Chasing Democracy 250
A Run For The Stories That Keep Us Moving: Four Runners Complete 250 Miles from NYC to DCFeature coverage of the 5-day, 250-mile journey from Liberty State Park to the MLK Jr. Memorial celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
Media & Press
The films, podcasts, and headlines.
Interviews, race coverage, documentary films, and audio features from 1999 to today. For press requests, see the contact page.
01 / The Documentary
Like Harvey Like Son
★ Best Feature Film — Woodbury Film Festival, 2019
In 2018, Harvey Lewis III ran the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail in 49 days and 14 hours. His crew chief was his father — Harvey Lewis Jr., then 78 — from whom he had been estranged early in life. The film's title carries a double meaning: both men are named Harvey Lewis, and the journey from Georgia to Maine is as much a reconciliation as a record attempt.
- Director
- Rudy Harris Jr.
- Producers
- TJ Bitter, Mike Trimpe, Rudy Harris Jr.
- Premiere
- Mariemont Theatre, Cincinnati — Nov 2020
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video
02 / In The Press
Badwater 135
Harvey Lewis Logs 15th Career Badwater Finish at Age 50Crossing the Mt. Whitney Portal in 25:55:41 for his 15th official finish of "the world’s toughest footrace."
Newton Running / Trail Media
Harvey Lewis Pulls Off the "Badwater Double" — 270 Miles Across Death Valley and BackAfter finishing the 135-mile Badwater in 36:41:22, Lewis turned around at the Mt. Whitney Portal and ran all the way back to Badwater Basin.
iRunFar
The Educator Effect: Teachers in UltrarunningFeature with Harvey as central subject — the run-commute, racing the bus, and teaching 48 hours after 450 miles.
iRunFar
A Different Mode: An Interview with Harvey Lewis After His Record-Breaking Win at the 2023 Big Dog's Backyard UltraFull Q&A after the 450-mile world record — sleep strategy, vegan fueling, and what comes next.
iRunFar
2023 Big Dog's Backyard Ultra Results: Harvey Lewis Wins After 108 Hours, 450 Miles of RunningThe race report — six runners past 100 hours, and one left standing.
Miriam Diaz Gilbert
Harvey Lewis on Training, Racing, Crewing, Diet, Gardening, and His DocumentaryLong-form interview while packing for Australia — crew philosophy and life beyond racing.
iRunFar
Harvey Lewis is the Last Person Standing at the 2021 Big Dog's Backyard Ultra85 laps, 354 miles — a new world record in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.
Trail Running Magazine
Harvey Lewis Ran the Final Few Yards at Big's with a Hand FractureThe broken fourth metacarpal he told no one about. "It's kind of like a poker game."
iRunFar
2021 Badwater 135 Results: Lewis Gains Second Men's WinFrom an hour down at mile 90 to champion at 45 — 25:50:23.
Plant Based News
Vegan Athlete Wins 'World's Toughest Race' for the Second TimeCoverage of the 2021 Badwater win through the plant-based lens.
Cincinnati Enquirer
'Everything Is About the Mental Strength.' Local Runner Breaks 29-Year-Old World RecordBadwater Basin to Mt. Whitney in 33:32 — breaking Marshall Ulrich's 1991 mark.
CityBeat Cincinnati
A Look Inside the Life of Cincinnati Ultramarathon Runner and Educator Harvey LewisThe immersive profile — CityBeat ran the morning commute with him.
CityBeat Cincinnati
SCPA Teacher Harvey Lewis Is Topic of New Athletic Documentary 'Like Harvey Like Son'Documentary preview ahead of the Mariemont Theatre premiere.
Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Teacher Ran 2,198 Miles Under 50 DaysThe Appalachian Trail journey, documented as it happened.
WVXU (Cincinnati Public Radio)
SCPA Teacher Wins Badwater RaceThe first Badwater win, and the broken-neck story in his own words.
Cincinnati Enquirer
Finishing StrongThe earliest known press mention — the same year the Flying Pig streak began.
03 / On Air
Ageless Athlete Podcast How Harvey Lewis Healed After the World’s Wildest Ultra Jan 2026 Rich Roll Podcast Ep. 812 — The 47-Year-Old High School Teacher Who Ran 450 Miles Feb 2024 Ultra Running Magazine Podcast Pre-WS100 with Harvey Lewis — Big’s Record & Western States Jun 2024 Rich Roll Podcast Ep. 658 — Finding Your Why, Nirvana Moments & Winning 300+ Mile Races Jan 2022 The Extra Mile (Charity Miles) Nice Guys Finish Last — the host joins Harvey's run-commute 2024 Marathon Training Academy 354 Miles in 85 Hours — the Honey Badger race Nov 2021 No Meat Athlete Radio Ep. 37 — Badwater Winner and Vegetarian Harvey Lewis 2014
04 / On Camera
Rich Roll Podcast — Ep. 812
"The 47-Year-Old High School Teacher Who Ran 450 Miles and Broke a World Record" · Feb 2024
Rich Roll Podcast — Ep. 658
"Finding Your Why, Nirvana Moments & Winning 300+ Mile Races" · Jan 2022
A Day with Harvey Lewis
Rich Roll production — the run-commute and a portrait of his daily life
24 Hour Race Crash Course
Harvey's own tips for racing around the clock · Sept 2019
We Can Choose To Be Healthier
Interview on health, diet, and choices · 2017
The Purpose Behind Chasing Democracy 250
Why four runners and two crew took on 250 miles from NYC to DC · 2026
Top Mindsets Every Ultrarunner Needs
Short · May 2025