• 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
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (19,886 ratings)

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Born to Run  By  cover art

Born to Run

By: Christopher McDougall
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
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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

Featured Article: The Best Running Audiobooks You Should Be Listening to


Running can be an arduous task, especially for those who are new to the sport. It can also be a life-giving force for those who are already more involved in the running community. Either way, it’s one of the best athletic ventures to couple with a great audiobook. Listening to the inspirational stories of other runners can be just what you need to push through a difficult jog or set a new personal record. Our list of great listens about running has you covered.

What listeners say about Born to Run

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Wow

What an amazing story! I am SOO happy to have found this book. Talk about an easy way to kick start the lost runner in all of us.

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Compelling story

This story had me on the edge of my seat with excitement, tears, inspiration and awe! Can’t wait to revisit parts of this book again!

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Great Book

Really great book. If you're going to start running barefooted or in toe shoes, ease into it. do not do what I did and go too hard at first. I ended up with calcaneal bursitis and unable to run for the last few weeks.

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way more than I expected

A beautiful story with comedy, tragedy, and heartwrenching twists entertwined with history and scientific perspective.

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Very good book

Good read. Highly recommend. Entertaining and inspiring. Everything is explained in a meaningful way.

9.26/10

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Why are you reading this when you could be listening to the book!!!

This is the go to book for all runners old and young, a fantastic story with precious lessons and nuggets of running philosophy scattered throughout cleverly disguised as the most interesting racing story I’ve ever heard! can’t wait to read the training guide next!

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Great Book

Even if you’re not a runner this is a fascinating book. You learn about some famous runners and the importance of running to our ancestors. Plus all the interesting characters make this a very enjoyable book.

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A Great Story of Running

I enjoyed the way this book was narrated. It was easy to follow and entertaining. The narrator doesn’t put you to sleep and even will make you laugh on occasion.

The story was really cool. It definitely broadened my horizons about what being a runner is. I want to go hunt down a deer with a gang of friends on foot - if only I had some friends who were runners like me!

Good listen. Would recommend to any runner or anyone for that matter.

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Fascinating

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how it seamlessly switched between adventure story and technical information.

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Amazing And inspiring book

I loved it so much. What a beautiful book . I can’t wait to get more books from this author

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