Born to Run

By Ken Steele

I recently finished reading: "Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen," by Christopher McDougall. It is a truly inspiring tale, and I recommend it highly to runners and non-runners alike. Immediately after finishing the book, and despite a layoff of over a year, I laced up my running shoes and wheezed my way around a few blocks, being as mindful as possible, while fearing immediate cardiac arrest.  At the end, I felt absolutely fantastic and vowed to run again soon!

McDougall examines the role that running plays in the lives of the Tarahumara Indians, who inhabit a remote and rugged area of Mexico. The book jacket provides an excellent summary: "For centuries they (the Tarahumara) have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and to chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence... (At the end of the book) you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that "all of us, were born to run."

The book can be read at several levels: it can be seen as an adventure tale (an exploration into foreign lands, culture and characters); a treatise on the possibilities of the human physiology (Is man really meant to be a running animal? If so, why do so many runners end up injured?); and a mystery (Who are these people who are running such "crazy" distances?  Surely this cannot be good for you?) McDougall interweaves the various levels of his tale in such a masterful manner that the reading experience is like encountering fiction at its best - the story moves effortlessly along.

"The Greatest Race the World has Never Seen" refers to a matchup between the Tarahumara Indian runners and some of the best and craziest, ultra runners from the U.S., who challenge the Tarahumara on their home turf - a fifty mile race in the hot and "deadly Copper Canyons" of Mexico. Who wins? How do the Tarahumara stack up against arguably the best ultra runner of all time? You'll have to read the book to find out. You'll also find out about the special food that provides the Tarahumara with their endless energy. You will be inspired - if not to run a fifty-miler, perhaps then - to wheeze your way around a few blocks.