news-record.com

Two years ago local runner Charlie Engle kicked around a silly idea with some friends after a long-distance race.

One turned to the other and asked: "I wonder if anyone has run across the Sahara?"

What began as a lark became a grueling 4,300 mile run over 111 days - many as hot as 130 degrees. It also birthed <i>Running The Sahara</i>, a documentary airing Sunday night at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

The film, narrated by actor Matt Damon, follows Engle and fellow distance runners Kevin Lin and Ray Zahab as they cross six countries to complete what is believed to be the first run across the world's largest desert. The film follows the runners as they battled injury, fatigue, heat and threats of violence.

Engle said watching some of the struggles is difficult now, but time has dulled the sharp edges for him.

"I really believe that the best lessons in life come from suffering," Engle said in a Friday interview. "I put myself in a situation where I didn't know if I could accomplish the goal, but I trusted that if I did it with passion, I would learn something about myself, I would be changed as a person and I would be more useful to others."

Engle said the aches and blisters were temporary -- the legacy of the friendships built with his fellow runners, the experience of meeting the people of the Sahara and the H20 Africa clean water charity he helped found, will be with him forever.

"That was nearly two years ago now, and I'm really left with nothing but the good things from it," Engle said. "Now I love watching the documentary."

<i>Read more about Charlie Engle and "Running the Sahara" in Saturday's News & Record</i>.