Synopses & Reviews
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 worlds 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 Mexicos 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.
Review
“Hugely entertaining....One of the most joyful and engaging books about running to appear for many years.” The Irish Times
Review
“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
Review
“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
Review
“Born to Run is funny, insightful, captivating, and a great and beautiful discovery.” Lynne Cox, author of Swimming to Antarctica
Review
“A page-turner, taking the reader on an epic journey in search of the world’s greatest distance runners in an effort to uncover the secrets of their endurance.” The Durango Herald
Review
“Driven by an intense yet subtle curiosity, Christopher McDougall gamely treads across the continent to pierce the soul and science of long-distance running." Hampton Sides, author of Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers
Review
"One of the most entertaining running books ever." Amby Burfoot, Runnersworld.com
Review
“It’s a great book....A really gripping read....Unbelievable story....a really phenomenal book.” Jon Stewart on The Daily Show
Synopsis
The astonishing national bestseller 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?
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.
Synopsis
An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? 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.
Synopsis
An inspiring memoir from ultrarunner Scott Jurek, star of Born to Run, covering his remarkable running career, fueled, surprisingly, by an entirely plant-based diet.
Synopsis
and#8220;In pursuing the mental side of endurance, Jurek uncovers the most important secrets any runner can learn.and#8221;and#8212;Amby Burfoot, author of
The Runnerand#8217;s Guide to the Meaning of LifeFor nearly two decades, Scott Jurek has been a dominant forceand#8212;and darlingand#8212;in the grueling and growing sport of ultrarunning. Until recently he held the American 24-hour record and he was one of the elite runners profiled in the runaway bestseller Born to Run.
In Eat and Run, Jurek opens up about his life and career as a champion athlete with a plant-based diet and inspires runners at every level. From his Midwestern childhood hunting, fishing, and cooking for his meat-and-potatoes family to his slow transition to ultrarunning and veganism, Scottand#8217;s story shows the power of an iron will and blows apart the stereotypes of what athletes should eat to fuel optimal performance. Full of stories of competition as well as science and practical adviceand#8212;including his own recipesand#8212;Eat and Run will motivate readers and expand their food horizons.
and#8220;Jurekand#8217;s story and ideas should easily manage to speak to and cheer on anyone seeking to live life as fully as possible.and#8221;and#8212;Denver Post
and#8220;A shockingly honest, revealing, and inspiring memoir.and#8221;and#8212;Trail Runner
Synopsis
From a young journalist and seasoned athlete, a funny, fist-pumping ride through the wacky world of obstacle course racing (Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, etc)
Synopsis
andldquo;Beresini uncovers the growing sportandrsquo;s most compelling characters and provides the most authoritative insidersandrsquo; guide to date.andrdquo; andmdash;Outside and#160;
andldquo;By the end of her riotous narrative, I had to wipe mud from my glasses at least twenty-six times.andrdquo; andmdash;Gary M. Pomerantz, author of Their Lifeandrsquo;s Work
A fun, funny, fist-pumping romp through the thriving new fitness culture of obstacle course racing
Obstacle course racing is the fastest-growing sport in U.S. history. Every week, thousands of marathoners, CrossFitters, and casual weekend warriors shell out money to run through mud and fire, crawl under barbed wire, scramble over ten-foot walls, and dodge baton-wielding gladiators. Some even sprint through electrically charged wires only to suffer muscle-seizing shocks and faceplant in the muck.
In Off Course, Outside journalist and endurance athlete Erin Beresini dives straight into this strange world to reveal a new subculture of military-inspired amateur competition and the industry thatandrsquo;s rapidly growing to support it. Having reached a crossroads in her own athletic pursuits, Beresini embarked on a journey to train and compete in several obstacle races herself, culminating in the worldandrsquo;s first marathon-length event, the grueling Spartan Ultra Beast. Along the way, she met a wild cast of characters, from frat boys to housewives, fitness buffs to financiers to fanatics, and uncovered the sportand#39;s biggest scandals, lawsuits, and rivalries.
As Beresini inches ever closer to her goalandmdash;and gets pretty buff in the processandmdash;she also illuminates the history, psychology, science, and sociology of this new sport thatandrsquo;s taking the endurance world by storm.
Synopsis
In this searing and inspiring memoir, a runner, nowand#160;thirteen years sober, confronts his past in a bib number and pair of running shoes, completing seven marathons in a year's time.
Synopsis
andldquo;
Running Ransom Road is Caleb Daniloffandrsquo;s unblinking, ultimately triumphant account of his journey from mean, hopeless drunk back to humanity and himselfandmdash;through distance running. Itandrsquo;s a searing tale of spiritual redemptionandmdash;one marathon, one mile, one brave, difficult step at a time.andrdquo;andmdash;Steve Friedman, co-author of
New York Times bestseller
Eat and Run and author of the memoir
Lost on Treasure Island For fifteen years, the words that best described Caleb Daniloff were andldquo;drunk,andrdquo; andldquo;addict,andrdquo; and andldquo;abuser.andrdquo; These days, the best word to describe him is andldquo;runner.andrdquo;
In Running Ransom Road, the long-since-sober Daniloff confronts his past by setting out to run races in each of the cities where he once lived and wreaked havoc during that lost period of his life. As he competes in marathons from Boston to Vermont to Moscow, he explores his old destructive life and how runningandrsquo;s sobering and inspiring effects have changed him for the better. In doing so, he connects with others like him, illuminating the connection between addiction and running. Running Ransom Road is at once a memoir of addiction, finding oneself, and learning to push past barriers both physical and emotional.
andldquo;Just as Caleb Daniloffandrsquo;s life was about to tumble into the abyss of addiction, he was lucky enough to discover he liked to run, simply for himself. In Running Ransom Road, his captivating narrative describes a journey of personal redemption that, fortunately for us, he is willing to share.andrdquo;andmdash;Frank Shorter, Olympic marathon gold medalist
About the Author
SCOTT JUREK is a world-renowned ultramarathon champion who trains and races on a vegan diet. He has prominently appeared in two
New York Times bestsellers,
Born to Run and
The 4-Hour Body, and has been featured on CNN and in the
New York Times,
USA Today,
The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other media. Known and admired for his earth-conscious lifestyle, Scott is also a highly sought after motivational speaker, physical therapist, coach, and chef. He has delivered talks to numerous organizations, including Microsoft, Starbucks, and the esteemed Entertainment Gathering. He lives in Boulder.
STEVE FRIEDMAN is the author of Lost on Treasure Island, Driving Lessons, and The Agony of Victory and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Loose Balls. His work has appeared numerous times in The Best American Sports Writing. His website is stevefriedman.net.
Table of Contents
Prologueand#8195;xi
1. Somebodyand#8195;1
Badwater Ultramarathon, Death Valley, California, 2005
2. Sometimes You Just Do Thingsand#8195;10
Proctor, Minnesota, 1983
3. For My Own Goodand#8195;18
Caribou Lake Invitational, 1986
4. Iand#8217;d Rather Skiand#8195;27
To Adolph Store And Back, 1986
5. The Pride of the Cake Eatersand#8195;37
Running Aroundand#160;with Dusty, 1991and#8211;92
6. The Wisdom of Hippie Danand#8195;45
Theand#160;Minnesota Voyageurand#160;50-Miler, 1994
7. and#8220;Let the Pain Go Out Your Earsand#8221;and#8195;54
Theand#160;Minnesota Voyageurand#160;50-Miler, 1995; 1996
8. Attack of the Big Birdsand#8195;62
The Angeles Crest 100, CALIFORNIA, 1998
9. Silent Snow, Secret Snowand#8195;72
Training for the Western States 100, Minnesota, 1999
10. Dangerous Tuneand#8195;81
(More) Training for the Western Statesand#160;100, Seattle, 1999
11. and#8220;Are You Peeing?and#8221;and#8195;91
The Western States 100, California, 1999
12. Bug Boy Goes Downand#8195;104
The Western States 100, 2000, 2001
13. Of Bears and Gazellesand#8195;123
The Western States 100, 2002 AND 2003
14. Hot Timesand#8195;130
The Badwater Ultramarathon, Death Valley, California, 2005
15. These Guys Again?and#8195;142
The Copper Canyon, Mexico, 2005
16. No Good Deed Goes Unpunishedand#8195;154
The Western States 100, California, 2006
17. Hunted by the Wasatch Speedgoatand#8195;164
The Hardrock100, Silverton, Colorado, July 2007
18. The Photographer Who Wasnand#8217;t Thereand#8195;175
Spartathlon, Athens, Greece, September 2007
19. Lostand#8195;192
Duluth, Minnesota, 2010
20. One Step at a Timeand#8195;207
Slacking in Yosemite Valley, 2010
21. Back to My Rootsand#8195;215
The Tongo Trail, 2010
Epilogueand#8195;221
IAU World 24-Hour Championships, 2010
Acknowledgmentsand#8195;229
Race Historyand#8195;230
Notesand#8195;235
Indexand#8195;241