Born to Run book review

I’ve never been so inspired by a book! I’m not a big reader. I love reading short snippets of information that get to the point quickly so I can get on with my life. If I start a book and stick to it, it really has to capture me intellectually and emotionally and Born to Run by Christopher McDougall did just that.

Born To Run - By Christopher McDougall

I would like to address the book review from two different perspectives:

1.What the book is about

2. What the book meant to me personally

What the book is about

Born to run is about a journalist who is overwhelmed by the knowledge, skill and technique of a particular tribesmen who just seem to run without limitations. The journalist doesn’t stop until he discovers what it is about these tribesmen that make them ultra-runners. The book is about the authors journey. He learns skills from various individuals he meets a long the way. He touches everything from anthropology to science. The book delves into running techniques, shoes and even dietary details of these tribesmen. The author also lets us in on some interesting history about famous athletes and their running challenges. He does not stop at technique but also provides details about running shoes and how it is all a marketing scam. These interesting details are all wrapped around a story which boils down to one race where the author successfully realizes the what the key is to being a successful ultra runner.

If I could share three interesting things from the book it would be these:

1. Women may not be as fast as men but they actually have better stamina for lenghty races

2. Chia seeds: A tablespoon full has the same amount of protein as a piece of salmon. More on this in another post coming soon.

3. Trainers are not really helping your run better it is just a marketing gimmick.

Personal perspective

I love running. A couple of years back I used to run every day. After work I’d put on my trainers, my wind breaker, mp3 player, and just run. It wasn’t about fitness, it wasn’t about fitting size 10 jeans, looking slim, coming first in a marathon. None of that. It was about freedom and the feel good factor, that when running I felt free, my thoughts just run wild, I would enjoy looking at things, new buildings, new vegetation in spring. I was blessed to be close enough to the Gozitan countryside where I could run, up and down hills, and into valleys and even along beaches. Time didn’t matter. Actually sometimes my mum used to phone me just to make sure I hadn’t died of exhaustion.

This book brought all this back to me and got me asking myself why I don’t run anymore. The answer is simple: Time and Place. I’m no longer living close to the countryside and I enjoy nothing about cars, buses, exhaust, skyscrapers and traffic lights. I also have trouble making time for myself time to run without having to think of time.

You should read this book if: