Private Project

The Hard Way

The Hard Way is the inspirational story of Bob Hayes, an 89-year-old who runs 30 races each year, cuts his firewood by hand and does things the hard way to remain active and alive.

  • Erik Petersen
    Director
  • Erik Petersen, Jeremy Lurgio
    Producer
  • Bob Hayes, Mike Foote, Mike Wolfe, Georgia Cobbs, Tom Hayes
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    20 hours
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2016
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    35 mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Banff Mountain Film Festival
    Banff
    Canada
    November 5, 2016
    Canada Premier
  • Trail Running Film Festival
    Seattle, WA
    United States
    October 8, 2016
    Best Short
  • Sheffield Adventure Film Festival

    United Kingdom
    People's Choice Award
  • Nordic Adventure Film Festival

    Denmark
    November 30, 2017
    Best Short Film
Director Biography - Erik Petersen

Erik's first film, The Hard Way, about 89-year-old ultra-runner Bob Hayes, premiered at the Banff Mountain Film Festival in 2016. It also screened at Telluride Mountainfilm, 5-Point Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, and many others around the world.
He was selected to attend the Banff Adventure Filmmakers Workshop in 2017 where he workshopped his latest film, A Few Steps Further.
Erik lives in Montana with his wife and two sons, a dozen chickens and a bird dog.

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