Written by: Christopher McDougall
Reviewed by: Shelby Brown
The Premise: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen has been on my reading hit list for a while. As an avid runner myself, I was told time and time again to read this by my ‘more avid runner friends.’ While reading Born to Run however, I realized that this was not only a book for those passionate about running, but more importantly, those who are passionate about pushing themselves to the limits and utilizing their full potential. Christopher McDougall does an excellent job of narrating what is one of the world’s most secret events: hundred mile super marathons run by Mexico’s Tarahumara hidden tribe and they key to their superhuman powers, which is focus on health and serenity. Commencing with his journey and discovery of the tribe, McDougall, a runner himself, narrates on the premise of his battle with constant injuries – which were consistently diagnosed as running related. Throughout the story, McDougall discovers the ways of the Tarahumara tribe and begins to train for his own 50 mile race.
McDougall takes us from the hidden countryside of Mexico to the research labs at Harvard in an effort to discover the root of injuries that occur in the first world, versus those that do not occur in places like the countryside of Mexico, during hundred miles races. While you may not agree, or have an opinion on some of the research throughout the book, the one thing that can be agreed on is that Born to Run is extremely engaging and designed to inspire your body and mind.
The Bottom-line: Born to Run is like no other book I’ve read. It’s remained a bestseller for a reason. The inspiring story of the Tarahumara and their hundred mile races really challenges what we’ve been told about ourselves and really makes you want to challenge yourself and push your boundaries. It is a fascinating and inspiring story and inspiring. Even if you are not a runner, the messages in this book and McDougall’s research brings a whole new meaning to endurance, resilience and the power of the human body.
Recommendation: If you are looking for a book that will change your perspective on endurance, this is the one for you. I found this book not only captivating and educating, but thought provoking and motivating.
