“What makes Missouri unique?” The Nine Network of Public Media provides at least some of the answers to that huge question in the series Missouri Life 360.

Missouri Life 360 films capture the state’s sense of place through observational documentaries that focus on “Missouri-esque” events, attitudes and people. Each episode in the series goes behind the scenes of a distinctly Missouri activity to show the drama and adversity organizers overcome to stage a successful event.

Missouri Life 360 is a multiplatform media endeavor. Below you can find videos shot by participants and observers at the GO! St. Louis Marathon and Circus Flora as part of the Nine Network of Public Media.
Start to Finish: Running the GO! St. Louis Marathon

Trail a group of athletes of varying abilities being trained by Fleet Feet Sports to compete in the largest road race in Missouri. Cameras watch as coaches encourage, advise and lead runners on timed training runs literally through wind, rain, snow and ice. Among those interviewed are Mike Burke, a coach who found that running helps him cope with his cystic fibrosis; Jody Alde and her husband, who both run to raise money for the American Cancer Society; and Jean McDonald, who decided to take up the sport at age 43.
Nine Network of Public Media Video: The Joggler
More Nine Network of Public Media Video from the GO! St. Louis Marathon
St. Louis Mardi Gras: Method to the Madness

How three paid staff members of Mardi Gras Inc. and hundreds of volunteers throw a parade and party each February that draws tens of thousands of revelers from throughout the Midwest to what is normally a quiet residential neighborhood. Working with police, bars, restaurants and vendors, organizers simultaneously manage everything from underage drinking and street checkpoints to portable toilet distribution and trash cleanup.
Circus Flora: Under One Roof

Explore the logistics that turn an asphalt parking lot into a magical circus community. Early each summer circus performers from around the country gather in St. Louis for what amounts to a family reunion capped by breathtaking performances for audiences under the big top. Interviews include Circus Flora artistic director Ivor David Balding and St. Louis Arches acrobatic troupe director Jessica Henthoff.
Nine Network of Public Media Video: Their Life Is a Circus
More Nine Network of Public Media Video from Circus Flora