Friday, August 05, 2011
Born to Run
By Christopher McDougall
Christopher McDougall makes many statements with his book Born to Run. He tells a story of the Tarahumara, an isolated tribe of American Indians living in the remote foreboding Copper Canynons in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. He explains the theory of how long distance running may have been the reason our species has ascended to the dominate species on our planet. He then argues for barefoot running and how modern footwear has damaged our technique and health. Finally, he weaves all these together with a Zen-like concept that to be a distance runner, one must become a better human being.
This was a great easy read. McDougall spryly and humorously incorporates himself in the stories he tells but he does not dominate.
The climatic ending sees the greatest Tarahumaras running against the great Scott Jurek and others. The outcome is not important; it is the running that matters.
Christopher McDougall makes many statements with his book Born to Run. He tells a story of the Tarahumara, an isolated tribe of American Indians living in the remote foreboding Copper Canynons in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. He explains the theory of how long distance running may have been the reason our species has ascended to the dominate species on our planet. He then argues for barefoot running and how modern footwear has damaged our technique and health. Finally, he weaves all these together with a Zen-like concept that to be a distance runner, one must become a better human being.
This was a great easy read. McDougall spryly and humorously incorporates himself in the stories he tells but he does not dominate.
The climatic ending sees the greatest Tarahumaras running against the great Scott Jurek and others. The outcome is not important; it is the running that matters.
