Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen (Vintage) |
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Binding: PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 796 EAN: 9780307279187 Edition: Reprint ISBN: 0307279189 Label: Vintage Manufacturer: Vintage Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 304 Publication Date: January 04, 2011 Publisher: Vintage Release Date: January 04, 2011 Studio: Vintage Related Items:
Editorial Review: Amazon.com Review: Book Description 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 worldâs 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 Mexicoâs 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. Amazon Exclusive: A Q&A with Christopher McDougall  Question: Born to Run explores the life and running habits of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexicoâs Copper Canyon, arguably the greatest distance runners in the world. What are some of the secrets you learned from them?Christopher McDougall: The key secret hit me like a thunderbolt. It was so simple, yet such a jolt. It was this: everything Iâd been taught about running was wrong. We treat running in the modern world the same way we treat childbirthâitâs going to hurt, and requires special exercises and equipment, and the best you can hope for is to get it over with quickly with minimal damage. Then I meet the Tarahumara, and theyâre having a blast. They remember what itâs like to love running, and it lets them blaze through the canyons like dolphins rocketing through waves. For them, running isnât work. It isnât a punishment for eating. Itâs fine art, like it was for our ancestors. Way before we were scratching pictures on caves or beating rhythms on hollow trees, we were perfecting the art of combining our breath and mind and muscles into fluid self-propulsion over wild terrain. And when our ancestors finally did make their first cave paintings, what were the first designs? A downward slash, lightning bolts through the bottom and middleâbehold, the Running Man. The Tarahumara have a saying: âChildren run before they can walk.â Watch any four-year-oldâthey do everything at full speed, and itâs all about fun. Thatâs the most important thing I picked up from my time in the Copper Canyons, the understanding that running can be fast and fun and spontaneous, and when it is, you feel like you can go forever. But all of that begins with your feet. Strange as it sounds, the Tarahumara taught me to change my relationship with the ground. Instead of hammering down on my heels, the way Iâd been taught all my life, I learned to run lightly and gently on the balls of my feet. The day I mastered it was the last day I was ever injured. Q: You trained for your first ultramarathonâa race organized by the mysterious gringo expat Caballo Blanco between the Tarahumara and some of Americaâs top ultrarunnersâwhile researching and writing this book. What was your training like? CM: It really started as kind of a dare. Just by chance, Iâd met an adventure-sports coach from Jackson Hole, Wyoming named Eric Orton. Ericâs specialty is tearing endurance sports down to their basic components and looking for transferable skills. He studies rock climbing to find shoulder techniques for kayakers, and applies Nordic skiingâs smooth propulsion to mountain biking. What heâs looking for are basic engineering principles, because heâs convinced that the next big leap forward in fitness wonât come from strength or technology, but plain, simple durability. With some 70% of all runners getting hurt every year, the athlete who can stay healthy and avoid injury will leave the competition behind. So naturally, Eric idolized the Tarahumara. Any tribe that has 90-year-old men running across mountaintops obviously has a few training tips up its sleeve. But since Eric had never actually met the Tarahumara, he had to deduce their methods by pure reasoning. His starting point was uncertainty; he assumed that the Tarahumara step into the unknown every time they leave their caves, because they never know how fast theyâll have to sprint after a rabbit or how tricky the climbing will be if theyâre caught in a storm. They never even know how long a race will be until they step up to the starting lineâthe distance is only determined in a last-minute bout of negotiating and could stretch anywhere from 50 miles to 200-plus. Eric figured shock and awe was the best way for me to build durability and mimic Tarahumara-style running. Heâd throw something new at me every dayâhopping drills, lunges, mile intervalsâand lots and lots of hills. There was no such thing, really, as long, slow distanceâheâd have me mix lots of hill repeats and short bursts of speed into every mega-long run. I didnât think I could do it without breaking down, and I told Eric that from the start. I basically defied him to turn me into a runner. And by the end of nine months, I was cranking out four hour runs without a problem. Q: Youâre a six-foot four-inches tall, 200-plus pound guyânot anyoneâs typical vision of a distance runner, yet youâve completed ultra marathons and are training for more. Is there a body type for running, as many of us assume, or are all humans built to run? CM: Yeah, Iâm a bigâun. But isnât it sad thatâs even a reasonable question? I bought into that bull for a loooong time. Why wouldnât I? I was constantly being told by people who should know better that âsome bodies arenât designed for running.â One of the best sports medicine physicians in the country told me exactly thatâthat the reason I was constantly getting hurt is because I was too big to handle the impact shock from my feet hitting the ground. Just recently, I interviewed a nationally-known sports podiatrist who said, âYou know, we didnât ALL evolve to run away from saber-toothed tigers.â Meaning, what? That anyone who isnât sleek as a Kenyan marathoner should be extinct? Itâs such illogical blatherâall kinds of body types exist today, so obviously they DID evolve to move quickly on their feet. Itâs really awful that so many doctors are reinforcing this learned helplessness, this idea that you have to be some kind of elite being to handle such a basic, universal movement. Q: If humans are born to run, as you argue, whatâs your advice for a runner who is looking to make the leap from shorter road races to marathons, or marathons to ultramarathons? Is running really for everyone? CM: I think ultrarunning is Americaâs hope for the future. Honestly. The ultrarunners have got a hold of some powerful wisdom. You can see it at the starting line of any ultra race. I showed up at the Leadville Trail 100 expecting to see a bunch of hollow-eyed Skeletors, and instead it was, âWhoah! Get a load of the hotties!â Ultra runners tend to be amazingly healthy, youthful andâbelieve it or notâgood looking. I couldnât figure out why, until one runner explained that throughout history, the four basic ingredients for optimal health have been clean air, good food, fresh water and low stress. And that, to a T, describes the daily life of an ultrarunner. Theyâre out in the woods for hours at a time, breathing pine-scented breezes, eating small bursts of digestible food, downing water by the gallons, and feeling their stress melt away with the miles. But hereâs the real key to that kingdom: you have to relax and enjoy the run. No one cares how fast you run 50 miles, so ultrarunners donât really stress about times. Theyâre out to enjoy the run and finish strong, not shave a few inconsequential seconds off a personal best. And thatâs the best way to transition up to big mileage races: as coach Eric told me, âIf it feels like work, youâre working too hard.â Q: You write that distance running is the great equalizer of age and gender. Can you explain? CM: Okay, Iâll answer that question with a question: Starting at age nineteen, runners get faster every year until they hit their peak at twenty-seven. After twenty-seven, they start to decline. So if it takes you eight years to reach your peak, how many years does it take for you to regress back to the same speed you were running at nineteen? Go ahead, guess all you want. No one Iâve asked has ever come close. Itâs in the book, so I wonât give it away, but I guarantee when you hear the answer, youâll say, âNo way. THAT old?â Now, factor in this: ultra races are the only sport in the world in which women can go toe-to-toe with men and hand them their heads. Ann Trason and Krissy Moehl often beat every man in the field in some ultraraces, while Emily Baer recently finished in the Top 10 at the Hardrock 100 while stopping to breastfeed her baby at the water stations. So howâs that possible? According to a new body of research, itâs because humans are the greatest distance runners on earth. We may not be fast, but weâre born with such remarkable natural endurance that humans are fully capable of outrunning horses, cheetahs and antelopes. Thatâs because we once hunted in packs and on foot; all of us, men and women alike, young and old together. Q: One of the fascinating parts of Born to Run is your report on how the ultrarunners eatâsalad for breakfast, wraps with hummus mid-run, or pizza and beer the night before a run. As a runner with a lot of miles behind him, what are your thoughts on nutrition for running? CM: Live every day like youâre on the lam. If youâve got to be ready to pick up and haul butt at a momentâs notice, youâre not going to be loading up on gut-busting meals. I thought Iâd have to go on some kind of prison-camp diet to get ready for an ultra, but the best advice I got came from coach Eric, who told me to just worry about the running and the eating would take care of itself. And he was right, sort of. I instinctively began eating smaller, more digestible meals as my miles increased, but then I went behind his back and consulted with the great Dr. Ruth Heidrich, an Ironman triathlete who lives on a vegan diet. Sheâs the one who gave me the idea of having salad for breakfast, and itâs a fantastic tip. The truth is, many of the greatest endurance athletes of all time lived on fruits and vegetables. You can get away with garbage for a while, but you pay for it in the long haul. In the book, I describe how Jenn Shelton and Billy âBoneheadâ Barnett like to chow pizza and Mountain Dew in the middle of 100-mile races, but Jenn is also a vegetarian who most days lives on veggie burgers and grapes. Q: In this difficult financial time, weâre experiencing yet another surge in the popularity of running. Can you explain this? CM: When things look worst, we run the most. Three times, America has seen distance-running skyrocket and itâs always in the midst of a national crisis. The first boom came during the Great Depression; the next was in the â70s, when we were struggling to recover from a recession, race riots, assassinations, a criminal President and an awful war. And the third boom? One year after the Sept. 11 attacks, trailrunning suddenly became the fastest-growing outdoor sport in the country. I think thereâs a trigger in the human psyche that activates our first and greatest survival skill whenever we see the shadow of approaching raptors. (Photo © James Rexroad) Product Description: An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? Isolated by Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons, the blissful Tarahumara Indians of have honed the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury. In a riveting narrative, award-winning journalist and often-injured runner, Chris McDougall sets out to discover their secrets. In the process, he takes his readers from science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra-runners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to a climactic race in the Copper Canyons that pits America’s best ultra-runners against the tribe. McDougall’s incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Born to RunIf you are still reading reviews by the tim eyou get to this one, any summary of critique of the book isn't going to change your mind, you've most likey decided to read it and now are just skimming the reviews to see what other people said. So simply put, this is one of the best books I have ever read, Friday Night Lights and Into the Wild put together, mixed with some philosophy and science. I can guarantee that anybody that reads this book will have a shift in perception, no matter who you are or where you come from, if you are human, this book is going to tilt your world on its head. Think Daniel Quinn style, like in Ishmael or Story of B, this author touches universal truths that make the reader view the world differently after reading it. So buy it, don't get it from the library, and read it once or twice before passing it onto a friend. For real. Rating: - interesting!Even if you don't run but you admire what people can do - very interesting book Rating:  - The Book that Sent Barefoot Running MainstreamAside from being a very fun read, this book has grown to cult following status. Obviously barefoot running was around before this book came out, but due to the huge hype and attention given to Chris and his best-seller, the barefoot running movement has moved into the mainstream. Today Show, NY Times, etc. Now, I don't know if this was Mr. McDougall's intention but it worked. I even saw a Tarahumara cookbook online the other day! As far as the book goes, content wise I really enjoyed the story of his adventures with the tribe and the insight into a completely different lifestyle. The way the book went back and forth between story and science was seamless. Especially interesting was the section on WHY we are "Born to Run" and the theory of us vs other animals running "style" (Slow and steady wins the race, and gets the food :)) I highly recommend this book to all runners, especially if you have ever run a marathon or are considering it. It is inspirational and humbling. When is the follow up book coming out!? -Chad Brooklyn Running Rating: - Read this even if you don't run...yetI am writing this review for those who may pick up the book on a whim, like I did, and come away from it completely astounded, motivated and most of all- curious. I am not a marathon runner- just an average person that tries to stay in shape with exercise here and there. I have lived my whole life being told that my body type is not for running- that even though I have a small frame- my short and squat legs make running too damaging on my joints. And of course, when I developed a 'permanent injury' at the ripe, old age of 27, I figured they were right. But after reading McDougall's book I learned something- I routinely have purchased new and state of the art running shoes that make me feel like I can sprint into clouds- thinking this is what I have to do as my feet need all the support they can get; I pound the earth like I am wearing 50 lb weights on my ankles; and most of all, my stride is long and my back is curved. I never have known how to truly run. A few weeks ago, I went for a run using McDougall's technique and for the first time ever, I was not tired or in pain after running- and I was smiling. McDougall is right- this is the answer to America's survival and much more- the survival of the human race. Ever since I saw Disney's Wall-E movie, I have been very disturbed by the idea that we are all on our way to "B&L Land". We, as homo sapiens, cannot deny our very nature and purpose. We were designed to move and most importantly, to run. So, if you have not bought this book yet- run and buy it. Then, run and buy a copy for your loved ones. And most importantly- get out and move in any way you can- you will surprise yourself and realize that you are....born to run. p.s. My only critique of the book is that I am incredibly curious about what happened to the runners after the race...what are they doing now? Rating: - Perhaps this book has saved my lifeMy own story ties in with Author McDougall's. So forgive my write up but this book may have been the genesis for a profound change on my part. This book may affect you like it did myself. I had seen extreme running for years and figured it was sort of strange obsession that modern people have. It's like Civil War reenacting, Star Trek geeks, and people who bungie jump for a rush; people have a diversion from their weekly boring lives. But I had heard the part about barefoot running and was intrigued, bought the book and read it. This book may have just saved me. The following story relates to the book. In 2006 I had been called by the Army out of retirement to do my part to save civilization, train soldiers to fight terrorism and all that. Then three things happened to me. First, I was involved in a minor vehicle accident when getting training supplies that left pins in my ankle and total pain when I ran. Second, I found out my activation did absolutely nothing to help train these soldiers. It was pointless. Last, I ran across an insane active duty army colonel who took it on herself with misguided zeal to have every soldier going through Ft. Sill, Oklahoma to be fitted with special shoes to prevent running injuries. I am well over 40 and looked at this colonel the same way folks in the past had heard insane ravings from people in charge. In your gut you know they are wrong, seriously wrong. But you do not have the power to prevent their well intentioned bad deeds. The weird thing, when looking back on it after reading this book, is this colonel may have injured more soldiers with bad running shoes than terrorists have done when fighting in Iraq. In 2007 the Army sent me back to retirement. I drounded my spirits with analogs to alcohol: sloth and food. While years earlier I was in fair shape. 2007 turned into later years and I got more and more out-of-shape. I was a big and bloated normal American. Modern doctors do not read a person a riot act as in the past. Contrary to popular wisdom, they are far too busy for that. They just shrug as you get more and more out of shape. The doctor might think it's a minor bet if you will make the next annual physical. This last June I saw this book at a library. The story on the barefoot runner got my interest. But this reader is a military historian and studies armies in action. This book gave me the back ground of how the German Army beat France in 1940 and the Confederates ran rings around the Union Army in 1862 to 1863. More on that later. Christopher McDougall explains that we humans are born to run. A human, with proper training, can run a marathon, lose weight, and live a very healthy lifestyle. Indeed, I consider this book so imporatant that if every college made it required reading you would not see such heavy college students. Honestly, I liked this book. Christopher does two things with this book. First, he tells us about the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico. These people are suvivors of both the Aztec's aggression and the blood thirsty Spanish invaders of the 16th Century with their diseases that wiped out no less than 90% of the people living in the Americas 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. The Tarahumara merely retreated to the most remote and hot part of Mexico to live their lives in peace and to be the world's last perfect runners. The second part of this book is Christopher ties in what is wrong with our modern running. He weaves both the Tarahumara and an introduction to running together in a seemless book that's a fun read. Nike shoes gets a lot of the blame for the terrible running problems in America. Why? Nike is merely trying to sell shoes and Christopher spends chapters telling the reader about the most perfect running machine ever designed: the human foot and the human body. Nike has done everything in their power to destroy feet in the misguided attempt of just trying to help. Honestly, when I read that Nike knew their shoes were causing injuries when they talked to running coaches BACK IN 1988 then I was steaming and wishing some good trial lawyers were writing good notes and getting their class action suits ready. For years this running had put up with shin splints and all sorts of other ailments. We protect our feet too much. Christopher takes the reader through his own reinvention as a runner. Gone are the high-teck shoes that merely ruin a person's feet. Christopher loses weight by adapting some of the Tarahumara's diet and just plainly not-eating-as-much. Author McDougall sees a running specialist who shows Christopher how to properly run. In a year he goes from barely able to run five miles to being able to run ultra marathons. While the reader is being given stories on how Nike knows their shoes are bad, how ... Read More Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display |
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