Its central character is a teenage boy who trains for the 1954 Boston Marathon [de] in the hope a victory will be the miracle his mother needs to awaken from a coma.

Already labeled a troublemaker, Ralph is forced to join the school's cross country team to relieve him of his "excess energy".

When running coach Father Hibbert, a former world class marathoner who was forced to quit running when he injured his knee, claims it would be a miracle if a member of his team won the Boston Marathon, Ralph decides to train for it in the hope his victory would fulfill the miracle needed to save his mother's life.

In his review in The New York Times, Stephen Holden said, "This crude, inspirational tear-jerker is as sweet as a bowl of instant oatmeal smothered in molasses.

He continued, "The climactic race footage is well directed... and the understated period detail adds to the charm, but the route is painfully familiar and the obstacles are as contrived as the clunky performances.

The exception is Scott, whose sensitive turn as a priest inspired by Ralph's conviction and commitment gives the film a touch of grace at the cost of revealing McGowan's drab direction of every other actor.