The Last Mile

At age 60, recovering from knee surgery, Gini Fellows signed up for her first triathlon. She finished first in her age group, launching what was initially an exercise in rehabilitation into all-consuming passion. With the help of her son and coach, Patrick Fellows, she trained and competed in a dozen triathlons in the decade following. Last year, at age 71, she qualified for the 140.6 mile Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

She and Pat set a plan to tackle the arduous race, known for its heat, wind, waves and humidity. The Goal: For Gini to finish under the seventeen hour time limit.

Five months into training, Gini's husband of forty years, Bill Fellows, was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer. Facing an unthinkable challenge on top of an ever-demanding workout schedule, Gini amended her training plan around Bill's chemotherapy, often running early mornings and riding her bike trainer in the hospital hotel. And then, six weeks before the race, Bill passed away -- but not before telling Gini: "I want you to keep training. I want you to go to Kona."

Faced with Bill's loss, Gini moved in with Pat during the final weeks leading up to the race, completing as much of the planned training as they could while grieving. As promised, she arrived in Kona to fulfill her obligation to herself and to Bill to finish the race. In her own words, she said: "If I can't finish the race, it will because they are dragging me off the course. Quitting is not an option."

Filmed over six months from training to race day, the film explores the unwavering, resilient nature of the human spirit when its found at the fringes of mental and physical exhaustion.

How far will Gini be able to push herself?

Only she knows.