Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

Written and narrated by Leigh Martinuzzi

Born to Run, an inspiring narrative about the Tarahumara Indians and their uncanny ability to run and the investigation into why you, me, all of us are perhaps all born to run. Fascinated by the limits of human potential and why his foot hurt, Christopher McDougall, trained as a foreign correspondent, went on a journey of discovery.

Lead by curiosity, McDougall takes us running with a group of ultra-runners and the Tarahumara, that may seem treacherous to many, to explore the secrets behind how this tribe can run for miles on end without rest or injury. If you’re a runner you be left itching to up your game, and if you’ve never run before you may just find yourself starting.

Firstly, what I love about this book is the passion not only shared by McDougall but all the individuals that form part of this running story. Human passion when followed shines hope and inspiration into the heart and leaves you in awe of the possibility of human potential. How can you not be amazed as you hear of the dedication these ultra-runners missioning on journeys 50 to 100 miles long. And it’s not all blood, sweat and tears, there are many humorous shenanigans, escapades and good comradery along the way.

What makes the Tarahumara so special and why was McDougall so interested in following this tribe? As a passionate runner himself, McDougall was constantly suffering injury and as he looked into it further, he discovered he wasn’t alone. He shares statistics that eight in ten runners are injured every year despite the ever-improving high-tech gear. As one article reports, “running seemed to be the fitness version of drunk driving: you could get away with it for a little while… but catastrophe was waiting around the corner.” *

In his search, McDougall discovers the Tarahumara, a tribe of Mexican Indians who have for centuries relied on running to survive in what is described as a deadly place in North America, the Copper Canyons. These guys live to run and run to live. They run for miles without rest to chase down deer. The kids and adults play a ball game running casually for serval miles kicking and chasing a baseball-sized wooden ball throughout the canyons. And all of this is done with an unbelievable level of joy and what’s more, they lack injury.

No shoes, strong mental clarity, diet and good form all form part of McDougall’s investigation. He travels to Harvard learning the science of human biology and what how we have evolved to become endurance runners. He investigates Nike and how the invention of shoes in 1973 has become more detrimental to our running health than anything else. The proof was there! In 1993 one Tarahumara tribesman at the age of 57 wearing a toga and sandals came first in a 100-mile race.

While the story McDougall shares keeps your attention all the way through, I was fascinated by the science and research that supports the human running condition and evolution. McDougall argues that humans left the forest to the savanna and in order to survive and chase down prey we naturally evolved to run, as what has now coined the endurance running hypothesis.

The book is currently being made into a feature film which I for one am looking forward to. This is an outstanding read and one that leaves you educated and inspired. I haven’t started to run barefoot yet, but as the science highlights, it may be worth my personal investigation and experimentation. I didn’t even consider myself a runner, nor did I entertain the idea that I was born to run in my later years running has bought me great happiness and this story has certainly inspired me to do more.

• https://www.cleveland.com/books/2009/07/born_to_run_by_christopher_mcd.html

If this book sounds of interest you can purchase Born to Run here.

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Peace, passion and purpose…

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