Born to Run
Summary:
Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.
Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.
With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. “Born to Run” is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
Despite my love for running, I resisted reading this book because it was described as “the barefoot running” book. As someone with collapsed arches and difficulties finding shoes, I was not that interested in reading about something I knew it was unlikely I’d be able to participate in. But this book is so much more. McDougall is a fantastic writer who weaves in the history of running, types of runners in the animal kingdom and the human psychology of running. I found it fascinating to understand a bit more about what our ancestors did, and what we might be able to do ourselves if given enough time and training.
I am also pre-disposed to love a book that touches on the crazy people in Colorado that also enjoy running up ridiculous mountains. There is something amazing about challenging yourself on those slopes and reading more about the Leadville Trail 100 is like reading about celebrities of the sport you enjoy. Even those who are not runners will enjoy this book and I certainly think it’s worth the time!
Rating: 5 stars!
Who should read it? Fans of an adventure and want to learn a bit more about running.