St. Michael Library Featured Book: "Born to Run"

When was the last time you read a book that made you want to put it down midchapter – and go run ten miles barefoot? When was the last time you read a book so engrossing you were seriously considering flipping to the last page to see what happens at the end? When was the last time you read a book that made you think maybe you were underestimating your own abilities to get up and run for days through rugged mountains, and find the experience joyful?

Born to Run is such a book and the four months it resided on the New York Times Best Seller list confirms it was not just me that found it compelling!

Christopher McDougall is a freelance journalist and the author of the 2009 best-selling book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.  McDougall’s editor sent him to the remote and foreboding Copper Canyons of Mexico to find out three things. First – is there really a tribe of modern day, super-athlete ultramarathoners living up in the nosebleed caves of the canyon? Second – if so, what is their secret? Third – are they beatable by today’s best Olympic ultramarathoners?

Thus begins the author’s journey into the life of the Mexican Tarahumara Indians. McDougall does find the tribe and they are for real. Although he starts with the intention to find out if they are unbeatable, in the end, he becomes consumed with the longing to learn to run as they run. In the process, he meets a cast of real and unforgettable characters. There is the lone and mysterious Caballo Blanco – a renegade American now Mexican transplant, whose own ultramarathoning abilities have won the trust and respect of the reclusive Tarahumara. The arguably world’s best ultramarathoner Scott Jurek, who lives for the opportunity to pit himself against other extreme ultramarathoners. The young, clueless and incredibly fast college kids Billy and Jenn.  They behave as though they just ambled out of a pool party, but yet can run the distance of back-to-back marathons with no more preparation than rolling out of bed – late.

As McDougall lives and runs with the Tarahumara – he recognizes the dirt poor, often illiterate runners have something he does not have nor do few of his western friends – injury free running. For reasons McDougall cannot understand at first – the Tarahumara can run further, faster and on harder trails with little to no shoes and to a fault – they are injury free. The book digresses midway through, to espouse McDougall’s theory that we humans were not only designed to run long distances – we were designed to do it barefoot. He maintains the naked foot is the world’s most powerful suspension bridge.  High tech cushioned running shoes have prohibited our ability to “feel the earth” and land correctly – thus creating a nation of dangerous “heel strikers”.  Barefoot running by design – is a dynamic feedback system between your brain and your feet, which propels the runner to land “correctly” on the balls of the feet each stride. That might sound nonsensical, but after reading the scientific and antidotal reports from his bevy of experts, and following his logic step by step – I too was convinced. Having run a marathon myself, I could not wait to chuck my expensive running shoes and give barefoot a try. To avoid an ER visit for embedded glass shards and a tetanus shot from rusty nails, I compromised by wearing old ballet slippers. Against my husband’s better judgment, I set out for a short run. Six amazing miles later, my feet felt like I had just had a massage. I am never going back to running shoes!

Many of the ‘secrets” of the Tarahumara are easily adaptable to our western lives. They drink beer, they take naps, they run barefoot or wearing thin homemade sandals. Many are vegans but all fuel up on corn. The primary reason the Tarahumara can run 100 miles a day, often over several days – is no one ever told them that it is not possible. They begin running at a young age, and continue till well into very old age, running together and running for the sheer joy of running. They have a joie de vie and running for them is spiritual and simple and beautiful. The Tarahumara also teach the westerners the power of “pack running’ for camaraderie. When you run for joy, it is simply more pleasing to run with a friend. The book’s messages ring true and intuitive – ditch your shoes, “eat like you’re poor” and the “runner’s high” is yours for the taking as it is all in the attitude. “Run how a kindergartener runs”, and you’ll run happy and injury free.  It works.

The final chapters of the book are devoted to Caballo Blanco’s dream – the greatest 50 mile canyon race ever, pitting the best Tarahumara against the world’s best western ultramarathoners. All now friends, all fringe personalities, all now deep in the canyon ready to race and ready to win. 

Who crosses the finish line first, and how, is worth the read alone. Whether you are a runner, couch potato or simply an avid reader, you will find this book captivating, funny, inspiring and unforgettable.

Reserve your copy now at the St. Michael Library!