| A few weeks ago I came across an article that | | | | arguably the best ultrarunner on the planet and the |
| writer and runner Christopher McDougall had written | | | | top non-Tarahumara challenger for the Copper |
| for the Daily Mail on the questionable value of | | | | Canyon race title. There's Luis Escobar, who is |
| modern running shoes. That article, titled "The painful | | | | another accomplished ultrarunner and the main race |
| truth about trainers: Are running shoes a waste of | | | | photographer. There are the Tarahumara, the quiet, |
| money?" piqued my interest, and I began to look into | | | | peaceful people for whom running is part of the daily |
| the literature on barefoot and minimalist running. As it | | | | fabric of life. Finally there's Christopher McDougall |
| turned out, McDougall had just written a new book, | | | | himself and his trainer Eric Orton, and a good chunk |
| titled "Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, | | | | of the book details how McDougall transforms himself |
| and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen," | | | | in 9 months from an oft injured runner into someone |
| which talks about running shoes as part of a much | | | | who manages to make it to the starting line of a |
| larger story of ultra racing adventure, philosophy, and | | | | 50-mile race with full expectations of finishing (I won't |
| running science. It is a phenomenal book, and a must | | | | give away if he does). |
| read for anyone who runs. | | | | What makes this book such a thoroughly enjoyable |
| At it's heart, Born to Run is much more than a book | | | | read is that McDougall is a fantastic storyteller and a |
| about running shoes. In fact, the bulk of McDougall's | | | | great researcher. He shifts with ease from recounting |
| diatribe against the shoe industry occurs in just one | | | | his harrowing adventures in the Copper Canyons, to |
| chapter (Chapter 25 to be exact). Born to Run is | | | | the antics and life stories of his running companions, |
| more a book about the love of running - it is a book | | | | to discussing the perils of running shoes and the |
| about regaining the joy that running can bring to your | | | | evolution of running in humans (which, as an |
| life, and about why running is more than just a way | | | | evolutionary biologist, is one of my favorite parts of |
| to keep your weight down and your muscles toned. | | | | the book). He also throws in some interesting stories |
| It is a book about why we all should run, and why | | | | about some of the more well known ultra-races (e.g., |
| those of us who enjoy running what many consider | | | | Leadville, Western States, Badwater), as well as |
| to be insane distances love doing so. It is a book | | | | some no-holds-barred descriptions of some of the |
| about why running is a part of our history as a | | | | higher profile ultra-runners. |
| species, and why running is truly a gift that was | | | | Ultimately, where McDougall succeeds most in this |
| bestowed upon us as human beings. | | | | book for me as a runner is that he really made me |
| The book begins with the author's quest to find a | | | | think about why it is that I love running. I listened to |
| shadowy tribe of Mexican Indians known as the | | | | the last bit of the book while on my final 20-mile |
| Raramuri (translated as the "Running People," the | | | | training run for the Vermont City Marathon, and it |
| Raramuri are more commonly known to outsiders as | | | | helped me through what turned out to be a really |
| the Tarahumara). The Tarahumara inhabit a remote | | | | tough run. He makes you realize that getting caught |
| region of the Chihuahuan Desert known as the | | | | up in pace, distance, etc. can sidetrack you from the |
| Copper Canyons, and they tend to be very shy | | | | real joy of running, and he reinforced my belief that |
| around outsiders. What is special about the | | | | when we run, we are really running for ourselves - |
| Tarahumara from the standpoint of this book is that | | | | we run because we're supposed to. McDougall's |
| they are renowned as a culture that revolves around | | | | comment about the Copper Canyon race that he |
| distance running, and among their numbers are some | | | | was "running against the course" really rang true for |
| of the greatest distance runners on this planet. While | | | | me. I know that I have no chance at winning a |
| on this journey, McDougall meets up with a | | | | marathon, so why do I compete? I do so because I |
| mysterious American who lives in the canyons among | | | | can challenge myself against the course, and I do so |
| the Tarahumara and goes by the name of Caballo | | | | because I love running. This book also made me think |
| Blanco - the "white horse." Caballo lets McDougall in on | | | | about my running shoes, and I've already purchased a |
| an audacious plan that he's concocting - he's | | | | pair of Nike Free 3.0's in the hopes of transitioning |
| organizing a race whereby he hopes to bring some | | | | into a more minimalist style of running, and I may |
| of the top ultra runners on the planet down to the | | | | give the Vibram Fivefingers a try at some point |
| Copper Canyons to face off with the best the | | | | down the road. Finally, I liked this book because it |
| Tarahumara have to offer on a grueling 50-mile ultra | | | | makes me want to run a 50-mile ultramarathon, and |
| marathon course. | | | | if a book can accomplish that feat, you know that it |
| The Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon forms the | | | | has to be good. |
| backdrop for most of the remainder of the book, | | | | So if you're a runner now or hope to become one, |
| and in addition to Caballo Blanco, McDougall introduces | | | | this book is absolutely a must read. I would rank it as |
| a number of other colorful characters along the way. | | | | the most enjoyable running book that I have read, |
| There's Barefoot Ted, a guy who lives his name by | | | | and probably one of the best books of any kind that |
| running without shoes. There's Jenn Shelton and Billy | | | | I've read in a long time. I urge you to check it out - |
| Barnett, two hard-partying young ultrarunners who | | | | you won't be disappointed. |
| like to live life on the edge. There's Scott Jurek, | | | | |