Born To Run

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(I’m not going to describe the content, this is only what I took from the book)

What can I say – for a serious runner like myself (if “serious” means running six days a week), this book is a fantastic motivator. The cast of characters is colorful and the best part is – they’re real (although it’s sometimes hard to believe, but they are all Googlable). McDougall takes us through his search for the Mexico’s Tarahumara’s secret of long and healthy long-distance running. Even his detours into the invention of the first Nike running shoe (which he all but blames for the subsequent running-related injuries), barefoot running and his theories of human evolution into a running man, are entertaining to read.

I can’t say I agree with everything presented in the book, but I did squirm with unease while reading about the grueling endurance races. It was very difficult to pick exactly who to cheer for from many likable characters who, at the end, had to race against each other.

There are many moments in the book that’ll make you wanting to lace up the running shoes and give it a try. The author takes us skillfully on a search through the most inhospitable parts of Mexico’s Sierra Madre for a tribe of the Indian runners who, through the centuries, could thank their survival to the fact that they can outrun any pursuer, and their villages are almost impossible to find. Add to that the rugged canyons they live in, and Mexico’s drug cartels keeping the unwanted visitors away, and there’s the material for a real thriller. Yet, this is a book about running, and discovering the true technique and joy of running. The only thriller exist during the several amazing races described in details.

To sum it up – if you’re not into running, you’ll like Born To Run as a sports book. However, if you are a runner, you’ll treasure it like a running bible.

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