I've never chosen my "Book of the Year" but this year, it would have to be Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I finally finished it last evening and it was such an exciting literary journey through the true stories of ultrarunners and the Tarahumara people of Mexico. It breaks open the whole idea of expensive running shoes being better, let alone necessary at all, and explores the history of man's ability to run... we are made to run, especially long distances. My favorite line in the book is "You don't stop running because you get old, you get old because you stop running." If you ever used the excuse not to run because you're not a kid anymore, this blows that out of the water! And everyone knows a runner who has suffered injuries to their knees, Achilles tendon or feet... well, most injuries are caused by our cushioning of shoes and arches and improper strides. Think about how you ran barefoot as a child... that's probably closer to proper form than you might have been taught in high school track. For years there were legends told about people who could run imaginable distances, who could run down deer, and for who running knew no age or gender. Christopher McDougall was able to find these legends and participate in one of the greatest ultramarathons down in the Copper Canyons of Mexico... a dangerous, but beautiful place... with some of the great ultrarunners from the United States... risking their lives for the sake of living this legend. I can't imagine anyone not liking this book and I dare anyone to read it and not want to run afterwards! Thanks to my good friend Becky posting that it was her husband's favorite book, it's become Craig's, and now mine... hopefully my kids will read it too. It's really that good! You might want to pick it up this winter and then plan on getting out there this spring to run!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Book of the Year
I've never chosen my "Book of the Year" but this year, it would have to be Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I finally finished it last evening and it was such an exciting literary journey through the true stories of ultrarunners and the Tarahumara people of Mexico. It breaks open the whole idea of expensive running shoes being better, let alone necessary at all, and explores the history of man's ability to run... we are made to run, especially long distances. My favorite line in the book is "You don't stop running because you get old, you get old because you stop running." If you ever used the excuse not to run because you're not a kid anymore, this blows that out of the water! And everyone knows a runner who has suffered injuries to their knees, Achilles tendon or feet... well, most injuries are caused by our cushioning of shoes and arches and improper strides. Think about how you ran barefoot as a child... that's probably closer to proper form than you might have been taught in high school track. For years there were legends told about people who could run imaginable distances, who could run down deer, and for who running knew no age or gender. Christopher McDougall was able to find these legends and participate in one of the greatest ultramarathons down in the Copper Canyons of Mexico... a dangerous, but beautiful place... with some of the great ultrarunners from the United States... risking their lives for the sake of living this legend. I can't imagine anyone not liking this book and I dare anyone to read it and not want to run afterwards! Thanks to my good friend Becky posting that it was her husband's favorite book, it's become Craig's, and now mine... hopefully my kids will read it too. It's really that good! You might want to pick it up this winter and then plan on getting out there this spring to run!
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5 comments:
Maybe I'll find a copy for The Professor...
I've heard about this book - now that you've posted such good things about it I'll have to look it up!
You are inspiring me to read it too! Glad you enjoyed it.
I haven't been reading too much as my knitting needles have required all my free time. I am excited to read again. I've got the book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, from the library. I hope to give it a whirl.
My husband runs, he should enroll in Paris Marathon next year. I should run also, but it's too cold for me :-) It does not matter, I watch Karate Kid ❤ with a cup of hot cocoa :-) If I see the book by Christopher McDougall, I won't hesitate!
You are the third or fourth person who has mentioned this book in the past few months. I will certainly go out and get it as I'm eager to read it. I hope this Spring you do begin to run. I've only been running for a year and a half and I'm having so much fun! But I mostly run with a group and not alone... and that helps keep the fun in it.
Thanks for the enthusiastic report on the book.
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