2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials

A Dream With A Deadline: Alexi Pappas’ ‘Tracktown’ Comes To Life

A Dream With A Deadline: Alexi Pappas’ ‘Tracktown’ Comes To Life

To start, this is not an objective movie review. I'm not a film critic, and I have a bit of a bias when it comes to this particular flick. But I'd like to t

Jul 7, 2016 by Allie Woodward Woodward
A Dream With A Deadline: Alexi Pappas’ ‘Tracktown’ Comes To Life
To start, this is not an objective movie review. I'm not a film critic, and I have a bit of a bias when it comes to this particular flick. But I'd like to think that logging several hundred miles beside my college teammate-turned-leading lady, Alexi Pappas, qualifies me to present some unique insights on "Tracktown."

When Alexi and I met in 2012 at Oregon's preseason training camp, our first runs together left me thinking she was either crazy or a creative genius as she spoke about her aspirations in film. Watching a story I’d heard about for three years come to life on the screen at the McDonald Theatre on Tuesday night confirmed I was correct on both accounts.

"Tracktown" perfectly captures the essence of the city I came to know as home and the spirit of the woman who taught me to take pride in doing what was right for me.

Even though I’d heard bits about Plumb (Alexi), and her unorthodox love story with the baker boy as we cooled down after rainy Pre’s Trail workouts, I didn't know what to expect as the lights dimmed. The tight shots of runners’ spikes flying down Hayward Field’s orange lanes combined with the playful melodies of the film’s score gave me the same feeling runners get before the gun goes off.

"Tracktown" is much more than a movie about running or a cute coming-of-age story. With Eugenian staples like Humble Bagel power muffins, the Saturday Market, and backyard chicken coops appearing on screen, any audience member who spent more than a day or two in Eugene can affirm this film is a love story for the city and the peculiarities that make it a character in its own right.

Rare glimpses inside Oregon's guarded athletic facilities are further gems to appreciate in "Tracktown." After the premiere, Jeremy Teicher, "Tracktown" director and Alexi’s boyfriend, explained two years of Prefontaine Classic action and a staged race at Hayward Field helped create the beautiful opening and closing racing scenes. They're so well-captured that you’d never guess they were shot on a rigged cart, and that some were filmed at an empty stadium.

Beyond the charm that reminded me of my former home, moments of Tracktown were so fundamentally Alexi that it made me miss my friend, who is now busy donning a Greek uniform on her way to the Olympics. The black floral bucket hat, steak pre-race ritual, gifting berries as a sign of friendship, and eating spinach straight out of the bag aren’t just character attributes—they are lovable “Alexi-isms” known to anyone who’s spent time with the poet, writer and runner renowned for her high bun and crazy wardrobe.

For runners who don’t know a thing about Alexi or the city of Eugene, there's still plenty to enjoy. Measuring food, dreading days off, or feeling like a 21-year-old woman with the body of a 12-year-old boy are a few relatable Tracktown moments that open up a place for Plumb in runners’ hearts. I do wish the film dove a bit deeper into some of the tougher issues for women in the sport, such as body image, or living so rigidly that we lose sight of the small things—like a cupcake or a cute boy—all of which the film touches on briefly. But I understand the brevity, seeing as the film is almost two hours long.

Still, cameos from multiple celebrities in the sport (Andrew Wheating, Alysia Montano and Nick Symmonds, to name a few) keep the audience engaged and the mood light. I can’t say any of the actors in "Tracktown" will be up for an Academy Award next year but the modesty of their performances created such relatable characters that I came away wanting to befriend them all.

If you have even the slightest interest in running or a love for the crazy Dartmouth/Oregon bun-head I’m lucky to call a friend, I suggest you make an effort to see this movie. It’s not perfect, but it's genuine, quirky, and leaves you grinning from ear to ear when the final credits roll.

**The date/location of the next screening of "Tracktown" hasn't been announced yet but you can follow @TracktownMovie on Twitter or visit http://tracktownmovie.com/ for breaking news about the film! **