Born to run : : a Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Traverwood Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Sports & Recreation / Sports / Running	4-week checkout	In transit
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	796.424 McD	4-week checkout	Due 05-17-2024
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Sports & Recreation / Sports / Running	4-week checkout	Due 05-13-2024

McDougall reveals the secrets of the world's greatest distance runners--the Tarahumara Indians of Copper Canyon, Mexico--and how he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of super-athletic Americans.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Great book! submitted by bgood007 on January 22, 2010, 7:48pm My only complaint about this book is that it is too short. I would love more detail about just every aspect of the story--especially the information on running without injury. I couldn't put it down. I'm very tempted to read it again. A great true story, told well, with tons of interesting information about running.

Can't put it down! submitted by drreader on June 9, 2010, 5:10pm "Born to Run" is mind expanding and suspenseful while describing the grinding challenge of ultramarathons--100 miles at high elevation on mountainous terrain. Reading about the life and athletic abilities of the "stone age" Tarahumara Indians of isolated Copper Canyons, Sierra Madre, expands my concept of what the human body can do in the face of living in a hostile environment. I liked the description of running by Tarahumara's and certain other ultramarathoners as being joyful. They run for the love of running. The book also has a lot of technical details about the sport of long distance running. It's amazing what you can do on beans, corn, and chia seeds.

Mythology for Runners submitted by CasualTim on July 31, 2010, 11:40am The previous reviews are dead-on: this book will end up glued to your hands if you are a runner, were a runner, or have an interest in running or human achievement and evolution.

This one gives a little more insight than Scott Carrier's <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/80/Running-After-Antelope">Running After Antelope</a>, best listened to read aloud on This American Life at the given link. Carrier's work is a bit short, but full of mystery, wonder, and beauty. It's required consumption if you enjoyed Born to Run, and vice-versa.

Both works, though, seem to enjoy leaving most of the details up to us to create. It is both frustrating and reverential. They create their own mythology, and to the right audience are hugely powerful and inspiring.

Fascinating submitted by kbcmmom on July 26, 2011, 7:52pm Wonderful combination of history, technology, culture and where we are today presented in an enjoyable read. Much of the information sticks with me long after my initial reading.

Running Lore submitted by Caser on January 5, 2012, 1:34pm I finally got around to reading this book after snubbing it for years because I thought the whole thing was an argument for barefoot running, which I've heard dozens of times, and I couldn't imagine reading that conversation again for 300+ pages. But when I got 20 pages in, I realized that I was caught up in a captivating story about people who run really really far. Which is something I connect with.

The backstory of the Tarahumara people and their ability to run 50 - 100 miles at a time over sun scorched mountains in Mexico was intoxicating. How was that possible? Who can go that far, that fast, on terrain hardly anyone can even live on? And then McDougall brings American ultrarunners and their incredible accomplishments into the story, and readers can connect even more deeply. The narrative reads like a magazine feature -- super quick. Unfortunately, the author uses excessive hyperbole when describing some of the characters, namely Caballo Blanco, for after I saw a picture of the actual man, I had a hard time connecting the two. This detracts from the book's credibility, but does make for a fun, if outlandish, read.

McDougall is at his best when he's telling a story, and because he was actually there for many of the book's best stories, such as the climactic race of Tarahumara vs. American champion ultrarunner Scott Jurek, the book carries quite a punch. I listened to the book while running, which was an inspiring experience because it made me want to see how far I could really go.

He is at his very worst when he is making the myopic argument that shoes with cushioning and stability technology are the source of all running injuries, and that barefoot running will end every runner's injuries. There are many factors that also contribute to running injuries that McDougall doesn't even address, such as building mileage too fast, muscle imbalance, too much intensity in training too soon, and improper nutrition to name a few. There are some good points made along the way about the ways in which certain shoes can weaken your feet, but some simple strengthening exercises could prevent this much more easily than running barefoot. The author's failure to address these common mistakes severely weakens his argument and detracts from the book's credibility.

Overall, Born to Run contributed positively to my running experience, for I connected with those in the book who run best when they run with a smile, filled up with an activity that is recreation, exercise, and something in our human nature.

run! submitted by godzilla on August 12, 2013, 10:59pm All I will say is this book got me to take up running at the age of 43. I just completed my first half at the age of 45.

Took an odd topic and made it gripping submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on July 11, 2014, 9:01am Absolutely fantastic. A non-fiction book that uses excellent storytelling to cover everything from extreme running, the anatomy of the foot, Nike's marketing strategy to Mexican geography and its role in history and why Homo Erectus beat out the Neanderthals.

Like _Seabiscuit_ (about horseracing) and _The Blind Side_ (about football), _Born to Run_ took a topic that could be deadly dull and made it gripping. I'll read about just about anything if you can tell it as a story. This one was great.

Inspirational submitted by sjham16 on June 25, 2015, 12:26pm Well-written and expands your mind. I really liked how the author told his dangerous yet amazing journey running with the Tarahamura Indians.

Very Enjoyable submitted by ktmsu7878 on June 29, 2015, 1:56pm I really liked the way the author made the book a story even though it is non-fiction. Defiantly, an enjoyable read that one can relate to.

Interesting submitted by karenkay on July 16, 2016, 2:32pm I found this book to be very interesting and a quick read because of that.

Exhiliarating submitted by reaganmalcolm on June 24, 2020, 11:36pm This book traces back running to its very human roots, and made me want to get up and run for the sheer joy of it. From discussions of running techniques to life-or-death backcountry searches, this book had elements of excitement to rival any thriller.

Born to run submitted by downing on August 7, 2022, 3:17pm It changed how I think about running. It's amazing.