How does the marathon tie into the storyline?

I'd like to say it shows that since he trains so much he is in great physical condition. That way during the chase he can outrun the bad guys because he doesn't tire. However (and I posted this on here somewhere a long time ago) I don't understand why he seemed so out of breath while running. He should be fine making that the point of his training.












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I did sixty in five minutes once...

There's a scene that appears in the novel, but Goldman says that he couldn't work it into the screenplay without having it seem superfluous. That moment where we see the two marathon-runner photos in Babe's apartment? While Babe's running from Janeway & and his men, Babe starts to get exhausted, almost stopping. At that moment, he has a daydream where his two running idols appear on his right and left, saying that all real marathon men experience pain, but they continue to run; that's how champions are made. This spurs Babe on.


"You wanna be worshipped? Go to India and moo."

I think it is meant as a metaphorical reference to the fact that Babe has been adamantly running from his past towards something even he can't define.



He who conquers himself is mightier than he who conquers a city.

I know this is a necro-post, but TBH, the title was about the only thing that made *absolute* sense about this film.

For me the title (and his training/career choice) was a statement that despite all outward appearances, he was made of the stuff that would allow him to go all the way: to finish the race.

He was willing to be patient, honest, tenacious, and sacrificial to get what he wanted in the end which was to understand his father's life and death. He ended up doing what neither his father, nor his "worldly" brother, nor a slew of "professionals" could do.

And for the record: it's not safe!

No matter how far you run...you can never run away from yourself.