Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen Paperback – March 29, 2011

Once upon a workout dreary, while I trotted, weak and weary,over many quaint and furious heel-strike, feet now throbbing sore,while I stumbled, nearly bumbled, suddenly there came a stabbing,as of someone cruelly stabbing, stabbing at my insole's door."Tis an odd pebble," I muttered, "stabbing at my insole's door-only this, and nothing more."Ah, distinctly t'was but likely, from the dark pits of my psycheas each separate worn out Nike, wrought its mark on arches sore.Lo, though I felt idiotic; - vainly I implored my new orthotic-mend my arches, end my sorrow- sorrow for my poor foot's coreFor the rare and radiant arch once named within this biped's core-nameless here for evermore.And with painful step uncertain, pulled aside my mental curtainThrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,"'Tis some pebble entreating entrance at my poor foot's core-Some odd pebble entreating entrance at my poor foot's core; -This it is, and nothing more."Presently the pain grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,"oww," said I, "You pebble, though small have made running such a choreAnd as I run my strength sapping, and so quickly you came rapping,And so forcefully you came tapping, tapping at my poor foot's core,That I scarce was sure I felt you"- here I un-shod the poor core,empty there, and nothing more.Deep into that Nike peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,Doubting, dreaming dreams no runner ever dared to dream before;But the silence was unbroken, and the emptiness gave no tokenThe only word there spoken was to this biped's unshod coreThis I whispered, and an echo murmured back, "ouch- foot is sore"merely this, and nothing more.Back into the Nike turning, all my joints within me burning,Soon again I felt a tapping somewhat harder than before."Surely," said I, "surely that is something in my orthotics:Let me see, then what therat is, and this mystery explore -Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -'Tis a poor fit and nothing more."Now I stood and flung the shod, though not far, it landed whence I trod,Now stood I, bare and stately, looking on pale feet once soreNot the least pain in my feet; they smiled back as to entreatNow set freed and perched below me was my pale white corePerched in dust and now unshod there was my pale white corePerched and bare, sore no moreThen this bony foot beguiling my sad frowning into smilingBy the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore."Though thy form art shaped and true, thou," I said, "art sure no shoe,Ghastly grim and ancient foot wandering from the Nike shore -Shouldn't I shod you to protect you and your fallen coreQuoth my foot, "Nevermore."Much I marveled this ungainly foot to hear discourse so plainly,Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;For we cannot help agreeing that no living human beingEver yet was blest with seeing naked foot in dust to adore -Foot or toe upon the dirty brown dust now below me, that I now adore,And now to shod "Nevermore."Now my foot, standing lonely in the dirty dust, spoke onlyThat one word, as if its soul in that one word it did outpour.Nothing further then it uttered- no step had it stuttered-Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other shoes I've tried before-On the morrow you will pain me, same as shoes have left me sore."Then my foot said, "Nevermore."Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,"Doubtless," said I, "what foot utters is its only stock and store,Caught from some cruel Nike master whom unmerciful DisasterFollowed fast and followed faster till its steps turned arches sore-Till the dirges of its Hope when shoes turned arches sore-Cried' Never - nevermore'."But the bare foot still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,Hastily found I seat next to my dear feet, looked at arches once held sore;Then upon the dirt road sinking, I betook my feet though stinkingFancy unto fancy, thinking what this fallen arch often soreWhat this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and fallen arch often soreMeant in croaking "Nevermore."This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressingTo the foot whose fiery soles now burned into my bosom's core;This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease recliningOn the dirt road dusty lining that the bright sunlight gloated o'erBut whose dusty dirty lining with the sunlight gloating o'er,shoes shall wear, ah, nevermore!Then me thought my stride grew lighter, like footwork of a prize fighterStride like Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the dusted floor,"Doh!," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent theeRespite - respite, delight, from thy memories of foot once soreQuaff, oh quaff this kind respite, but won't the foot again become sore?"Quoth my foot, "Nevermore.""Barefoot!" said I, "how very odd! - better still than shoes of devil! -Whether Nike sent, or over-pronation caused thee foot to sore,Desolate yet all undaunted, on this dusty path enchanted -On this sole by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore -Is there - is there relief by shoe to be had? - tell me - tell me, I implore!"Quoth my foot, "Nevermore.""Barefoot!" said I, "how very odd! - better still than shoes of devil! -Whether Nike sent, or over-pronation caused thee foot to sore,Tell this soul with fit orthotic, makes me run as though robotic,Shall mine foot have pain thought chronic and remain ever sore?Clasp arch fallen and broken, which has been forever sore?Quoth my foot, "Nevermore.""To you oh shoe this word in parting, shoe or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting -"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!Leave no black swoosh as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!Leave arches to be unbroken!- quit the pain that makes me sore!Take thy print from out my heart, and take thy form from off my floor!"Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."And the shoe, never fitting, still is sitting, still is sittingIn the pallid dust of the trail just where my once shod feet were sore;And the Nikes have all the seeming of a demon that is dreaming,And the moonlight o'er them streaming throws its shadow on the floor;And my sole from out that shadow that lies floating on the floorShall be lifted - Evermore!

Great book, incredibly easy read

Man what an adventure this book was.This is the second time I’ve read it, and it’s just as gripping as the first!Inspires me to lace up my shoes and head out on a run!

I learned so much from reading this book, it’s truly an amazing take about courage, compassion, and the human animal.

I love to get outside and walk, then try my legs at running, but mostly what I do is I trot. I had to read this book, because it is a famous runner's classic by now, and I wanted to learn more about our fabulous human anatomy and how the author, Christopher McDougall assures the reader that we were truly evolved to run.My personal trainer warned me NOT to run, because I am obese.If you were to look at my body, you would not really say I'm obese, but I am overweight or you might say that I am fat. You won't get in trouble for saying that, even though it's sort of mean, because it's the truth and I need to do something about it!So, I need to work out at the gym and I need to run because running burns lots of calories.I happen to love my body, however - and I DO run, because I LOVE the way that it makes my body feel!This book delves into the joy of running, and there is alot of helpful scientific facts that support the notion that all human beings who can walk, can also run.The author assures us that our bodies were designed to run, and in fact, humans have been running to just survive on this planet since the day we appeared on this beautiful earth.Now - I will never be a half-marathoner, and I don't even want to think of being a marathoner; 26 miles is just too much for me to wrap my mind around. But I can do a 5K, and maybe if I try hard and adjust my attitude, I can do a 10K! After reading this book, I know that I can do anything that I set my mind to doing. Running long distances does require some training, dietary support and strategy.McDougall tells a wonderful story about the Tarahumara Indians that run through treacherous trails in the Copper Mountains of Mexico, and the dangers that follow them, which only encourages them to run faster. It is a funny book; full of great scientific insight and suggestions for thought for all of us who dream of running.McDougall's attitude is contagious; the longer I live, the more I realize that it is our attitudes that help us to achieve our goals. Having a positive attitude can push a person to get up and get out and run. Attitude is more important than appearance, than education, than money or circumstances. Attitude can either make you win or lose; it is up to the individual. After reading this book, I realized that life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% on how I react to it. I learned that having the most expensive running shoes is not the best plan...as a matter of fact, McDougall claims that the more expensive the running shoe, the more likely it will cause foot problems or injury!McDougall promotes cheap, beat-up old running shoes or Vibrams; which I always had such a low opinion of because of their extreme ugliness. Nobody wants to see your toes! Feet are somewhat ugly, and Vibrams make them look even uglier; I don't like to show my feet off if I don't have to.But anyhow - - - I loved that McDougall discusses the Mexican diet of pinto beans, tortillas and rice, with some form of protein added to the plate. He gets into Chia, which is a weird plant based grain that I normally never noticed, but now I will go to the health food store and give it a try. You can add it to your cereal, or main dishes or create a drink out of Chia. It's supposed to be a clean and energy packing food. Diet has an enormous impact on one's ability to run and run and run.I can't imagine running for four hours straight, though. I know my limitations. Or are they just self-imposed, imaginary limitations that I should endeavor to smash through like they don't exist? This book has adjusted my attitude about how I view my body.Attitude is what drove this man to overcome his own pain while running, and he achieved a high level of running performance by the end of the book.Get the book, read it - savor it like a hot bowl of delicious soup on a cold, dank and rainy day!There is alot to learn inside of it and I guarantee you will enjoy the process of reading it.