Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall (2011, Paperback, Reprint)

Synopsis
Christopher McDougall, a journalist and running enthusiast, sets out in search of a legendary tribe of tireless runners who live within the massive Copper Canyon of Mexico. The Tarahumara Indians reportedly can run for hundreds of miles without wearing down, and switch instantly to sprint mode to chase down a deer if necessary. McDougall struggles through miles of wilderness to find the reclusive Tarahumara, and is surprised to find a mysterious outsider named Caballo Blanco, or "white horse," living among them. As McDougall trains with the Indians and learns their ancient secrets of health and endurance, he achieves a sense of enlightenment which will completely alter his perspective on running and every other form of motion. To celebrate his newfound spirituality and stamina, he organizes a grueling 50-mile race between members of the Tarahumara tribe and an eclectic mix of distance champions from the United States.

Key Details
Author:	Christopher McDougall
Language:	English
Publisher:	Vintage Books
Series:	Vintage
Format:	Paperback
ISBN-10:	0307279189
ISBN-13:	9780307279187

Additional Details
Edition Description:	Reprint

Size
Length:	287 pages
Thickness:	0.8 in
Weight:	11.2 oz

Publisher's Note
Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.

Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and 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. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.

With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. Born to Run is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.


From the Hardcover edition.

Industry Reviews
"BORN TO RUN is like those dreams many of us have, which start simply and end in the land of the bizarre....McDougall recounts his quest to understand these near superhuman ultra-runners with adrenaline-pumped writing, humor and a distinct voice. Pulling you with him through sun-crisped canyons, plopping you into the path of sweat-less super athletes, and crushing your faith in Nike, he never lets go from his impassioned mantra that humans were born to run."
(07/26/2009)

"[BORN TO RUN has] a fascinating subject, and the pages of [the book] are packed with examples of McDougall's fascination....[It] is an examination of sport, an allegory of cross-cultural understanding and a catalogue of philosophies of living....[and] a thrilling read, even for someone who couldn't care less about proper stride and split times and energy gels."
(06/21/2009)

"[McDougall's] prose is light and airy, informative without being pretentious....[H]e offers insightful sidebars on a variety of topics....[in this] terrific ride, recommended for any athlete." (starred review)
(04/01/2009)