As a past runner, this book was fascinating. If you are not interested in athletics, specifically running, it may not be the best book for you. However, if you are, I found it hard to put down. I had heard about Born To Run before Christmas and when I went home one of my family members had just finished reading it. In the week that I was home it bounced between many of my siblings so that we all got a taste of it but I never got my hands on it to finish it. Thankfully, I was reunited with this book and could read it through to the end.
This is a book written by an injured runner looking for an answer to the continuing problems he has just trying to run several miles a day a few times a week. After seeing doctors, specialists, and many others the general conclusion seems to be that human bodies just aren’t built to run. The jarring impact of each step results in more injuries then almost any sport. The author did not give up and continued to seek out runners, sports writers and coaches who might have answers.
In this pursuit he discovered the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico who are able to run miles and miles and miles across very difficult terrain. And they do it with joy and good spirit. In tracing this group down to learn their secrets he discovers another American who has come to live among the Tarahumara mainly for the joy of running the trails in the area and he peace and joy that it brings him. He speaks with Christopher McDougall about what he has learned and tries to set up a race between the Tarahumara and other ultramarathon elite in the Tarahumara’s own land. Racers are gathered for this difficult 50 mile race to determine whether the legend of the Tarahumara can match up with the best in the world.
Throughout this narrative the author weaves information about diet and sportswear and the impact these things have on running. He talks with many people who argue that the more expensive and high tech a running shoe is, the more dangerous it is to a runner. The arguments are centered around the fact that running barefoot (or close to it) strengthens your feet and helps your body to naturally adjust your stride in order to cope with changes in terrain and the pounding that it takes. Running barefoot leads people to take shorter strides and land more on the ball of their feet distributing the weight and cushioning the impact. Running in highly padded running shoes leads people to land on their heels and not make the adjustments that are needed to avoid injury. He offers a lot of evidence that running related injuries have increased in the last 40 years since the invention of high tech running shoes.
In the end a great race is held that brings people from different cultures and backgrounds together to run over 50 miles. The first stays to cheer for the last and as an ex-runner, it reminded me very much of the comraderie that goes on between runners. It reminded me of the joy that can be felt in challenging your body to it’s limits…although I’m not sure if it convinced me to start training for an ultramarathon. It was a great mix of information and history built around the moving story of a race. I would highly recommend this book.
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