I was totally gripped and totally unquestioningly accepted McDougall’s hypothesis. I first read Born to Run at a time when I 4 or 5 times a week and devouring every book on running I could find. He may not be the most neutral of narrators at times – he clearly had a blast and really liked the people he met along the way – but he manages to tell the story and make his points in a fast paced and entertaining way. McDougall’s passion and enthusiasm shines through. The book is exceptionally readable and packed with a cast of fascinating entertaining characters. The theory goes that humans developed the ability to run long distances in order to literally run down prey.
McDougall also explores the hypothesis that gives the book its title – that humans have evolved as a running animal. Spoiler alert: as technology improves, injuries have gone up, not down. The book has gained most of its attention for its exploration of barefoot running and the (surprising) impact running shoes have had on injury rates. McDougall intersperses the story of him tracking down and the secret race being organised with his own musings on how running has moved away from its original origins. McDougall becomes enthralled by stories of the Tarahumara who can run amazing distances without shoes and without injury. Part manifesto, part love letter to running, the book is built around a secret race that the author took part in alongside the reclusive Tarahumara Native Mexican tribe and the legendary ultra-marathoner Scott Jurek.
Born to Run was a huge hit when it was published in 2009.
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