Cold Forged
The story behind the film
Patience, persistence, performance. As runners we often like to talk about the crazy and the extreme — the 60x400m track repeats or the 30mile long runs — but something we all learn along the way is that consistency is key. One crazy workout might make a good talking point, but if you want to get fast and truly fulfill your potential, you need to put in the graft. Daily athletic drudgery might not be exciting, and it’s unlikely to make a memorable chapter in the memoir of your running life, but, as generations of runners have come to realize, it’s the foundation on which all your best performances are built, and winter is the lonely anvil on which we shape our futures.
It was this commitment to consistency that we wanted to capture in our new film, Cold Forged. If you’ve not already seen it, take 85secs to catch up:
The Location
Cold Forged was filmed in Vermont in December, the weekend before the holidays. We rented a cabin, recruited two talented athletes and left them to do their thing, racking up the miles on isolated roads, snow-covered trails and the old track that sits at the heart of the community in Lyndon.
The Athletes
Ruben Sanca
You’ll recognize Ruben — he’s appeared in Tracksmith photoshoots since day one, and he’s a hugely accomplished athlete, having represented Cape Verde at the 2012 Olympics in the 5000m. For Rio he’s aiming for qualification in the marathon and the time he spent in Lyndon was an integral part of his training. Friday consisted of a 10mile fartlek in the morning, then 6miles easy in the afternoon. Saturday morning consisted of another 6miles, which included 5miles of tempo, then back on the road in the afternoon for 12miles in the snow. He finished the weekend with 20miles at a steady 6min/miles. In the marathon, perhaps more than any other Olympic event, consistency really is key — Ruben recognizes that, and is stockpiling winter miles ready for a summer of success.
Lyndsay Harper
Lyndsay Harper is at a stage of her running career where she’s moved beyond the Olympian dream, but isn’t quite ready to hang up her spikes. Where to next? So long as she maintains that hard-earned base of speed, developed over years of middle-distance training and racing, she knows she’ll have options, whether that means rabbiting big races or going for beer-mile glory.
The Filmmaker
Joel Wolpert is a filmmaker who specializes in running and adventure sports. His film, In the High Country, which followed mountain-runner Anton Krupicka for a year, was his breakthrough movie, and he recently released Outside Voices, a film about Jenn Shelton, one of the stars of the book Born to Run and one of the most outspoken voices in running. In his downtime between these long-term projects, we’re lucky to collaborate with Joel on videos for Tracksmith and METER magazine, such as As Fall Descends, and Where are the Robinsons?
The Photographer
Emily Maye is a globe trotting photographer with a talent for spotting the beauty in suffering and the unique details that distinguish sport from entertainment. It’s a talent that has seen her become a preeminent photographer, working for major brands and magazines covering cycling, basketball, ballet, running and more. Our friends at Ursa Major in Vermont interviewed Emily at the end of 2015 — head over and read it.
The Music
The Builders and The Butchers are a Folk Rock band based in Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/guitar player Ryan Sollee. All of the original members are from Alaska. The band played acoustically in street shows long before ever hitting the studio. Their live shows reflect the whooping and hollering clash and bang of real emotion. All their music is rich with pathos. This particular song, The World is a Top, captures the defiant nihilism a runner must face when braving the harshest of elements.
Ready to run? Shop for Tracksmith clothing and learn more about No Days Off at Tracksmith.com. Join the movement.
