Born to Run cover art

Born to Run

The Hidden Tribe, the Ultra-Runners, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

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Born to Run

By: Christopher McDougall
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
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About this listen

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 world's 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 Mexico's 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 50-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 ultra runners 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.

©2009 Christopher McDougall (P)2012 Audible Ltd
Anthropology Cultural & Regional Extreme Sports Running & Jogging Track & Field Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Outdoor Injury
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Critic reviews

"Hugely entertaining.... One of the most joyful and engaging books about running to appear for many years." (Times)

"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)

What listeners say about Born to Run

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A must-read

a great book for anyone interested in running or training for any run from a 10km to a marathon and beyond (and you will learn all about how far beyond people go!)

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

brilliantly woven tale

the story has so many excellent allusions and tit bits to temp one into a ton of personal research after the chapter.
the story itself is vivid and characters viseral and bold.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Cabbello

Great in depth story, struggled at first to understand what was happening but then it all fell into place then found it hard to put down, would love to visit the area and have a gentle run

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just Amazing!!!

This is a must to read if you are a runner, ,honestly it is a life changing

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Will change how you view running for the better

Vibrant characters, cutting edge science, the history of our species, and one, breathtaking, race!

This book changed how I perceive and view running. It's no longer just a way to exercise and stay healthy, it's easy, more fun and connects me to our common ancestors.

Recommend to literally anyone who considers themselves human.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book

It shows you a differnet way to approach life and not be so focused on the meaningless consumer culture which we are being consumed by

A great read for any runner or for anyone who has perhaps lost the motivation to run.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

I loved this book and found all of it fascinating, from the tarahumara to the information and experiences surrounding barefoot running. As I was listening to it in short bursts it did feel like the book kept going off at various tangents and I wasn't in a position to stick it out for it to come back to the race, but it always looped back in the end and was all interesting and relevant information. McDougall has clearly done his research and I look forward to reading /listening to some of his other works

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5*

Just a superb listen!
The balance of story and science was perfect.
Genuinly didn't want it to end, couldn't recommend it enough.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really nice listening

I really enjoyed this. McDougall just blends story narrative, character building and the science and history of running into a brilliantly entertaining narrative

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    5 out of 5 stars
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incredible book

Amazing book was gripped from start to finish, fascinating science as well as great story telling, can't wait to hit the trails running again

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