No, Born to Run is not a Bruce Springsteen biography. It is one an amazing story, or rather collection of intertwined stories, about the world of ultra endurance running. Already an all-time favorite of mine, I was surprised to find out that an English teacher friend of mine who I had recommended it to considers it a favorite as well.
McDougall introduces an eccentric cast of characters including: ultramarathon champions, barefoot runners, a Mexican tribe passing down a tradition of endurance running, an African tribe with a tradition of endurance hunting, and the mysterious Caballo Blanco. Despite a somewhat disjointed feel at times, all of the stories are woven together nicely to fit the overall theme of the book: Humans were born to run.
After reading the book, it's tempting to want to get into the world of ultras. For me, I realized that 26.2 miles was about two times more than enough and decided I'll top out at 13.1 from now on. But you have to respect the joy these people get out of just running as far as their bodies can take them. It's such an inspiring thought that even though I just started another book last week, a reread of Born to Run is my goal before the end of the month.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.