Actor Peter Sarsgaard, best known for his roles in "Jarhead" and "Boys Don't Cry," also happens to be an incredibly strong runner.
That's according to Chris McDougall, the author of best-selling book, "Born to Run" which chronicles a culture of shoeless ultra-distance runners and the science that argues for ditching those Nikes. The book brought ultra-running (any distance longer than a marathon) into the mainstream and kickstarted the minimal shoe movement.
On November 5, Sarsgaard, McDougall, opera singer Brandon Wood and a cast of characters from the book including a barefooting Harvard biologist will stage "Reinventing Running: The Cabaret." The show will be a prelude to the November 7 ING New York City Marathon , one of the biggest road races in the world. Each performer gets 15 minutes to entertain.
McDougall, an adept distance runner, competed in a particularly tough trail race with Sarsgaard earlier this year. "He dropped me at mile three," the author said.
Readings for "Born to Run" usually attract huge crowds. "I didn't want to do just another reading," said McDougall. "They can bore people when an author is just up there talking. So when we're done with the show, we'll hopefully hang out, talk to people and answer their questions."
The cast will also run the marathon, but they won't be the only stars of Sunday's 26.2 mile race. One of the rescued Chilean miners, nicknamed "The Runner" will also compete.
Doors open at 6 p.m. at the New York Society for Ethical Culture near Central Park. Tickets are $10. For more on the show or barefoot running, check out McDougall's site.
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