a hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen
Hardcover, 287 pages
English language
Published Aug. 24, 2010 by Alfred A. Knopf.
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 …
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. (front flap)
This is a love letter to running
I've only been running for a short time, and my whole workout is probably a warm-up for the people you'll read about in this book. At the same time, these stories are inspiring, educational, and leave me eager to head out for my next awkward run tomorrow.
I learned so much from this book about the sport of ultrarunning, evolutionary theories about humans and running, the rich history of the Tarahumara, and much more. Christopher McDougall tells a great story of the Tarahumara in Mexico and intertwines that narrative with the experiences of the other runners in the climactic race at the end of the book. This book has inspired me to keep running through the frigid winter months, and is definitely a "must-read" for any runner!
Written to be entertaining and informative, it ends up being highly motivational. Loved it, and I'd read it again. Maybe again after that.
A fascinating book that I would never have picked up on my own. The writing was sharp and the metaphors apt. The characterizations were engaging (although most of these people were crazy). The book was well structured, although I could have done without the lame teasers. And it was packed with information. About the Tarahumara, and anatomy and the history and marketing of the running shoe. I did take much of that with a grain of salt however. He may have painted an overly rosy picture of the Tarahumara. And I am not about to throw away my orthotics and go back to running around barefoot.
Greg (who had come in Susan's place) had read that one of the runners in the book had died recently. So Stephanie and I logged onto the internet to check. Micah True/Caballo Blanco had a heart attack on a wilderness run a few weeks …
A fascinating book that I would never have picked up on my own. The writing was sharp and the metaphors apt. The characterizations were engaging (although most of these people were crazy). The book was well structured, although I could have done without the lame teasers. And it was packed with information. About the Tarahumara, and anatomy and the history and marketing of the running shoe. I did take much of that with a grain of salt however. He may have painted an overly rosy picture of the Tarahumara. And I am not about to throw away my orthotics and go back to running around barefoot.
Greg (who had come in Susan's place) had read that one of the runners in the book had died recently. So Stephanie and I logged onto the internet to check. Micah True/Caballo Blanco had a heart attack on a wilderness run a few weeks back. So running isn't a panacea for health.
I haven't read a book this groundbreaking (no pun intended) since Sex at Dawn. There's a reason there are so many glowing reviews of Born to Run. The luxury of modern life has weakened our feet. If you're tired of knee and foot problems, READ THIS BOOK. I'll stop my proselytizing now.
Born to Run alternates between chapters of the search for the Mexican Tarahumara Indians, info about top foot researchers and distance runners, and play by play accounts of several footraces. Injury free running requires joy and technique - it doesn't matter how much your shoes cost.
Check out McDougall's website for the latest info chrismcdougall.com/blog/
If you enjoy podcasts, listen to the related Radiolab segment "Limits of the Body" www.radiolab.org/2010/apr/05/
Absolutely amazing story. If you do any running at all this is not only a highly entertaining title but also an extraordinary story of inspiration. If you do anything athletic this is a fantastic story to read and you owe it to yourself to read it.
I am not a runner. I could not care less about the sport of running. But... This book was amazing. The story of the author's participation in a great foot race and the stories about the wonderful cast of real-life characters had me hanging on every word.
This is a book that makes running 60 miles sound fun. It's that ripping of a good read. Now, I'm biased, of course, since I love to run. But you won't catch me running over 10 miles, let alone 26, let alone 100. But after reading this book, I'm eager to just get out there again, feel the air in my lungs, get in tune with my primal begettings.
In addition to having all the elements of a gripping sports thriller, there's also some interesting scientific knowledge presented here. I've known about barefoot running for some time, but I definitely did not know the research that correlates advancement in running shoe technology with injuries. Nor was I aware of the evolution of the running man. All I've ever known is that when I run the right way, I feel damn good. Now there's a book that gives me some reasons …
This is a book that makes running 60 miles sound fun. It's that ripping of a good read. Now, I'm biased, of course, since I love to run. But you won't catch me running over 10 miles, let alone 26, let alone 100. But after reading this book, I'm eager to just get out there again, feel the air in my lungs, get in tune with my primal begettings.
In addition to having all the elements of a gripping sports thriller, there's also some interesting scientific knowledge presented here. I've known about barefoot running for some time, but I definitely did not know the research that correlates advancement in running shoe technology with injuries. Nor was I aware of the evolution of the running man. All I've ever known is that when I run the right way, I feel damn good. Now there's a book that gives me some reasons for why it feels so damn good. And some reasons for trusting the instinct in me that says screw all the fancy expensive toys and just use my feet.
It's well-written, well-researched, and it makes you want to run. What more could you ask for?
