Born to Run

A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

By: Christopher McDougall

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The astonishing and hugely entertaining story that completely changed the way we run. An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?

“Equal parts quest, physiology treatise, and running history.... The climactic race reads like a sprint.... It simply makes you want to run.” —Outside Magazine

Isolated by Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons, the blissful Tarahumara Indians have honed the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury. In a riveting narrative, award-winning journalist and often-injured runner Christopher McDougall sets out to discover their secrets. In the process, he takes his readers from science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra-runners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to a climactic race in the Copper Canyons that pits America’s best ultra-runners against the tribe. McDougall’s incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.

©2009 Knopf (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

“Compelling. . . . Entertaining. . . . [McDougall] uses an extended portrait of one of the world's least known cultures, the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico's Copper Canyons, to put modern American running under an exacting magnifying glass.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Equal parts quest, physiology treatise, and running history. . . . [McDougall] seeks to learn the secrets of the Tarahumara the old-fashioned way: He tracks them down. . . . The climactic race reads like a sprint. . . . It simply makes you want to run.”—Outside Magazine

“Hugely entertaining. . . . One of the most joyful and engaging books about running to appear for many years.”—The Irish Times

Great book EVEN IF you're not a runner

I'm not a runner, but I LOVED this book. If you like a great story (actually, many great stories) about the human spirit, athletic determination, interesting and unusual people you'll love the book. It's very well-written and voiced.

A vivid blend of science and storytelling!

I really enjoyed this book. Whether you are an avid runner or someone less interested who perhaps just has a mild curiosity about running I think you will enjoy this book. I myself am a frequent but by no means zealous runner so I picked this book up with the intent to learn something new about the running world and I was in for a pleasant surprise! The author really nails weaving stories about some wildly interesting characters well known for their differential running beliefs with the science that backs each up, making a compelling case for different running techniques. I will admit I was thoroughly entertained throughout and would recommend this book regardless of if you run or not for sheer entertainment value!

Awesome book!

Captivatingly romantic storytelling while also informational and eye opening into the world of ultrarunning. Very interesting and fun read!

Best listen in a long, long while

After listening, I immediately listened to the whole book a second time. It is a life-changing experience. It teaches you about endurance, life and the simple enjoyment of it all. Technically it's changed the way I exercise and eat. It should be required reading for our overeating, out of shape generation.

Ready to run

I was a ten mile a day runner until I had kids and then suffered an injury, listening to this story gives me inspiration to try to build up my miles again!!!!

A must read for anyone with an interest in fitness

I have recommended Born to Run to almost everyone I know who is interested in fitness. Not sure the lengthy dissertations on foot anatomy and the modern "science" of Nike running shoes would appeal to the everyday couch potato. But I'm an active person so I loved it, especially the characterizations of the important players in running and sports medicine. Part history lesson, part science experiment, part sermon, this book was captivating from beginning to end. I've even adopted a new habit that was introduced later in the book - the breakfast salad - that has proved to be nothing short of a nutritional breakthrough for me! It was especially poignant to have read the book with the recent death of Caballo Blanco, and narrator Fred Sanders' Spanish pronunciations added to my listening enjoyment.

Great story

I found this to be fun and educational book. I recommend this book.
Great stories it keep you in suspense and it draw you in to the race as well.

Born to Run

Very exciting and informative...kept my attention the whole time. Turned me into a barefoot believer.

Fascinating! Inspiring! Addicting!

This one is hard to stop listening to. Then it makes you want to drop everything and go get lost on a 20 mile trail run. Then makes you want to go to Mexico in search for the Tarahumara. It will even make you fall in love with running. All the characters are great. The science and history are fascinating. This book will not disappoint.

Favorite book of all time!

Beautiful story with an exceptional amount to learn from. I wasn't even aware of the reader - which is ideal in my opinion. Easily my favorite book of all time. I am a moderate athlete - not about to run 27 miles but I can break out 5k any day of the week.