Friday, July 13, 2018

Born to Run: Book Review


And I am back. Don't know how many comebacks have I done till now. This place keeps pulling me to share my strongest thoughts and views. So, I am back to my blog world with a different flavor of writing - my first attempt at writing a book review. Never before have I written a book review, not even on Amazon or Goodreads , usually escape by giving the ratings. And so I chose to write a review on a book about running ( something close to my heart)-  "Born To Run" by Christopher McDougall. 

The book is based on one simple fact - running is a skill, doesn't matter which footwear you wear, if you know the right technique,  focus on your form, you are good to go for miles !

The book's central character is the author himself, a journalist by profession.  An interesting article on Mexican Indian tribe - Tarahumara and his own personal inquisitiveness to know how to run without a pain sets him off for this life altering journey to remotest areas of Mexico. His subject of study is Tarahumara tribe, known to be the greatest mainstream runners of all time. The book outlines in detail difference between their running style and ours which is the key differentiator, and also provides a peek into their daily affairs, lifestyle, diet etc. Imagine running up and down the mountain trails for miles wearing nothing more than a thin rubber strip sandals- that's the way they do, not occasionally but every day, not for any money or fame, but for the sheer joy of running !!

In addition to this interesting discovery of Mexican tribe, the book also talks about the history of ultra-running, famous ultra-runners and legendary races. One such race was Leadville Trail 100, a 100 mile race, wherein Ann Transon, a prodigy, posed a stiff competition to Tarahumara. This race becomes talk of the town for days. The book highlights startling scientific discoveries as well, for example, the modern shoes may be actually causing us injuries because the natural form of running for humans is barefoot running.

The book's conclusion is the most exciting part. It ends up with author's dream race between Tarahumara and America's best ultra-runners, celebrating the true spirit of human endurance and sportsmanship!  Overall, the book is a good combination of memoir, sports history, adventure, science & evolution - celebrating the theory that we humans are 'born to run'.

I would leave you with this beautiful passage from the book -
"Know why people run marathons? Because running is rooted in our collective imagination, and our imagination is rooted in running. Language, art, science; space shuttles, Starry Night, intravascular surgery; they all had their roots in our ability to run. Running was the superpower that made us human -- which means it's a superpower all humans possess."