Running has been one of the United States’ fastest growing pastimes over the previous two decades. In his novel, Born to Run, Men’s Health editor Christopher McDougall is one of the thousands of people that were sucked into the running craze that swept the nation. After one particularly painful winter run, McDougall set out to answer the age-old question: Why does my foot hurt? Hunting for an answer, McDougall began his journey by traveling to the isolated Copper Canyons of Mexico in search of the Tarahumara, a tribe of superathletes whose members can run up to 435 miles in two days. The Tarahumara society has remained untouched by the outside world for hundreds of years. They are free of obesity, disease, crime, and other issues that trouble today’s society. In addition to McDougall’s search for the secrets that reside in the tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners, he also finds a surprising truth of the interconnectedness of running and life.
The heart of Born to Run lies in the novel’s build-up toward the ultimate race between some of the best ultrarunners of our time and the Tarahumara. McDougall’s fascinating cast of characters drives the book forward and provides a glimpse into the humanity of elite athletes. This cast includes a record-breaking ultramarathoner, Mexican drug lords, an American canyon dweller, a grieving father, and a young couple whose idea of a pre-race “warm-up” is downing a couple shots. The humorous anticipation of this dysfunctional clan running a fifty mile race on rugged canyon terrain builds excitement throughout the novel.
During breaks in the narrative, McDougall interjects evidence in support of his deeper thesis: why running is so crucial for humans. Contrary to popular belief, the founding of large sports companies such as Nike and Adidas did not incite the running boom. McDougall argues that running has always been a central part of being human. He elaborates on this concept by informing readers of how running was necessary for the survival of our species during ancient times. Running is, quite literally, ingrained in our biology.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The sheer joy that the Tarahumara experience when running reinvigorated my love for running at a time when I needed it most. While this book may be specifically targeted at runners, exercise aficionados, and adventure junkies, I highly recommend it to readers of all ages, regardless of their opinions on running. While the main premise of the book focuses on running, there are many other aspects of the work that all types of people can find entertaining. Some may find pleasure in the book’s eccentric gang of characters, while others may find the detailed discussion of anthropology riveting. McDougall’s epic journey into the mysterious land of the Tarahumara serves as an inspiration to all those willing to go to great lengths to explore their passion.
McDougall, Christopher. Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print.
The heart of Born to Run lies in the novel’s build-up toward the ultimate race between some of the best ultrarunners of our time and the Tarahumara. McDougall’s fascinating cast of characters drives the book forward and provides a glimpse into the humanity of elite athletes. This cast includes a record-breaking ultramarathoner, Mexican drug lords, an American canyon dweller, a grieving father, and a young couple whose idea of a pre-race “warm-up” is downing a couple shots. The humorous anticipation of this dysfunctional clan running a fifty mile race on rugged canyon terrain builds excitement throughout the novel.
During breaks in the narrative, McDougall interjects evidence in support of his deeper thesis: why running is so crucial for humans. Contrary to popular belief, the founding of large sports companies such as Nike and Adidas did not incite the running boom. McDougall argues that running has always been a central part of being human. He elaborates on this concept by informing readers of how running was necessary for the survival of our species during ancient times. Running is, quite literally, ingrained in our biology.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The sheer joy that the Tarahumara experience when running reinvigorated my love for running at a time when I needed it most. While this book may be specifically targeted at runners, exercise aficionados, and adventure junkies, I highly recommend it to readers of all ages, regardless of their opinions on running. While the main premise of the book focuses on running, there are many other aspects of the work that all types of people can find entertaining. Some may find pleasure in the book’s eccentric gang of characters, while others may find the detailed discussion of anthropology riveting. McDougall’s epic journey into the mysterious land of the Tarahumara serves as an inspiration to all those willing to go to great lengths to explore their passion.
McDougall, Christopher. Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print.