Running is not my favourite sport! Back in Australia I used to do running to prepare for the yearly City to Surf event, however for every step that I took during my runs I always chanted to myself “I hate this, I hate this”. Even though my husband always tells me that once I got into the routine I would enjoy running, I never got there so there was never joy in my running experience. After three years of running the City to Surf (both the 4 km and the 12 km distances), I got injured with a knee tracking issue. I went through a period of pure pain – agonising to get up from my seat or to squat down and having to tape my knees to avoid further inflammation behind my knee caps but then the tape ended up irritating my skin instead. My masseur said “some people are just not made to do certain activities, so maybe you are not made to run”. I was so glad to hear that because I could now stop running due to my physical limitation. However, that’s not what “Born to Run” will make you believe! The book explained how humans are the best long distance runners in the animal kingdom. Our bodies are made to run. Long distances, not short. We can outrun / outsmart cheetahs – the fastest mammal over a long distance.

At the start of the book, Mr. McDougall went through his experience of being injured and how every doctor that he saw told him that he was just not made to run and he should stop running. Bang! That short story just grabbed my full attention as I could completely relate to that with my knee tracking issue! He was then in search for answers on how he could continue running without being injured.

He found out that a lot of running injuries people face are mainly caused by their running technique which is affected by their running shoes. By using thick soled shoes we are preventing our feet muscles to strengthen and the high amount of cushioning allows us to run with a longer gait causing more impact on our heels and knees. That’s why the Tarahumara tribe (the best runners in the world who live in the Copper Canyons of Mexico) wear leather sandals with thin soles when they are out running and they can run long distances without much troubles or injuries.

Chris shared many of the insights on running techniques as he told his experience of training and completing an ultra-marathon race with the Tarahumara tribe in the canyon. He also paid particular attention on the topic of food to fuel his body for the training and race. In particular what the Tarahumara eat. Surprisingly the food consists of chia seeds (full of protein), corn, lentils, lots of vegetables and no meat. (see my post on nutrition here)

It was a well written book and every time I listened to the book, no matter where I was (usually driving to and from work), I would always be inspired to do more running. Maybe there is a hope that I can run without being injured or being in pain and so can most of us!