Born to Run

Burned through this in two days, which is pretty rare for me.

Very entertaining book, and great writing. Not sure how accurate it is - some parts tend to be exaggerated to the point of hyperbole - but that doesn't take away much from the sheer entertainment in reading about the events.

Recommended, and you don't have to be a runner to enjoy it.

Honestly I loved almost every piece of this book. The narratives, the racing, the profiles, maybe not so much the science, but I don't really think that's what this story is about.

As long as you don't take too much of the “science” as fact (and resist the urge to start barefoot running throughout whatever city you're reading this from), this book is pure hype on the human body and spirit - and a sport that unites the entire human race.

I've gone through all the personal phases of running as the author and I found myself cheering him on throughout the entirety of the book. Am I inspired? Yes. Am I more hyped on going on my next run? Yes. Did I just sign up for a 50 mile ultra? No. But who cares!

The worst part of this book - he follows every basic Spanish phrase with the exact English interpretation. Give your readers a little faith they know some basic Spanish or can get through with context clues.

Like many other runners, I was drawn to Born to Run because it captured the tale of the fascinating Tarahumara Indians—a community of cultural ultramarathon runners in Mexico. This book is much more than a book about running, though.

McDougall's book takes the reader on a whirlwind adventure through the dangerous Copper Canyons of Mexico and some of the craziest ultramarathons in the U.S. The first two-thirds of the book centers around his experiences trying to find the mysterious Tarahumara and a man who has become associated with them, Caballo Blanco (White Horse). Along the way, McDougall introduces some light sociopolitical issues in Mexico—though certainly not enough to irritate the anti-politics reader—and offers a humorous outlook on the experience. Later in the book he gets to the more physiological stuff that will probably interest runners and forensic anthropologists more than anyone else.

I read the book after a discussion with a colleague about how much I hate running. He did too until he read it so I gave it a try. I enjoyed the book, a mixed of stories about ultrarunning, a Mexican running tribe and (pseudo)science.
I'm now intrigued about minimalist shoes but not sure if I'm ready to fork the cash to buy them. Can it really make me like running?

AWESOME

Christopher McDougall tells us the story of a bunch of crazy people joined by their love for running, trespassing language, cultural and literal borders with no other goal than running for the sake of it and I loved it.

McDougall skillfully juggles storytelling with information, since there is a main story that pushes us forward but we are getting several tangents of backstory or information.
The book's primary focus is exploring the differences between the Tarahumara and us regarding endurance running. He also highlights small differences that anybody can apply to their runs. Since reading this book, I've been doing some experiments of my own while running and have noted a considerable improvement. I don't know if it is a placebo or something like that... but it got me out of the house and into more runs than I would have done normally and I have even started enjoying running. A sport I previously hated.

As with any “Self Help” book you have to take all the information that is given to you with a grain of salt and never do literally all that is told.
I haven't thrown all my shoes away since reading this book... But I have started paying more attention to my walking and running, being more mindful of my body.

The chapters regarding the evolution of the human for running were very interesting for me since it was the first time I've read about human evolution in a positive way. sometimes you ask yourself, how did we evolve to our present day if we are such weak members of the animal kingdom? McDougall's answer was not only refreshing from a typical pessimistic point of view but also convincing.

All in all a great book to gift any runners you know, or if you are a runner to get somebody you know to join this beautiful sport. I will continue running with a big smile on my face :)

For the few who may not have heard of it yet, Born to Run is a book about the Tarahumara of Mexico, a group of preternaturally good runners. In this book, author Christopher McDougall uses the Tarahumara and a race staged on their home turf as a backdrop to discuss running, particularly long distance running, in many different ways.

The story is compelling, the characters fascinating and larger than life, and the writing is engaging and immediate, while still remaining thoughtful. It does come across as somewhat sensational at times, and you are left wondering just how solid the studies that are referenced are. However, there really is a powerful story here, with some evidence to back it up, that running really is something we humans should be doing. Not just something that we can do. Running really does seem to be almost an essential part of our nature, and this book does a great job of eliciting a response in the reader. I definitely recommend Born to Run, and plan on re-reading it whenever I feel my running mojo fading.

The story telling was top-notch and beautifully described the emotions of the athletes. I honestly had no idea the Tarahumaras were such badasses. The lengend of Caballo Blanco (the gringo that went to live among the tribe) and the science explained in this book has made me want to put on my shoes (actually, take them off and replace them with running ‘huaraches') and pound the track again. I don't think I have any Raramuri blood in my ancestry, but I feel a desire for spiritual connection with these people.

Part Wade Davis meets Carlos Castaneda shot through a gonzo filter, I blazed through this in a weekend.

People kept waving this book in my face, it was their call to action, their inspiration. But they weren't desk bound, corporate 9 to 5'ers living a sedentary, middle aged existence. What the hell could be of interest here? An elusive Mexican tribe of runners called the Tarahumaras, evolutionary science, ultramarathons and reconsidering the way we run. Not a lot to recommend this book to me.

I loved it. McDougall goes off in so many directions but manages to hold it all together. A testament to the compelling nature of this read, it's even got me signed up for Couch to 5K - (heavy emphasis on couch). I just love the idea of running not as torture or a means to a (tight) end but as an evolutionary birthright. A potentially joyous, zenlike state of being that can recall our true selves. McDougall does this without going all “The Secret” on you and maintains high geek cred.

What was the last book you read that actually got you off your ass?

Christopher McDougall sorprende a todos con un libro fantástico que recorre cada uno de los aspectos por los cuales el hombre es una criatura nacida con el fin último de correr. Desde los aspectos más psicológicos y trascendentales, pasando por los conceptos biomecánicos y el aspecto cultural de la actividad.

Sorprende la forma en la que el autor ha absorbido la cultura Tarahumara, tribu aborigen de ultramaratonistas capaz de iluminarnos a todos en su forma de conocer su propio cuerpo, su propia tierra y el vínculo que se desarrolla entre ambos mediante el puro placer que significa correr.

Una lectura imperdible. Quienes practiquen running, seguro cambiará su forma de pensar a la hora de poner un pie delante del otro. Y para quienes no lo practiquen, una calurosa bienvenida: acaban de volverse un corredor mas (insisto en que es imposible leer este libro e inmediatamente después no querer salir a devorar distancias al trote).

Un último detalle: es imprescindible que durante toda la lectura estén descalzos, y en lo posible con los pies sobre el césped, en conexión directa con la madre tierra.

I loved this book it was so hard to go to bed at night rather than finish this book. I have such a soft spot in m heart for the Tarahumara after reading this book. I hope they stay the same pure, gentle people that they seem to be in this book. It makes we want to start running again. It gives me hope of finding peace in taking care of my body. Great read.

*It does have some profanity btw.