Born to Run

Both a fascinating narrative about a tribe of phenomenal runners and a penetrating enquiry into the very nature of running itself, McDougall’s magnificent work is frequently revelatory. Synthesising social anthropology with sports science, Born to Run is a quite unforgettable read.

At the heart of Born to Run lies a mysterious tribe of Mexican Indians, the Tarahumara, who live quietly in canyons and are reputed to be the best distance runners in the world; in 1993, one of them, aged 57, came first in a prestigious 100-mile race wearing a toga and sandals.

A small group of the world's top ultra-runners (and the author) make the treacherous journey into the canyons to try to learn the tribe's secrets and then take them on over a course 50 miles long.

With incredible energy and smart observation, McDougall tells this story while asking what the secrets are to being an incredible runner. Travelling to labs at Harvard, Nike, and elsewhere, he comes across an incredible cast of characters, including the woman who recently broke the world record for 100 miles and for her encore ran a 2:50 marathon in a bikini, pausing to down a beer at the 20 mile mark.

Born to Run is a wonderful book. From anthropology to running shoe design, McDougall covers running in fascinating detail. Looking at it's use in hunter/gatherer societies right up to the modern money making machines of Nike et al.

At it's heart is McDougall's passion for running and determination to ignore medical advice which suggests he perhaps take up cycling instead. He dispenses with modern techniques, like orthotics, and finds his way to Mexico where he hopes to learn the secrets of the Tarahumara tribe who, for some reason, are phenomenal ultra runners. Very nearly perfect. It should be on everyone's bookshelf.