THE NIGHT,
HE HAD AN IDEA.
>> Dave: I WENT UP TO A STATE
TROOPER AND I TAPPED HIM ON THE
SHOULDER AND I SAID, "OFFICER,
WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR?"
WILL YOU DRIVE ME BACK TO THE
START?"
HE SAID, "WHY?
DID YOU FORGET SOMETHING?"
I SAID, "YEAH, I FORGOT TO RUN."
SO HE DROVE ME BACK TO THE
START, 8:00 AT NIGHT.
AND I RAN THE WHOLE COURSE BY
MYSELF, FINISHED A LITTLE AFTER
11:00 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, DEAD
LAST.
AND I'VE RUN IT THAT WAY EVER
SINCE.
AND I'VE BEEN THE LAST FINISHER
OF THE BOSTON MARATHON FOR THE
LAST 34 YEARS.
>> BEAUTIFULLY DONE MY LOVE,
BEAUTIFULLY DONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BUT WHILE MOST BOSTON
MARATHONS HAVE HAD A FAIRY TALE
ENDING FOR THE CITY AND
MCGILLIVRAY, ONE DID NOT.
[BOMB EXPLOSION]
[SCREAMING]
IN 2013, TWO BOMBS WERE SET OFF
BY TERRORISTS, ONE JUST FEET
AWAY FROM THE FINISH LINE, WHERE
MCGILLIVRAY'S FAMILY WAS WAITING
FOR HIM.
>> Dave: I'M GOING UP TO THE
FINISH LINE TO FIND MY FAMILY.
AND I GOT STOPPED BY AN OFFICER.
HE SAYS, "YOU CAN'T GO UP
THERE."
AND I SAID, "I HAVE TO.
I'M THE RACE DIRECTOR.
HERE'S MY ID."
AND HE SAID, "IT'S NOT YOUR RACE
ANYMORE."
>> WHILE MCGILLIVRAY'S FAMILY
WOULD COME AWAY UNINJURED, MANY
OTHERS WEREN'T AS FORTUNATE.
>> Andrea: THREE PEOPLE DIED,
260 INJURED.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED WAS
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD, MARTIN
RICHARD.
HOW DO YOU PROCESS THAT?
>> Dave: IT TOOK A LONG TIME.
I DEDICATED THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
OF EVERY EVENT I DID, I WORE A
"MARTIN RICHARD" SHIRT, AND
RAISED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS FOR THEIR FOUNDATION.
>> FOR MCGILLIVRAY, IT'S BEEN
THE SOLUTION TO ALMOST ANY
PROBLEM: KEEP RUNNING.
AFTER HE REACHED HIS 60s, AN AGE
WHEN SOME THOUGHT HE MIGHT SLOW
DOWN, HE DECIDED TO RUN SEVEN
MARATHONS, ON SEVEN CONTINENTS,
IN SEVEN DAYS.
EVEN AFTER DOCTORS INFORMED HIM
HE HAD SEVERE HEART DISEASE, HE
REFUSED TO STOP TRAINING, AND
GAVE THEM STRICT INSTRUCTIONS.
>> Dave: I SAID, "ZIP IT UP."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
I SAID, "DON'T TELL ANYONE."
>> Andrea: YOU THINK THIS IS
YOUR LITTLE SECRET?
>> Dave: YEAH.
I WANTED IT TO BE.
I WAS EMBARRASSED.
>> Andrea: YOU WERE EMBARRASSED?
>> Dave: ABSOLUTELY.
'CAUSE IT'S A DING IN THE ARMOR.
>> EVENTUALLY, MCGILLIVRAY WOULD
BE FORCED TO UNDERGO TRIPLE
BYPASS SURGERY.
OF COURSE, JUST SIX MONTHS
LATER, HE COMPLETED ANOTHER
BOSTON MARATHON.
>> GO DAVE!
WOO!
>> IN THE END, IT TOOK A
WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC TO BREAK
MCGILLIVRAY'S STRIDE.
LAST APRIL, FOR THE FIRST TIME
EVER, THE BOSTON MARATHON WAS
CANCELLED, FOLLOWED BY DOZENS OF
OTHER RACES, AND SUDDENLY,
MCGILLIVRAY COULD NEITHER RUN IN
THEM, NOR OVERSEE THEM.
WITH HIS BUSINESS ON THE VERGE
OF COLLAPSE, MCGILLIVRAY GOT A
PHONE CALL.
ONE THAT WOULD PUT BOSTON'S
FORREST GUMP BACK IN THE MIDDLE
OF ANOTHER HISTORIC MOMENT.
>> Dave: I GOT PHONE CALL
SAYING, "HEY, WE'VE BEEN
COMMISSIONED TO STAND UP SOME
MASS VACCINATION SITES AND WE
NEED LOGISTICAL PEOPLE AND
YOU'VE COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED,
ARE YOU INTERESTED?"
"SIGN ME UP."
>> AND SOON THE BIGGEST HEALTH
INITIATIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS
HISTORY WAS BEING DONE THE DAVE
MCGILLIVRAY WAY.
>> Rodrigo: IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON
IN THE FIRST WEEK WHERE WE WOULD
COME HERE AND DAVE'S TEAM WOULD
BE THERE WITH A STOPWATCH.
AND HE WOULD SAY, "HOLD ON A
SECOND, I'M MEASURING RIGHT NOW
EXACTLY THE AMOUNT THAT IT TAKES
FOR THAT PERSON TO GO THERE, TO
ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS, AND GET
VACCINATED."
>> RODRIGO MARTINEZ IS AN
EXECUTIVE WITH CIC HEALTH, THE
COMPANY THAT HIRED MCGILLIVRAY,
AND SAYS THAT FROM DAY ONE,
MCGILLIVRAY HAS, LIKE ANY GREAT
RUNNER, LOOKED FOR WAYS TO PICK
UP SPEED, AND SHAVE UNWANTED
SECONDS OFF THE CLOCK.
>> Rodrigo: IF WE CAN IMPROVE
THAT BY HALF A MINUTE, WE'RE
GONNA BE ABLE TO BRING MORE
PEOPLE THROUGH.
>> Andrea: THAT HALF A MINUTE
MEANS THAT MUCH?
>> Rodrigo: YES.
BECAUSE IF YOU THINK OVERALL, AT
THE SCALE, HALF A MINUTE TIMES
6,000 TIMES, NOW YOU REALIZE
THAT YOU CAN VACCINATE A COUPLE
EXTRA HUNDRED PEOPLE.
FINE TUNING MEANS MORE PEOPLE
WILL GET VACCINATED, WHICH MEANS
ACTUALLY LESS PEOPLE WILL DIE.
>> MCGILLIVRAY ALSO HELPED SET
UP MASS VACCINATION SITES AT TWO
OTHER LOCATIONS CLOSE TO THE
HEARTS OF BOSTON SPORTS FANS:
FENWAY PARK, AND THE HYNES
CONVENTION CENTER.
THE VERY SPOT WHERE BIB NUMBERS
FOR THE MARATHON ARE USUALLY
HANDED OUT THIS TIME OF YEAR.
>> Dave: IT'S SOMEWHAT SURREAL
THAT INSTEAD OF HANDING OUT BIB
NUMBERS TO 30,000 RUNNERS, WE'RE
GOING TO BE HELPING TO PUT SHOTS
IN ARMS WITH THE INTENT THAT
WE'LL BE BACK HERE TO RECONVENE
AND HAND OUT BIB NUMBERS AGAIN.
>> BUT WHILE THE REST OF THE
RUNNERS WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO RUN
THE MARATHON, THAT'S NOT GOOD
ENOUGH FOR MCGILLIVRAY.
LAST YEAR, WITH A NEARLY
50-YEAR-STREAK ON THE LINE, HE
RAN THE ENTIRE COURSE, ALL BY
HIMSELF.
AND THIS YEAR, HE'LL DO IT
AGAIN.
>> Andrea: WHY?
>> Dave: 'CAUSE I COMMITTED.
I DO WHAT I SAY I'M GONNA DO.
>> Andrea: AT SOME POINT, YOU
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RUN THE
BOSTON MARATHON.
>> Dave: WHO SAYS?
>> Andrea: DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
GONNA RUN THE BOSTON MARATHON
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
>> Dave: THAT'S THE PLAN.
YOU KNOW, LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF
CHOCOLATES.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA
GET, I GUESS.
>> Bryant: AND ANDREA KRAMER IS
WELCOMING SPRING UP IN NEW
ENGLAND.
HEY, ANDREA.
>> Andrea: HOW ARE YOU, BRYANT?
HOW ARE YOU AND HILLARY DOING?
>> Bryant: EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.
HEY, CAN WE ASSUME THAT
MCGILLIVRAY AND HIS PEOPLE ARE
BEING COMPENSATED FOR WHAT
THEY'RE DOING?
>> Andrea: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
LOOK, HIS BUSINESS WAS ALMOST
SHUTTERED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THEY WERE DOING OUTDOOR
GRADUATIONS, ANYTHING TO USE
THEIR EQUIPMENT.
EVERYTHING CHANGED ON CHRISTMAS
EVE WHEN HE GOT THE CALL TO HELP
BE THE "LOGISTICIANS" FOR THE
VACCINATION ROLLOUT IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
>> Bryant: MAYBE I RECOGNIZE IT
EASILY BECAUSE I AM ONE, BUT HE
SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY OBSESSIVE
GUY.
>> Andrea: HE'D BE THE FIRST
PERSON TO TELL YOU THAT.
LOOK, HE'S STILL THE LITTLE KID
WHO WAS THE LAST ONE PICKED, THE
FIRST ONE CUT, AND THAT
RESONATES FOR HIM, IT GIVES HIM
A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER.
BUT, FOR EXAMPLE THE OBSESSION
ABOUT RUNNING THE BOSTON
MARATHON, THAT'S BECAUSE THE
FIRST ONE HE EVER RAN IN 1972,
IS THE ONLY ONE HE NEVER
FINISHED.
17 YEARS OLD, RAN IT ON A WHIM,
ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
HE HAS RUN IT EVERY YEAR SINCE,
48th TIME THIS YEAR.
>> Bryant: SPEAKING OF HOSPITAL,
HOW'S HIS HEALTH?
IS HE OKAY?
>> Andrea: HE'S OKAY.
THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS WHERE HE
GOT CUT OPEN DURING THE
TRIPLE-BYPASS, THE MUSCLES,
THERE'S STILL ISSUES THERE.
BUT LOOK, HIS FAMILY HAS A
HISTORY OF CORONARY ARTERY
DISEASE, SO HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT
HE'S UP AGAINST, HEALTH-WISE.
>> Bryant: AND WE SHOULD NOTE,
THAT IF MASSACHUSETTS
SUCCESSFULLY REOPENS THIS YEAR,
THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THE
MARATHON -- IT'S SCHEDULED,
ANYWAY-FOR OCTOBER 11th.
ALRIGHT ANDREA, THANKS SO VERY
MUCH.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
>> Andrea: YOU TOO, BRYANT,
GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> Bryant: LET'S MOVE ON.
TWO MONTHS AGO, WE REPORTED ON
HOW THE CONTINUED PURSUIT OF
YOUTH SPORTS BY ATHLETIC CAMPS
AND NATIONAL TEAMS HAD SEEMINGLY
COMPLICATED EFFORTS TO COMBAT
THE VIRUS AND LIMIT ITS SPREAD.
SUCH EFFORTS WERE, MANY OF US
FELT, BOTH SELFISH AND
SHORT-SIGHTED.
BUT THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS NOT
WITHOUT ITS PROBLEMS.
IT SEEMS THAT SIDELINING YOUNG
ATHLETES, KEEPING THEM FROM
PARTICIPATING IN THE SPORTS THEY
LOVE, EVEN FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY,
HAS ENGENDERED A VERY DIFFERENT
KIND OF HEALTH CRISIS.
A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT
EXPERTS FEAR MAY HAVE LONG RANGE
REPERCUSSIONS.
KAVITHA DAVIDSON HAS THAT
REPORT.
>> YEAH!
GOOD JOB ALEK!
>> PICK A SPORT, ANY SPORT, AND
CHANCES ARE SOMEONE FROM THE ELO
FAMILY PLAYS IT.
>> C'MON ELI!
GO ELI!
>> FOR THESE SIX KIDS IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT'S BEEN
FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, SOCCER,
VOLLEYBALL, EVEN BMX, THAT'VE
PACKED THEIR SCHEDULES FOR AS
LONG AS THEY CAN REMEMBER.
BUT AFTER COVID HIT, THE ELO
FAMILY'S BUSY SCHEDULE
EVAPORATED, AND THIS BECAME A
TYPICAL DAY FOR THE KIDS.
>> Kavitha: MARCH OF LAST YEAR.
THE WORLD SHUTS DOWN, SPORTS
SHUT DOWN.
HOW DID YOUR KIDS REACT TO THAT?
>> Allison: THE LACK OF PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY, THE LACK OF THE TEAM,
THE LACK OF THAT COMPETITIVE
SPIRIT, THE KIDS HAVE NO OUTLET.
>> ALLISON ELO IS THEIR MOTHER.
>> Allison: THE DEMOTIVATION,
THE LACK OF ANY KIND OF
ENTHUSIASM FOR ANYTHING.
THERE'S A VOID THAT HAS TO BE
FILLED.
>> Kavitha: WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN
DOING WITHOUT SOCCER IN THE LAST
YEAR?
>> Kolby: MOSTLY JUST PLAYING
VIDEO GAMES AND STAYING IN MY
ROOM ON MY PHONE.
>> WHILE ALL THE ELO KIDS
STRUGGLED WITHOUT SPORTS THIS
PAST YEAR, THE LOSS WAS
ESPECIALLY TOUGH FOR 12-YEAR-OLD
KOLBY, WHO TURNED TO MORE THAN
JUST VIDEO GAMES TO FILL THE NEW
VOID IN HIS LIFE.
SOMETHING HIS MOTHER DISCOVERED
WHEN SHE OPENED THE LIQUOR
CABINET ONE DAY,
>> Allison: THERE WAS BARELY
ANYTHING LEFT.
I THINK THERE WAS A TOTAL OF
FIVE OR SIX BOTTLES THAT WERE
COMPLETELY GONE.
>> Kolby: IT FELT GOOD IN THE
MOMENT WHEN I WAS DOING IT.
LIKE, DRINKING.
BUT I JUST FELT SO MUCH SHAME
AND GUILT.
>> Allison: HE STARTED TALKING
TO ME THAT HE WAS GONNA LEAVE
AND HE WAS GONNA SAY GOODBYE TO
EVERYTHING.
SO I KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT.
HE SAID HE HAD NOTHING LEFT.
>> Kavitha: HE WANTED TO TAKE
HIS OWN LIFE?
>> Allison: YEAH.
AND HE SAID HE HAD THOUGHT ABOUT
IT.
AND THOUGHT ABOUT SLASHING HIS
WRISTS.
>> ALLISON RUSHED KOLBY TO THE
EMERGENCY ROOM, THEN QUICKLY GOT
HIM INTO COUNSELING.
>> Kavitha: DO YOU MAKE DIRECT
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN KOLBY'S
STRUGGLES IN THE LAST YEAR AND
NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAY SOCCER?
>> Allison: ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.
WHEN HE HAD SOCCER, HE HAD THAT
SENSE OF PURPOSE, BUT MORE SO,
THE SENSE OF JOY IN HIMSELF, AND
THE SENSE OF CONFIDENCE.
AND HE'S LOST ALL THAT.
>> AS ALONE AS KOLBY HAS FELT,
HIS PAINFUL STORY IS JUST ONE OF
MANY FROM THIS PAST YEAR, WHICH
HAS BEEN AN ALARMING DEVELOPMENT
FOR MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
EXPERTS LIKE SPORTS PSYCHIATRIST
DR. CLAUDIA REARDON.
>> Dr. Reardon: WHEN THE
PANDEMIC HIT, IT WAS AS IF WE
WERE WATCHING THE WHOLE NATION'S
CHILDREN HAVING THEIR
ANTIDEPRESSANT TAKEN AWAY.
HAVING THEIR ANTIANXIETY
MEDICATION TAKEN AWAY.
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT EXERCISE
AND SPORT IS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
>> REARDON AND HER COLLEAGUES AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN HAVE
BEEN STUDYING THE MENTAL HEALTH
OF ADOLESCENT ATHLETES SINCE THE
PANDEMIC BEGAN.
AND THEIR RESEARCH REVEALED THAT
AFTER SPORTS SHUT DOWN,
DEPRESSION AMONG YOUNG ATHLETES
SHOT UP NEARLY 40% FROM
PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.
TAKING SPORTS AWAY FROM KIDS,
REARDON SAYS, MEANS TAKING AWAY
A WHOLE LOT MORE.
>> Dr. Reardon: THERE IS
SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT SPORTS
FOR A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF
KIDS.
THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THAT IS
SO GOOD FOR MIND AND THE REST OF
BODY WITH SOCIAL CAMARADERIE,
WITH AN EXTRA SET OF ADULTS TO
KEEP AN EYE ON THE KIDS TO MAKE
SURE THEY'RE DOING OKAY, IT'S
KIND OF AN EFFICIENT WAY TO
OPTIMIZE KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH.
>> Kavitha: IT'S A ONE-STOP
SHOP?
>> Dr. Reardon: EXACTLY, YES.
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S
A REALLY BIG CHANGE FOR
ATHLETES, ESPECIALLY IF THAT
ATHLETIC IDENTITY HAS BEEN A BIG
PART OF THEIR LIFE.
THAT HAS REALLY BECOME, YOU
KNOW, HOW THEY SEE THEMSELVES,
HOW THEY GARNER A SENSE OF
FULFILLMENT AND MEANING IN THEIR
LIFE.
AND THEN YOU TAKE THAT AWAY?
THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
>> TO TRY AND SEE HOW MUCH
SPORTS TRULY CONTRIBUTE TO THE
MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG ATHLETES,
REARDON'S TEAM CONDUCTED ANOTHER
STUDY LAST FALL.
THEY COMPARED KIDS WHO WERE ABLE
TO PLAY SPORTS WITH THOSE WHO
COULD NOT, CONTROLLING FOR
WHETHER OR NOT THEY ALSO
RETURNED TO IN-PERSON CLASSES.
TURNS OUT, GOING BACK TO SCHOOL
HAD LITTLE EFFECT, UNLESS SPORTS
CAME WITH IT.
>> Dr. Reardon: WHAT WE FOUND IS
THOSE ATHLETES WHO WERE ABLE TO
GO BACK TO SPORT DOING
SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER.
WAY LOWER RATES OF DEPRESSION,
ANXIETY, HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND SCHOOL DIDN'T EXPLAIN IT.
THOSE FINDINGS REMAINED STRONG
AFTER CONTROLLING FOR THAT
ISSUE.
>> Kavitha: SO THE FACTOR, THE
GAME CHANGER HERE WASN'T
IN-PERSON SCHOOL, IT WAS SPORTS?
>> Dr. Reardon: IT WAS A SPORT
ISSUE.
>> AND AS WITH MANY ISSUES
ACROSS SOCIETY, THE IMPACT HAS
BEEN FELT THE HARDEST BY THOSE
WHO HAVE THE LEAST.
CHILDREN IN LOWER-INCOME
COMMUNITIES HAVE SEEN THEIR
OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY DRY UP
MORE QUICKLY, AND ARE FEELING
THE LOSS OF WHAT THEY SAY THEY
NEED TO STAY HEALTHY IN BOTH
BODY AND MIND.
>> Brucionna: WHEN I FEEL LIKE
I'M GOING THROUGH STUFF
PERSONALLY, BASKETBALL GETS MY
MIND OFF OF EVERYTHING.
>> Kavitha: WHAT DO YOU NEED
FROM BASKETBALL?
>> Brucionna: I NEED THE
COMPETITIVENESS.
I NEED THE MOTIVATION.
I NEED -- I NEED EVERYTHING.
>> BRUCIONNA COOK AND SKY EBRON
ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN
WASHINGTON DC.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN LAST
YEAR, THEIR SCHOOL SHUT DOWN,
AND SO DID THE BASKETBALL TEAM.
THEN, AFTER THEY TRIED TO PLAY
'S
OUTDOORS AT LOCAL PARKS, THOSE
CLOSED DOWN TOO.
>> Sky: THE COURTS STARTED
FILLING UP.
SO THEY TOOK AWAY THE RIMS TO
SAY THAT, "HEY, SOCIAL
DISTANCE."
>> Kavitha: THEY REMOVED THE
RIMS FROM THE BACKBOARD.
>> Sky: YES.
THERE WAS NO COURT IN D.C. WITH
THE RIM ON.
>> Kavitha: WHEN YOU SAW THERE'S
NO RIM, THERE'S NO NET ON THAT
BACKBOARD, WHAT'S GOING THROUGH
YOUR MIND?
>> Brucionna: I WAS SHOCKED.
I WAS LIKE, "THEY'RE NOT MAKING
IT ANY BETTER BY TAKING AWAY
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE LOVE."
>> IN A CITY GOVERNED BY TIGHT
COVID RESTRICTIONS, THE GIRLS
WERE DESPERATE FOR SOMETHING TO
GIVE.
>> Sky: AT ONE POINT I CRIED TO
MY MOM, LIKE, CRIED.
I WAS LIKE, "MAN, CAN WE MOVE
SOMEWHERE, LIKE, CAN WE MOVE TO
TEXAS?"
>> Kavitha: YOU WANTED TO MOVE?
>> Sky: YES.
BECAUSE I WANTED TO PLAY SO BAD.
>> Kavitha: WITHOUT HAVING
BASKETBALL, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH
YOUR TIME?
>> Brucionna: LIKE, AFTER SCHOOL
I'D GO RIGHT TO SLEEP.
I STAY IN MY ROOM ALL DAY.
MY SISTER THOUGHT I WAS
DEPRESSED.
AND I'M LIKE, "I'M NOT
DEPRESSED."
SO THEN WHEN I KEPT DOING IT, IT
MADE ME WORRIED THAT I WAS
DEPRESSED.
>> Kavitha: WHAT DID THAT FEEL
LIKE?
>> Brucionna: LIKE, I'M
DROWNING.
LIKE, I CAN'T DO NOTHING.
I LAY DOWN.
I DON'T MOVE.
>> TODAY, AFTER A YEAR OF
SCALING BACK YOUTH SPORTS TO
HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF
COVID, SOME EXPERTS FEAR THAT
WE'VE CREATED A DIFFERENT HEALTH
CRISIS IN THE PROCESS.
>> Dr. Diamond: COVID IS NOT
JUST ONE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
TO ME COVID IS A SERIES OF
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES.
AND WE CAN'T BE SO UNIQUELY
FOCUSED ON DISEASE SPREAD THAT
WE IGNORE THE OTHER ASPECTS OF
HEALTH.
>> ALEX DIAMOND IS A PEDIATRIC
SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AT
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, AND HAS
HELPED ADVISE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
PROGRAMS ACROSS THE NATION
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
HE BELIEVES THAT POLICY MAKERS
HAVE BEEN TOO CONSERVATIVE IN
RESTRICTING YOUTH SPORTS.
>> Dr. Diamond: WE'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE A SOCIETY WHERE WE VALUE
OUR CHILDREN MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO SORT OF
COME BACK TO THE MIDDLE GROUND
AND LOOK AT ALL THE DOWNSTREAM
EFFECTS THAT THIS IS POTENTIALLY
HAVING ON OUR KIDS AND TEENS.
>> Kavitha: BUT THE CDC JUST
SUGGESTED THAT WINTER SPORTS
MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF AN
OUTBREAK IN GEORGIA.
AND 49 YOUTH SPORTS TEAMS IN
BUFFALO WERE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN
THEIR SEASONS AS WELL.
DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS THAT
REOPENING SPORTS AROUND THE
COUNTRY COULD LEAD TO OUTBREAKS
NATION-WIDE?
>> Dr. Diamond: INCREASED SOCIAL
INTERACTION ALWAYS HAS THAT
POTENTIAL RISK.
AND SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
HAVE CAUTION.
BUT I THINK THE RISK OF NOT
PLAYING IS GREATER THAN THE RISK
OF PLAYING.
>> IN THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO,
THE RISK CAN BE TO A YOUNG
ATHLETE'S LIFE.
A GROWING NUMBER OF PARENTS NOW
SAY THEIR CHILDREN LOST SO MUCH
HOPE AND PURPOSE WITHOUT SPORTS
DURING THE PANDEMIC, THAT IT
LED, AT LEAST IN PART, TO THEIR
TAKING THEIR OWN LIVES.
>> A YEAR AGO, TREVOR TILL WAS
ONE OF THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL POLE
VAULTERS IN THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS.
HE WAS SET TO BEGIN HIS SENIOR
SEASON, AS THE CAPTAIN OF THE
TRACK AND FIELD TEAM, WHEN THE
PANDEMIC STRUCK, AND THE SEASON
WAS SUSPENDED.
LISA MOORE IS TREVOR'S MOTHER.
>> Lisa: IN THE BEGINNING, IT
WAS, WELL, IT'S GONNA BE FOR A
WEEK OR TWO WEEKS.
OR, YOU KNOW -- AND IT JUST KEPT
GOING AND GOING.
>> Kavitha: DO YOU THINK HE LOST
SOME OF HIS MOTIVATION?
>> Lisa: OH, SURE.
YEAH.
I HEARD HIM CRY SOMETIMES AT
NIGHT.
AND HE QUIT RUNNING.
HE DIDN'T RUN MOST OF THE
SUMMER.
I KEPT SAYING, "MAYBE YOU SHOULD
RUN.
YOU'RE AN ATHLETE AND, YOU KNOW,
THE ENDORPHINS."
>> Kavitha: AND WHY DO YOU THINK
HE JUST DIDN'T?
>> Lisa: DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT.
DIDN'T SEE, YOU KNOW, TRACK'S
OVER.
JUST DIDN'T SEE THE POINT.
>> MOORE SAYS HER SON JUST
COULDN'T SEEM TO GET OVER THE
LOSS.
LAST FALL TREVOR LEFT FOR
COLLEGE, IN TIME, HE BECAME
UNRESPONSIVE TO CALLS AND TEXT
MESSAGES, LEADING HIS PARENTS TO
WORRY.
>> Lisa: MY EX-HUSBAND WENT DOWN
THERE TO DO A WELLNESS CHECK AND
HE FOUND HIM.
THAT WAS MY BABY.
HE HUNG THERE FOR THREE DAYS.
THIS BOY THAT WAS SO FULL OF
LIFE, HE COULD'VE BEEN ANYTHING,
AND HE'S GONE.
>> Kavitha: DO YOU THINK IF HE
HAD HAD TRACK AND FIELD AND POLE
VAULT, TREVOR WOULD STILL BE
WITH US?
>> Lisa: I DO BELIEVE THAT.
I DO BELIEVE THAT.
I THINK IF HE COULD'VE FINISHED
HIS SENIOR YEAR LIKE HE WANTED
TO HE WOULD'VE JUST CONTINUED TO
BE THE KID HE WAS, YOU KNOW.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE LOST HIS SPARK
AND HIS LIGHT.
>> MOORE SAID IT WASN'T LONG
AFTER THE GRIEF OF LOSING TREVOR
HAD SET IN, THAT ANOTHER EMOTION
BEGAN TO SURFACE, OVER THE STATE
OF ILLINOIS' DECISION TO SUSPEND
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.
>> Lisa: ANGER.
YEAH, THAT MAKES ME MAD.
THERE'S SO MANY KIDS THAT ARE
HURTING THAT WANNA BE OUT THERE
PLAYING.
>> SO MOORE FILED A LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE GOVERNOR, CLAIMING
THE RESTRICTIONS WERE UNFAIR AND
UNLAWFUL.
FIGHTING ONE ILLNESS, SHE SAYS,
SHOULDN'T MEAN IGNORING OTHERS.
>> Lisa: I DON'T WANT TO SEE
COVID SPREAD.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S REAL.
BUT WE'RE NOT MEANT TO BE
ISOLATED.
WE'RE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER.
>> IT'S A SENTIMENT ECHOED BY
ALLISON ELO, WHOSE HOME STATE OF
CALIFORNIA SUSPENDED YOUTH
SPORTS COMPETITION FOR MOST OF
THE PANDEMIC.
>> Allison: THAT'S ONE OF THE
WORST DECISIONS THEY COULD HAVE
MADE.
>> Kavitha: ARE YOU WORRIED
ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS THAT
THIS LAST YEAR MIGHT HAVE ON
KOLBY'S WELL-BEING?
>> Allison: I DON'T THINK I'D BE
A GOOD PARENT IF I WASN'T
WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T WANT HIM TO BECOME A
STATISTIC DOWN THE LINE.
I JUST THINK HE NEEDS TO GO BE A
KID.
GO PLAY.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: AND I'M VERY PLEASED
IN NEW YORK TO WELCOME KAVITHA
DAVIDSON TO OUR FAMILY.
KAVITHA, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> Kavitha: GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THRILLED TO BE HERE.
>> Bryant: I GUESS THIS IS KIND
OF A MACRO QUESTION, BUT AT ITS
CORE, IS THIS PROBLEM REALLY THE
RESULT OF INACTIVITY, OR
MISPLACED PRIORITY ON SPORTS?
>> Kavitha: I THINK YOU COULD
PROBABLY SAY BOTH.
A LOT OF PARENTS THAT WE TALKED
TO BASICALLY SAID THAT THESE
KIDS NEEDED SPORTS FOR THEIR
PRIMARY MOTIVATION TO GO TO
SCHOOL, TO KEEP BEING SOCIALLY
ACTIVE, AND THEY LOST ALL OF
THAT WHEN THEY LOST SPORTS IN
THE SHUTDOWN.
>> Bryant: WAS IT DIFFICULT FOR
YOU, AS IT WAS FOR ME, AS THESE
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUE,
TO SEPARATE THEIR OPINIONS FROM
THEIR POLITICS?
>> Kavitha: THAT WAS CERTAINLY
DIFFICULT.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE TRIED TO DO
IN THIS PIECE, WHILE A LOT OF
THE PEOPLE WE TALKED TO HAD
THEIR OWN OPINIONS ABOUT WHETHER
THE SHUTDOWN WAS OR WASN'T
PRUDENT, WAS TO REALLY JUST
PRESENT THE FACTS.
THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
UNPACK AS THE MONTHS PASS BY
ABOUT WHAT LOSING SPORTS, AND
WHAT SHUTTING THINGS DOWN REALLY
MEANT FOR THESE KIDS.
>> Bryant: YEAH.
LAST NOTE, LISA MOORE YOU SAID
FILED SUIT AGAINST GOVERNOR
PRITZKER OF ILLINOIS, WHAT'S THE
STATUS OF THAT LAWSUIT?
>> Kavitha: THERE'S A MOTION FOR
SOME REJUDGEMENT THAT THEY'RE
WAITING FOR THE JUDGE TO RULE
ON, AND ORAL ARGUMENTS BEGIN ON
MAY 12th, AND WE'LL SEE WHERE
THINGS GO FROM THERE.
STILL IN THE LEGAL PROCESS.
>> Bryant: KAVITHA, THANK YOU.
GREAT JOB!
WELCOME.
>> Kavitha: THANK YOU.
>> Bryant: NOW FOR SOMETHING
REALLY DIFFERENT.
IN A SPORTS WORLD LOADED WITH
WEIRD, STRANGE AND UNUSUAL
CHARACTERS, A MAN NAMED LAZARUS
LAKE STILL MANAGES TO STAND OUT.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE NAME,
DON'T WORRY, THERE'S NO REASON
YOU SHOULD.
LAKE IS NOT AN ATHLETE, OR AN
OWNER, OR EVEN A MEMBER OF THE
SPORTS MEDIA.
HE IS INSTEAD THE CREATOR OF A
RACE THAT IS HELD ANNUALLY IN
TENNESSEE.
A RACE THAT IS UNLIKE ANY KIND
OF SPORTING EXPERIENCE YOU'VE
EVER CONSIDERED.
LAKE CALLS HIS RACE THE BARKLEY.
BUT DESIGNS IT IN HOPES THAT NO
ONE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE
FINISH LINE.
OUR MARY CARILLO BRAVED THE
ELEMENTS TO CHECK IT OUT.
>> LOOK CLOSELY, IF YOU CAN.
THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE
MARATHON.
FOR ONE THING, IT BEGINS IN THE
WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT, AT A
TIME THAT'S KEPT SECRET UNTIL
THE LAST MOMENT, THIS YEAR
AROUND 3 AM.
>> 10 MINUTES, 10 MINUTES.
>> FOR ANOTHER, IT'S STARTS NOT
WITH THE FIRING OF A PISTOL, BUT
THE LIGHTING OF A CIGARETTE.
>> GO GET THEM!
>> BUT MOST OF ALL, IT'S
DESIGNED WITH A RATHER UNUSUAL
GOAL:
TO ENSURE THAT NEARLY ALL OF ITS
PARTICIPANTS FAIL.
>> Mary: WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ENTER THE BARKLEY
RACE FINISH IT?
>> Lazarus: WE SHOOT FOR AROUND
1%.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE
IMPOSSIBLE, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE
REALLY, REALLY HARD.
>> Mary: HOW MANY OF THESE
ATHLETES QUICKLY UNDERSTAND AND
RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE IN WAY
OVER THEIR HEAD?
>> Lazarus: THE FIRST TIME
AROUND, PEOPLE USUALLY COME TO
THAT REALIZATION FAIRLY QUICK.
>> THEY CALL HIM LAZARUS LAKE,
LAZ FOR SHORT, A UNIQUE NAME
BEFITTING BOTH THIS UNUSUAL MAN,
AND THE UNUSUAL RACE HE'S
CREATED.
THE BARKLEY, AS IT'S KNOWN, IS A
MARATHON DESIGNED FOR THE
MASOCHIST.
IT COVERS NOT 26.2 MILES, BUT A
HUNDRED, STRETCHED NOT ACROSS
FLAT URBAN ROADWAYS, BUT THE
UNPAVED PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE
TENNESSEE MOUNTAINS, FORCING
RUNNERS TO SCALE SO MANY HILLS
THAT THEY CLIMB THE EQUIVALENT
OF MT. EVEREST, TWICE.
MEANTIME, THEY ARE ALSO RACING
AGAINST THE CLOCK, AS THEY MUST
COVER ALL HUNDRED MILES IN LESS
THAN 60 HOURS.
THAT MEANS THAT RUNNERS HAVE NO
TIME TO SLEEP, NOT FOR TWO AND A
HALF DAYS.
INSTEAD, THEY FORGE ON THROUGH
THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT, AND
DAYTIME FOG SO DENSE THEY CAN'T
SEE THEIR FEET, NOT THAT THEY'D
WANT TO, GIVEN THAT MOST WIND UP
BLISTERED AND BLEEDING.
>> OH GOD, THAT HURTS SO BAD.
>> Mary: ARE YOU A SADIST?
>> Lazarus: NO.
[LAUGHS]
>> Mary: WHAT ARE YOU IF NOT
THAT?
>> Lazarus: PEOPLE ENJOY IT.
THERE'S JUST SOME DISCOMFORT
INVOLVED.
>> CONSIDER: THIS IS WHAT YOU'D
FIND AT A NORMAL MARATHON,
COMFORT STATIONS WHERE RUNNERS
CAN STOP, REST, AND REFUEL AT A
NICE BUFFET.
THIS IS WHAT YOU'LL FIND AT THE
BARKLEY, A HANDFUL OF WATER JUGS
DUMPED BEHIND A TREE, WHICH MAY
OR MAY NOT BE DRINKABLE
DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER.
>> Mary: SOMETIMES THE WATER
JUGS THAT YOU LEAVE FOR THE
RUNNERS, LIKE, FREEZE OVER.
>> Lazarus: YEAH, SOMETIMES THEY
HAVE 50 8-POUND BLOCKS OF ICE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, LIFE IS NOT
ALWAYS FAIR.
>> Mary: USUALLY, THERE ARE
MEDICAL SUPPLIES IN SO MANY OF
THE ULTRAMARATHON RACES.
WHAT DO YOU OFFER IN YOUR --
>> Lazarus: WE HAVE DUCT TAPE
AND VASELINE.
YOU KNOW, IT'LL FIX ABOUT
EVERYTHING.
>> FOR MOST RUNNERS, IT'S ALL
TOO MUCH, AND SOONER OR LATER
THEY'LL RETURN TO LAZ, AS THIS
RUNNER DID A FEW YEARS AGO, AND
ANNOUNCE THEY CAN'T GO ON.
>> ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE?
>> AND WHEN THEY DO, LAZ AND HIS
CREW LOUDLY, AND PROUDLY,
ANNOUNCE THE RUNNER'S DEMISE.
>> Mary: WHEN A RUNNER'S GOTTA
QUIT THE RACE, YOU REALLY DO
PLAY TAPS FOR THEM?
>> Lazarus: WELL, YEAH THEY
DIDN'T MAKE IT.
[TRUMPET PLAYING "TAPS"]
>> Lazarus: IT'S A LOT OF FUN,
WATCHING PEOPLE'S VARIOUS
REACTIONS TO BEING TAPPED OUT.
THERE IS NO MERCY IN SPORTS, IS
THERE?
>> BUT IF LAZARUS LAKE SEEMS
RUTHLESS, IT'S WORTH NOTING,
HE'S COVERED MORE GROUND ON FOOT
THAN ANY OF THESE RUNNERS, AND
FOR THAT MATTER, PROBABLY ANYONE
ELSE.
VISIT HIM AT HOME AND HE'LL SHOW
YOU HIS ONE-OF-A-KIND MAP OF THE
STATE OF TENNESSEE, WHICH HE PUT
TOGETHER HIMSELF.
IT'S COVERED IN ORANGE LINES,
WHICH TRACE THE ROUTES LAZ HAS
RUN OVER THE YEARS, THOUSANDS OF
MILES, ALWAYS ON HIS OWN.
>> Lazarus: YOU JUST PUT YOUR
STUFF IN YOUR PACK.
AND YOU'RE CUT OFF FROM
EVERYTHING.
AND YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.
YOU'RE RELYING ON YOURSELF.
>> TO LAZ, THE IDEA OF TESTING
ONESELF AGAINST THE TOUGHEST
POSSIBLE CONDITIONS APPEARS TO
SIMPLY BE FUN.
WHICH MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN HOW HE
GOT THE IDEA FOR THE BARKLEY TO
BEGIN WITH.
IT WAS BACK IN 1977, WHEN A
PRISON BREAK MADE INTERNATIONAL
NEWS.
>> POLICE WITH BLOODHOUNDS ON
THE GROUND, HELICOPTERS WITH
INFRARED DETECTION DEVICES IN
THE AIR.
ALL OF THEM SCOURING A FIVE
SQUARE MILE AREA IN THE RUGGED
TENNESSEE HILL COUNTRY.
THE OBJECT OF THEIR MANHUNT,
JAMES EARL RAY.
>> JAMES EARL RAY, THE MAN
CONVICTED OF ASSASSINATING
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, HAD
ESCAPED THIS PRISON IN
TENNESSEE.
>> BUT HE COULDN'T ESCAPE THE
RUTHLESS HILLS AROUND IT.
AFTER A 60-HOUR MANHUNT, HE WAS
FOUND HUNGRY, COLD, EXHAUSTED,
AND DEFEATED.
>> Mary: THEY CALL THOSE
MOUNTAINS, THE THIRD WALL OF THE
PRISON.
>> Lazarus: YES.
>> Mary: WHY DO THEY CALL IT
THAT?
>> Lazarus: YOU MIGHT GET OVER
THE WALL OF THE PRISON, BUT
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET OVER THOSE
MOUNTAINS.
>> BUT IF THE ESCAPE WAS A
FAILURE FOR JAMES EARL RAY, IT
WAS AN INSPIRATION FOR LAZARUS
LAKE, WHO NOW HAD A TEMPLATE FOR
CREATING A MERCILESS,
UNFORGIVING, 60-HOUR TRIP
THROUGH HELL.
HE DESIGNED A RACE THAT WOULD
TAKE RUNNERS THROUGH THOSE SAME
MOUNTAINS, AND EVEN UNDER THAT
SAME PRISON.
WHERE RUNNERS WOULD BE FORCED TO
MAKE THEIR OWN ESCAPE,
NAVIGATING THROUGH A LONG, DARK,
AND SOAKING WET TUNNEL.
LAZ HELD THE FIRST ANNUAL RACE
IN 1986, AND COMPETED IN IT TOO,
IT WENT JUST AS HE'D HOPED,
TERRIBLY.
>> Lazarus: IT WAS MISERABLE.
IT WAS SO INTENSELY COLD.
>> Mary: NO ONE FINISHED?
>> Lazarus: NO BUT, IT ONLY
SEEMED TO WHET PEOPLE'S APPETITE
FOR MORE.
>> WORD SPREAD IN THE RUNNING
COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE RACE, AND OVER THE
YEARS MANY OF THE BEST
LONG-DISTANCE RUNNERS FROM
ACROSS THE GLOBE HAVE FLOCKED TO
TENNESSEE TO TEST THEIR METTLE.
>> THEY HAVE NOT FARED WELL.
>> Mary: HOW HARD IS THAT
COURSE?
>> Greg: IT WAS HUMBLING.
>> GREG ARMSTRONG HAS WON MANY
RACES MEASURING OVER 100 MILES,
BUT HE WAS NO MATCH FOR LAZ'S
COURSE IN HIS FIRST ATTEMPT,
FAILING TO MAKE THE TIME CUT OFF
AFTER THE FIRST 20 MILES.
>> Mary: SO WHAT WENT WRONG?
>> Greg: [SIGHS]
MAYBE A SHORTER LIST ABOUT WHAT
WENT RIGHT.
LOTS OF RAIN, SO THOSE REALLY
STEEP CLIMBS AND YOU WOULD TAKE
ONE STEP FORWARD, AND SLIDE TWO,
THREE FEET BACK.
20 MILE AN HOUR WINDS.
YOU BEGIN TO GET HYPOTHERMIC.
I WAS DRENCHED TO THE BONE.
>> Mary: WAS LAZ SMIRKING WHEN
HE SAW YOU TIME OUT?
>> Greg: OH, YES.
AND HIS LITTLE -- HIS LAUGH
THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE
HEARD THE LAUGH AND --
>> Mary: IT'S A CACKLE.
>> Greg: AND THEN HE SAID, "I
BET YOU'VE NEVER TIMED OUT OF A
RACE BEFORE?"
AND HE WAS RIGHT.
>> NONETHELESS, THIS YEAR
ARMSTRONG WAS BACK.
THE DAY BEFORE THE BARKLEY, HE
EXPLAINED WHY HE WANTED TO PUT
HIMSELF THROUGH HELL AGAIN.
>> Greg: YOU LEARN SO MUCH ABOUT
YOURSELF.
WHEN YOU TAKE YOURSELF TO THAT
BREAKING POINT.
>> Mary: AND THEN WHAT DO YOU DO
WITH THE BREAKING POINT?
>> Greg: OH, YOU JUST RUMINATE
OVER IT.
FOR YEARS.
AND YOU LEARN, AND GROW.
AND LAZ KNOWS THAT.
THAT'S WHY HE CREATES THIS RACE.
>> Mary: YOU HAVE SAID THAT
ANYTHING THAT MAKES THE RACE
MORE MENTALLY STRESSFUL FOR THE
RUNNERS IS GOOD.
GOOD FOR WHO?
>> Lazarus: [LAUGHS]
THE RUNNERS.
>> Mary: REALLY?
>> Lazarus: THEY WANT TO
OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DRAWN
TO THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT
SUCCEED AT DOING.
THEY DON'T WANT TO PLAY WITHIN
THE RANGE OF STUFF THEY KNOW
THEY CAN DO.
>> THAT MAY EXPLAIN WHY THERE'S
ACTUALLY EXCESS DEMAND TO RACE
IN THE BARKLEY.
HOPEFULS MUST APPLY FOR ENTRY, A
PROCESS THAT EVEN REQUIRES AN
ADMISSIONS EXAM, AND ONLY 40
"LUCKY WINNERS" ARE CHOSEN,
HANDPICKED, OF COURSE, BY LAZ
HIMSELF.
>> THE APPLICATION GIVES
CANDIDATES A WARNING: "BE
AFRAID.
BE VERY AFRAID."
AND SPECIFIES "NO CHILDREN, THEY
ARE TOO SMALL.
NO WOMEN, THEY ARE TOO SOFT."
IN REALITY, LAZ DOES ACCEPT
WOMEN INTO THE BARKLEY, BUT HE'S
QUICK TO NOTE THAT IN THE RACE'S
35 YEAR HISTORY, ALL 15 PEOPLE
WHO'VE FINISHED HAVE BEEN MEN.
>> Mary: A WOMAN HAS NEVER
FINISHED THE RACE?
WHY?
>> Lazarus: IT'S TOO DIFFICULT
FOR WOMEN.
>> Mary: OKAY, YOU KNOW I'M
GONNA HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT
ANSWER.
>> Lazarus: I'D LIKE A WOMAN
ACTUALLY TO FINISH AND PUT THIS
TO BED BECAUSE I HAVE AN
OBLIGATION.
AS LONG AS NO WOMAN HAS DONE IT,
THE ONLY ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION
IS, "IT IS STILL TOO HARD FOR
WOMEN."
>> Mary: I REALLY WANT A WOMAN
TO FINISH THIS YEAR.
>> Lazarus: [LAUGHS]
SOME OTHER WOMAN.
>> Mary: OH, IT'S NOT GONNA BE
ME.
>> Lazarus: THAT'S ONE OF THE
ISSUES.
EVERY WOMAN WANTS TO SEE A WOMAN
FINISHER, BUT 99.99% OF THOSE
WOMEN WANT SOME OTHER WOMAN TO
BE THE ONE TO FINISH IT.
>> Mary: CORRECT.
CORRECT.
>> Liz: THAT WAS ALWAYS HIS
JOKE.
LIKE, "NO WOMEN OR BABIES
ALLOWED.
NO WOMEN OR CHILDREN."
>> Mary: DOES HE MEAN THAT?
OR IS HE JUST TRYING TO DRIVE
YOU CRAZY?
>> Liz: OH, HE'S TRYING TO DRIVE
US ALL CRAZY.
HE GOADS US.
'CAUSE HE KNOWS WE'RE STRONG.
BUT IT'S ALSO -- YOU GOTTA GOAD
US A LITTLE BIT.
LIKE, GOAD -- YOU JUST GOAD A
WHOLE GENDER INTO GETTING ANGRY
AND TRAINING OUR BUTTS OFF.
>> LIZ CANTY, AN ELITE LONG
DISTANCE RUNNER, SHOWED UP THIS
YEAR HOPING TO MAKE BARKLEY
HISTORY.
SHE CAME ARMED WITH A UNIQUE
STRATEGY FOR KEEPING HER ENERGY
LEVELS HIGH OVER 60 HOURS:
COMFORT FOOD.
>> Liz: BAGELS, MAC AND CHEESE,
MAC AND CHEESE, MAC AND CHEESE,
AND THEN I MAKE BURRITOS.
>> Mary: BUT YOU SAY YOU EAT IT
WHILE YOU RUN?
>> Liz: YEAH, SO I'LL JUST WHIP
OUT A FULL SIZE BEAN BURRITO
AND, LIKE, MUNCH ON THAT WHILE I
HIKE.
>> 15 MILES INTO THE RACE, CANTY
POWERED UP THIS LONG, STEEP
CLIMB, BEFORE PAUSING FOR A
DRINK, HER LEGS ALREADY BLOODIED
FROM THE ROUGH TERRAIN,
ON THE WAY DOWN, SHE PULLED OUT
- WHAT ELSE?
>> IT'S THE BEST BURRITO IN
TOWN, HI, EVERYBODY!
>> FOUR HOURS LATER, IT WAS TIME
TO REST, TO REFUEL WITH A LARGE
COKE.
AND RESTOCK HER UNIQUE FOOD
SUPPLY.
>> IF I GO TO TOWN IS THERE
ANYTHING THAT WE NEED THAT WE
DON'T HAVE?
>> Liz: OREOS.
>> DO YOU WANT POP TARTS?
>> Liz: YES.
>> MOMENTS LATER, CANTY WAS BACK
ON THE RUN.
BUT AS NIGHT FELL AND THE
TEMPERATURE DROPPED, HER
FORTUNES BEGAN TO CHANGE.
>> BY 3AM SHE STILL HADN'T MADE
IT BACK TO THE REST AREA,
LEAVING HER HUSBAND TO FEAR
SHE'D GOTTEN LOST AND VEERED OFF
COURSE.
>> I SUSPECT IF THEY'RE OUT
THERE THIS LONG THEY'RE NOT
MOVING FAST AND PROBABLY BEING
REALLY COLD.
SO NOW YOU START TO WONDER, IT'S
GOTTA BE NAVIGATION ISSUES.
>> Lazarus: PEOPLE HAVE COME TO
A ROAD IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND
HAD TO HITCHHIKE BACK.
>> Mary: IS THAT RIGHT?
THAT'S REALLY HAPPENED?
>> Lazarus: OH YEAH.
>> Mary: AND YOU THINK THAT'S
FUNNY?
>> Lazarus: OH YEAH.
IT'S NOT FUNNY?
[LAUGHS]
>> FINALLY, JUST BEFORE 6AM,
AFTER SPENDING ALL NIGHT IN THE
MOUNTAINS, CANTY AND TWO OTHER
FEMALE RUNNERS FOUND THEIR WAY
BACK TO CAMP.
BUT THEY'D MISSED CUT OFF TIME,
MEANING THAT THE BARKLEY WOULD
HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST ONE MORE
YEAR FOR A FEMALE FINISHER.
AS FOR GREG ARMSTRONG, HE TOO
COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE PACE
REQUIRED BY LAZARUS LAKE.
HE FINISHED HIS FIRST 20 MILES
TOO SLOWLY, AND OUT CAME THE
BUGLE, TO ANNOUNCE HIS DEFEAT.
♪ ♪
>> Greg: I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> Lazarus: I APPRECIATE YOU
COMING.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU
HERE.
>> IN THE END, THERE WERE NO
FINISHERS AT THE BARKLEY THIS
YEAR, AS IN MOST YEARS PAST,
WHICH IS EXACTLY HOW IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE.
LAZ WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER
WAY, AND THE RUNNERS WOULDN'T
EITHER.
IN SPITE OF ALL LAZ PUTS THEM
THROUGH YEAR AFTER YEAR, HE
ISN'T REVILED FOR THE RUTHLESS
RACE HE CREATED, HE'S BELOVED.
>> Lazarus: PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW FAR YOU CAN GO.
THEY DON'T REALIZE YOU CAN PUSH
YOUR BODY BEYOND WHAT YOUR BODY
CAN DO.
I THINK THE WORST THING THAT
HAPPENS IS YOU NEVER EXPERIENCE
DISCOMFORT, THEN YOU COME TO
DREAD IT AND SHY AWAY FROM IT.
AND IT PREVENTS YOU FROM DOING
SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE
ENJOYABLE.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: MARY CARILLO IS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF FLORIDA.
MARY, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> Mary: I'M A LOT WARMER THAN I
WAS WHEN I WAS SHOOTING THAT
STORY FOR YOU, BRYANT.
>> Bryant: THERE YOU GO.
HEY, MARY, WHAT DOES IT SAY OF
THOSE PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP FOR THE
KIND OF ABUSE THEY GET AT THE
BARKELY?
>> Mary: YOU KNOW,
INTERESTINGLY, ALMOST ALL OF THE
15 PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY
FINISHED THIS RACE IN THE LAST
35 YEARS HAVE PHD'S.
LIZ CANTY, THE WOMAN WE FOLLOWED
AROUND, IS AN ENGINEER WHO IS
HELPING TO BUILD THE NEXT LUNAR
LANDER.
I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE ARE
PROBLEM-SOLVERS BY NATURE, AND
OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE VERY FIT.
AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE WILLING TO
DO ALMOST ANYTHING TO RUN
THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS OF
TENNESSEE.
>> Bryant: YEAH, LAZARUS LAKE,
HE SAYS HE'S NOT A SADIST.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
>> Mary: I GOTTA TELL YOU
SOMETHING.
WHEN I WAS READING UP ON HIM AND
LOOKING AT VIDEO OF HIM, I
THOUGHT, "GOD, I'M NOT GONNA
LIKE THIS GUY AT ALL."
I REALLY ENDED UP LIKING HIM.
>> Bryant: OH, COME ON, MARY,
YOU KNOW, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY,
"MARY CARILLO WHO LIKES
EVERYBODY, I GOT THE DISTINCT
FEELING SHE DIDN'T CARE FOR
LAZARUS LAKE."
>> Mary: [LAUGHS]
LAZ LAKE IS ON MY LIST OF PEOPLE
I LIKE.
HE ACTUALLY, THERE'S NOTHING-THE
RACE ITSELF IS SADISTIC.
BUT, HE'S NOT.
HE WANTS PEOPLE TO PUSH
THEMSELVES BEYOND WHAT EVEN THEY
THINK THEY COULD DO.
I REALLY ENDED UP LIKING THIS
GUY AND I THINK HE'S A CLOSET
SOFTIE.
>> Bryant: SHOULD ANYONE FINISH
OR WIN THIS, THE BARKLEY, WHAT
DO THEY GET?
>> Mary: NOTHING.
[LAUGHTER]
BLISTERS.
>> Bryant: HOW PERFECT AN
ENDING.
>> Mary: IT'S NOT YOUR AVERAGE
RACE.
>> Bryant: YEAH.
YOU AND I WILL HAVE TO TRY IT
NEXT YEAR.
>> Mary: YEAH, SURE.
IF I'M NOT THERE, START WITHOUT
ME.
>> Bryant: I'LL TRY.
HEY, MARY, TAKE CARE OF
YOURSELF.
>> Mary: OKAY.
>> Bryant: OUR FINAL STORY THIS
EVENING IS AN UPDATE OF A PIECE
THAT FRANKLY SCARED US THE FIRST
TIME WE AIRED IT ALMOST A DECADE
AGO.
THAT'S WHEN WE MET SOME OF THE
MOST DARING SKIERS ON THE
PLANET, ATHLETES WHO EMBRACED
THE THRILL OF BACK COUNTRY
SKIING.
IT'S A SPORT THAT FEATURES
VIRGIN SNOW AND BREATHTAKING
MOUNTAINS, OFFSET BY THE
EVER-PRESENT THREAT OF A
POTENTIALLY DEADLY AVALANCHE.
TONIGHT, OUR JON FRANKEL GOES
BACK TO THE BACK COUNTRY, TO
EXPLAIN WHY THE CORONAVIRUS AND
GLOBAL WARMING HAVE MADE THE
SPORT MORE TREACHEROUS AND MORE
DEADLY THAN EVER.
>> FOR SKIERS, THERE'S ONLY ONE
THING NOT TO LIKE ABOUT A
BEAUTIFUL DAY ON THE SLOPES, THE
CROWDS.
THEY'RE THE BANE OF THE SKIER'S
EXISTENCE, AND IN THIS YEAR OF
SOCIAL DISTANCING, THAT'S NEVER
BEEN MORE TRUE.
WHICH MAY EXPLAIN WHY LATELY,
MORE AND MORE SKIERS HAVE BEEN
DITCHING PACKED SKI RESORTS.
AND HEEDING THE CALL OF THE
WILD.
IT'S CALLED BACKCOUNTRY SKIING.
AND IT MAY JUST BE THE PERFECT
SPORT FOR THE PANDEMIC ERA.
FREE OF CROWDS AND FREE OF
RULES, THE BACKCOUNTRY OFFERS AN
UNLIMITED EXPERIENCE IN THE
MOUNTAINS, A TASTE OF FREEDOM IN
A WORLD OF RESTRAINT.
>> Kyle: WHEN I'M IN THE
BACKCOUNTRY, THE SHEER JOY I GET
FROM SKIING IS HARD TO REPLACE.
IT'S LIKE A DRUG.
I LOVE IT.
>> FOR KYLE JOHNSTON, BACK
COUNTRY SKIING OFFERS A RUSH HE
SAYS HE CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE
ELSE.
PARTLY FOR THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF
THE SPORT, PARTLY FOR THE
CHALLENGE, AND PARTLY BECAUSE
WITH EVERY RUN, HE'S PUTTING HIS
LIFE AT RISK.
>> Kyle: IT'S A GRAVITY FED
SPORT.
YOU GOT CLIFFS, YOU GOT TREES,
ROCKS.
IT'S A DANGEROUS ACTIVITY.
>> BUT THE GREATEST RISK OF ALL
IS THIS.
>> OH!
AVALANCHE!
>> FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, GO!
>> AVALANCHE!
>> THE DREADED AVALANCHE,
TERRIFYING WHITE WALLS OF SNOW
THAT RIP DOWN MOUNTAINS AT MORE
THAN 80 MILES PER HOUR, AND LAY
WASTE TO ANYTHING IN THEIR PATH.
>> Kyle: FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!
>> THIS WINTER, AVALANCHES
KILLED 36 PEOPLE ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES, THE WORST
SINGLE-SEASON TOTAL IN MODERN
HISTORY.
AND A MAJORITY OF THE DECEASED
HAVE BEEN BACK COUNTRY SKIERS.
IN FEBRUARY, KYLE JOHNSTON
NEARLY JOINED THAT LIST, WHEN HE
TRIGGERED AN AVALANCHE DURING A
RUN.
>> Kyle: I WAS JUST IN A RIVER
OF MOVING SNOW IT WAS JUST BIG
CHUNKS OF SNOW AND IT WAS MOVING
REALLY FAST.
>> Jon: DO YOU EVEN HAVE A
MOMENT TO SAY TO YOURSELF,
"UH-OH?"
OR ARE YOU JUST SAYING
"SURVIVE?"
>> Kyle: I THINK IT'S JUST
SURVIVE.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY
ROCKY.
IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THE
HUMAN BODY WOULD GO THROUGH
ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WAS, TO
ME, CERTAIN DEATH.
THE AVALANCHE DROVE JOHNSTON OFF
THIS 100-FOOT CLIFF, THEN
DRAGGED HIM ANOTHER 200 YARDS
BEFORE BURYING HIM ALIVE.
>> RACING THE CLOCK, HIS COUSIN
MANAGED TO DIG HIM OUT OF THE
SNOW AND CALL A HELICOPTER FOR
HELP.
JOHNSTON SUFFERED A FRACTURED
SPINE, BROKEN RIBS, A COLLAPSED
LUNG, AND A BRAIN BLEED, BUT
MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED.
>> Kyle: I FEEL REALLY, REALLY
FORTUNATE THAT I WAS WITH A
PARTNER.
I OWE MY LIFE TO THE GUY.
>> Jon: WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU
OWE YOUR LIFE TO HIM.
IS THAT HARD TO SAY?
IS THAT HARD TO PROCESS?
>> Kyle: ANY TIME YOU SAY THOSE
WORDS AND YOU TRULY FEEL IT AND
MEAN IT, IT MAKES YOU REFLECT ON
YOU KNOW LIFE.
>> Jon: WHAT'S YOUR TAKEAWAY
NOW?
>> Kyle: LIFE IS PRECIOUS.
SKIING IS FUN.
IT'S A FINE LINE.
>> IT'S A LINE THAT BACK COUNTRY
SKIERS HAVE BEEN WALKING FOR
YEARS, PURSUING ADRENALINE AND
JOY, AT THE RISK OF THEIR LIVES.
WE FIRST COVERED THE DANGERS OF
THE SPORT BACK IN 2012, WHEN WE
MET PROFESSIONAL SKIER TANNER
HALL.
>> Tanner: IT'S NOT SAFE WHAT WE
DO.
IT'S NOT, LIKE --
IT'S NOT LIKE GOLF, YOU KNOW
WHAT I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE
BOWLING.
BUT THAT MAKES THE ADVENTURE
THAT MUCH MORE INTERESTING.
>> HALL TOLD US THAT RISK WAS A
NECESSARY EVIL, FOR HIS SPORT TO
EVOLVE AND GROW.
>> DUDES ARE RIDING SUCH GNARLY
LINES.
A LOT OF THE TIME THE
CONSEQUENCE CAN BE DEATH.
'CAUSE THAT'S JUST WHERE THE
PROGRESSION OF SKIING IS GOING,
MAN.
>> Jon: AND ISN'T THAT TOO FAR?
>> Tanner: NO.
>> Jon: WHY NOT DIAL IT BACK A
LITTLE BIT?
>> Tanner: WELL, THEN LET'S STOP
NASCAR.
LET'S STOP INDYCAR.
LET'S STOP BOXING.
'CAUSE THAT -- THAT'S NOT THE
ANSWER TO STOP, MAN.
THE ANSWER'S TO KEEP GOIN', MAN.
LIKE, LET'S KEEP GOIN'.
I WANT TO LAND ON MARS, YOU KNOW
WHAT I MEAN?
FUCK THE MOON!
>> THAT PROGRESSION HAD BEEN LED
BY PROFESSIONAL BACKCOUNTRY
SKIERS LIKE CHRIS DAVENPORT, WHO
WE ALSO MET IN 2012.
DAVENPORT HAD BECAME ONE OF THE
SPORT'S FIRST CELEBRITIES, FOR
PERFORMING DEATH-DEFYING
DESCENTS LIKE THESE IN FILMS.
>> Jon: YOU HAVE SKIED A NUMBER
OF THINGS, WHERE IF YOU FALL, IT
IS ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH.
>> Chris: ABSOLUTELY.
>> Jon: AND PEOPLE SITTING ON
THEIR COUCHES AT HOME ARE GONNA
SAY, "WHY?
>> Chris: YEAH, THOSE SITUATIONS
WHERE YOU ARE SO CLOSE TO THE
EDGE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE I FEEL
THE MOST IN CONTROL.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE THE
MOST FOCUSED IN YOUR LIFE.
THAT'S WHEN THERE'S NOTHING ELSE
ON YOUR MIND, EXCEPT THAT NEXT
TURN.
>> BUT DAVENPORT ALSO KNEW THAT
CHASING THAT RUSH COULD MEAN
PAYING THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
>> Chris: JUST THIS SEASON,
ALONE, IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS,
I'VE LOST FIVE FRIENDS.
>> Jon: IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS
YOU'VE LOST FIVE FRIENDS?
>> Chris: YEP.
EVERY TIME THAT HAPPENS, I JUST
GET THIS UNBELIEVABLE SINKING
FEELING.
AND IT MAKES ME ASSESS WHAT I'M
DOING.
IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT RETIRING
OR QUITTING.
IT MAKES MY JOB REALLY
DIFFICULT, 'CAUSE MY WIFE AND I
HAVE TO HAVE -- ANOTHER
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY IT IS
THAT WE DO WHAT WE DO.
YEAH, IT'S HORRIBLE, IT'S
HORRIBLE.
>> A FEW OF THOSE FRIENDS OF
DAVENPORT'S HAD BEEN KILLED BY A
MASSIVE AVALANCHE ON THIS
MOUNTAIN IN WASHINGTON.
ELYSE SAUGSTAD WAS VERY NEARLY
ONE OF THEM.
>> Elyse: I DEFINITELY HAD A FEW
THOUGHTS THAT, "WOW, THIS --
THIS COULD BE IT.
THIS MAY BE THE WAY I END."
>> SAUGSTAD WAS AMONG A GROUP OF
SKIERS WHO FOUND THEMSELVES
TRAPPED IN AN AVALANCHE FOR 45
TERRIFYING SECONDS.
>> Elyse: IT'S LIKE YOU'RE IN A
WASHING MACHINE, AND YOU'RE JUST
GETTING TUMBLED AND TOSSED AND
FLIPPED OVER.
IT LITERALLY WAS LIKE I WAS
BURIED IN CEMENT.
I COULDN'T EVEN LIFT MY HEAD UP.
>> Jon: SO YOU WERE JUST LOCKED
IN THERE?
>> Elyse: COMPLETELY LOCKED IN.
>> THAT IS, UNTIL OTHER SKIERS
DUG HER OUT.
SHE WAS THE SOLE SURVIVOR.
>> Elyse: FOUR OF US WERE SWEPT
IN, AND I'M THE ONLY ONE TO WALK
AWAY.
AND THE GUY THAT HELPED UNBURY
ME, WE FOUND ONE OF THE VICTIMS
ABOUT THREE FEET TO MY LEFT.
>> Jon: THREE FEET TO YOUR LEFT?
>> Elyse: YEAH.
>> Jon: DID YOU FEEL LUCKY AT
THAT MOMENT OR DID YOU FEEL
GUILTY?
>> Elyse: OH, YOU HAVE ALL THOSE
THOUGHTS.
YOU FEEL LUCKY.
YOU FEEL GUILTY.
WHY ME?
>> BUT FOR ALL THE DANGERS OF
SKIING THE BACK COUNTRY, FOR
MANY THE ALLURE REMAINS STRONG,
AND OVER THE PAST YEAR, IT'S
GROWN ONLY STRONGER.
WHEN US SKI RESORTS CLOSED IN
MARCH OF 2020, AFTER THE ARRIVAL
OF THE CORONAVIRUS, SKIERS
QUICKLY TURNED TO THE
BACKCOUNTRY TO GET THEIR FIX,
FLOODING INTO THE WILDERNESS IN
RECORD NUMBERS.
AND THIS WINTER, AMERICANS
SEEKING AN ESCAPE FROM THE RULES
AND RESTRICTIONS OF THE PANDEMIC
HAVE FUELED A RECORD SURGE IN
THE PURCHASE OF BACK COUNTRY SKI
GEAR.
THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM.
MORE SKIERS IN THE MOUNTAINS
MEANS MORE CHANCE ONE OF THEM
DISTURBS THE SNOW AND TRIGGERS
AN AVALANCHE, WHICH MAY HELP
EXPLAIN THIS YEAR'S HISTORIC
AVALANCHE DEATH TOLL.
>> Craig: IT'S A DENSITY THING.
YOU'VE GOT MORE PEOPLE IN THE
BACK COUNTRY.
YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY GONNA HAVE
MORE TRIGGERS.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU
ARE, UNFORTUNATELY, GONNA HAVE
MORE AVALANCHE FATALITIES.
AS AN AVALANCHE FORECASTER, WE
KNEW THAT THIS WAS GONNA BE A
CATASTROPHIC WINTER.
>> EVERYDAY CRAIG GORDON HEADS
DEEP INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF HIS
HOME STATE OF UTAH TO STUDY SNOW
CONDITIONS AND GAUGE AVALANCHE
RISK.
GORDON SAYS THAT THIS WINTER HAS
SEEN NOT JUST ONE BUT TWO TRENDS
CONVERGE TO CREATE UNUSUALLY
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.
NOT ONLY ARE MORE PEOPLE SKIING
IN THE BACK COUNTRY, BUT THEY'RE
DOING IT ON A POWDER KEG, THANKS
TO THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL
WARMING.
AN UNUSUALLY WARM WINTER IN THE
MOUNTAINS OF THE AMERICAN WEST
CREATED AN EXTREMELY UNSTABLE
AND SENSITIVE BASE LAYER OF
SNOW.
THAT MEANS THAT ANY DISRUPTION
TO THE SURFACE, SPECIFICALLY,
THE ACTIVITY OF A SKIER, CAN
EASILY BREAK THE SNOW LOOSE AND
START A DEADLY DOMINO EFFECT.
GORDON DUG DEEP INTO A SNOW BANK
TO SHOW US THE HAZARD HIDDEN
BELOW.
>> Craig: RIGHT IN HERE, THIS IS
THIS WEAK SUGARY LAYER.
YOU KNOW YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS
JUST BECOMES VERY POROUS HERE
AND IT LOOKS SORT OF LIKE ROCK
SALT, RIGHT.
NOW HERE'S THE ISSUE THIS IS
GOING TO BE WEAK SNOW DOWN HERE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE STRONGER
SNOW.
SO DENSE SNOW AND THEN LOOSER
SNOW NOW WHAT THE SNOWPACK WAITS
FOR IS A TRIGGER LIKE US TO ROLL
ALONG, COME HERE, PULL THE RUG
OUT FROM UNDERNEATH, AND NOW THE
ENTIRE ROOF IS CRASHING DOWN ON
TOP OF US.
>> ARE YOU FAMILIAR THEN KIND OF
LIKE THIS CRUST PASSED THE
SANDWICH THAT'S GOING ON OUT
HERE?
>> A LITTLE BIT.
I'VE BEEN WATCHING.
>> WHICH IS WHY THIS WINTER
GORDON HAS BEEN TRAVELING TO
DANGEROUS PARTS OF THE BACK
COUNTRY TO INTERCEPT SKIERS,
MAKING SURE THEY KNOW THE RISKS,
AND TAKE EVERY POSSIBLE
PRECAUTION TO AVOID DISASTER.
>> Craig: BECAUSE THE METHOD OF
THE MADNESS IS: THE MORE BOOTS
THAT ARE ON THE GROUND PREACHING
THE AVALANCHE GOSPEL, ONE ON ONE
AND TALKING TO PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHERE WE MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE.
I MADE IT MY MANTRA, MY GOAL, MY
MISSION, TO SAVE AS MANY LIVES
AS I COULD.
>> THAT'S LIGHT FLUFFY SNOW AND,
>> GORDON KNOWS THAT HIS WORK
WILL NEVER BE DONE.
THESE UNSTABLE SNOW CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED TO ONLY WORSEN
GOING FORWARD.
AS RISING GLOBAL TEMPERATURES
FUEL MORE WARM AND UNPREDICTABLE
WINTERS AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE
AVALANCHE DANGER.
BUT FEW EXPECT ANY OF THAT TO
KEEP BACK COUNTRY SKIERS AWAY.
LIKE KYLE JOHNSTON, WHO IS ALL
TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE FINE LINE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH IN THE
MOUNTAINS.
HE SAYS THAT ONCE HE'S FULLY
HEALED, HE'LL BE BACK IN THE
BACKCOUNTRY,
>> Jon: DO YOU ENVISION YOURSELF
GETTING BACK OUT ON SKIS?
HAVE YOU PICTURED IT?
>> Kyle: YEAH, EVERY DAY.
IT'S A PASSION.
IT'S A LOVE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO SAY IT.
I LOVE THE MOUNTAINS.
I LOVE SKIING.
>> Jon: ARE YOU SCARED TO GET
BACK OUT THERE?
>> Kyle: YOU KNOW, I MIGHT BE A
LITTLE GUN SHY.
BUT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
HAVING THAT JOY OF SKIING, AND
THE WIND THROUGH YOUR HAIR, AND
JUST THE FREEDOM.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: ONE QUICK POSTSCRIPT:
DEALING WITH A DEADLY AVALANCHE
SEASON IS NOT JUST AN AMERICAN
EXPERIENCE.
ACROSS EUROPE THIS WINTER,
NEARLY 100 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
KILLED BY AVALANCHES, INCLUDING
A TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN WHO WAS
SNOWBOARDING IN THE BACKCOUNTRY
OF THE SWISS ALPS.
AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS
EVENING.
FOR ALL THE GOOD FOLKS AT "REAL
SPORTS," I'M BRYANT GUMBEL.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING
WITH US.
PLEASE STAY SAFE.
AND GOOD NIGHT.