Born To Run?

October 12, 2010

I'm not a runner. It all seems rather boring and pointless to me. However, I do enjoy running sports like basketball or soccer. It might seem odd, but put some kind of ball in it, and running takes on a whole new meaning of excitement and entertainment. I wonder... could I actually enjoy running? The jury is still out trying to figure that one out.

In the meantime, I came across a book entitled Born to Run: a Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall. I wondered if this book could give me some answers, or at least provide some encouragement about running. The author was an average runner, plagued by injuries, soreness, what shoe to buy, and does diet matter or not; typical questions and issues that affect runners or runner wannabes. I was intrigued by the title and wanted to know more after I read about the Tarahumara Indian tribe in Mexico. They lived in the Copper Canyons and routinely ran 50 or 100 miles like no big deal, even with a smile on their face. Now if I ran just one mile, I would not have a smile on my face. What was their secret? That is what the author set out to discover.

The book tries to cover all angles of running from the Tarahumara Indian tribe, the science of running, how our bodies are made, attitude, training, and how what we eat will affect our running. Doctors also were asked to talk about how running helped them and their patients. Bold statements were made in the book like, if more people actually did get off the couch and run, many illnesses could be prevented. And get this; running barefoot is one of the best ways to run. The Tarahumara Indians wore a kind of sandal, not some fancy running shoe or hiking boots as they ran through the canyons where they lived, which was amazing.

If you ever thought about running, or about taking up running as a form exercise, you should read this book. It may have some answers to your questions, and provide some entertainment with colorful characters the author runs across in his quest to be a better runner.

I'm actually feeling kind of hyped about running, but first I need to put down my chocolate donut and make the commitment to start running!

Kevin Z.
Red Bridge Branch