As I went into the bookstore to ask for the book Born to Run, I was asked if it was about Bruce Springsteen. And despite living in New Jersey for 2 years (ah!) now, no, I was looking for the book by Christopher McDougall.
I watch The Daily Show with John Stewart on my computer (I can’t afford fancy channels like Comedy Central, though shortly I may not be able to afford the basic channels but more on that later), and a few weeks ago his guest was was Christopher McDougall, the author of Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.
I sat down and read nearly the entire book in one evening. This says as more about the quality of the writing as my lack of a social schedule (generally, I watch The Office reruns when bored...). I was stunned and riveted by turns with the book. I learned that I was evolutionarily designed to be a distance runner. Well, I shouldn’t be so selfish, we are all designed to be distance runners. Who knew? Apparently our ancestors survived to procreate and develop the human race as it is today because they were runners. McDougall references a number of scientific and experiential studies to prove his point.
From this, McDougall also sets up to spit in the faces of all those (many doctors included) who say that the human body wasn’t designed for running, and that’s why so many people get running-related injuries. In fact, according to McDougall, it is the overly designed and overly cushioned sneakers that we wear while running that cause most of the problems. We are never trained to run properly; therefore, it is inevitable that we will hurt ourselves.
One of the most incredible anecdotes was the story of a tribe in Africa who literally ran down their prey. By tracking them and relentlessly pursuing one specific gazelle (deer, kudu, zebra, I don’t remember) throughout a day, they simply ran it to death. This would involve running for hours. From the perspective of someone who suffers through 30 minutes on the treadmill, this was beyond incredible. And beyond beautiful. It shows an intense living in the moment existence as well as incredible strength and stamina. If you need food, you don’t waddle 20 feet to your car, drive to the supermarket, toss plastic covered and highly processed food into a cart, pay a surly underage cashier, waddle back to your car and drive home. It requires skill, companionship, and effort.
The main event, literally, to the book is a 50-mile race in the midst of Mexican drug cartel country. The trail through Copper Canyon was run by elite ultrarunners from America along with members of the legendary Tarahumara Indian tribe. McDougall gives us play by play of the race action from a variety of perspectives while not dwelling overly much on his own experience of the race.
Above all, McDougall emphasizes that as a creature who has evolved as a distance runner, we should celebrate running as something positive, not a punishment after indulging in too many cupcakes. And so while I may not be running any 50 mile races soon (and while my gait continues to be heavier and bouncier (thereby more prone to injury) then the smooth sailing Tarahumara), I have started a new mantra as I run: “I like this; running is fun.” And surprisingly, the more I say it, the more it seems to be true.
I watch The Daily Show with John Stewart on my computer (I can’t afford fancy channels like Comedy Central, though shortly I may not be able to afford the basic channels but more on that later), and a few weeks ago his guest was was Christopher McDougall, the author of Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.
I sat down and read nearly the entire book in one evening. This says as more about the quality of the writing as my lack of a social schedule (generally, I watch The Office reruns when bored...). I was stunned and riveted by turns with the book. I learned that I was evolutionarily designed to be a distance runner. Well, I shouldn’t be so selfish, we are all designed to be distance runners. Who knew? Apparently our ancestors survived to procreate and develop the human race as it is today because they were runners. McDougall references a number of scientific and experiential studies to prove his point.
From this, McDougall also sets up to spit in the faces of all those (many doctors included) who say that the human body wasn’t designed for running, and that’s why so many people get running-related injuries. In fact, according to McDougall, it is the overly designed and overly cushioned sneakers that we wear while running that cause most of the problems. We are never trained to run properly; therefore, it is inevitable that we will hurt ourselves.
One of the most incredible anecdotes was the story of a tribe in Africa who literally ran down their prey. By tracking them and relentlessly pursuing one specific gazelle (deer, kudu, zebra, I don’t remember) throughout a day, they simply ran it to death. This would involve running for hours. From the perspective of someone who suffers through 30 minutes on the treadmill, this was beyond incredible. And beyond beautiful. It shows an intense living in the moment existence as well as incredible strength and stamina. If you need food, you don’t waddle 20 feet to your car, drive to the supermarket, toss plastic covered and highly processed food into a cart, pay a surly underage cashier, waddle back to your car and drive home. It requires skill, companionship, and effort.
The main event, literally, to the book is a 50-mile race in the midst of Mexican drug cartel country. The trail through Copper Canyon was run by elite ultrarunners from America along with members of the legendary Tarahumara Indian tribe. McDougall gives us play by play of the race action from a variety of perspectives while not dwelling overly much on his own experience of the race.
Above all, McDougall emphasizes that as a creature who has evolved as a distance runner, we should celebrate running as something positive, not a punishment after indulging in too many cupcakes. And so while I may not be running any 50 mile races soon (and while my gait continues to be heavier and bouncier (thereby more prone to injury) then the smooth sailing Tarahumara), I have started a new mantra as I run: “I like this; running is fun.” And surprisingly, the more I say it, the more it seems to be true.
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Interesting! I saw this book and was curious, it sounds like a great read.
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