Update 5/16/09: I’ve finished the book, and it’s phenomenal. Click this text to read my full review of Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.
Update 5/6/09: “Born to Run” is now out in the stores. You can order it here.
My past few posts on this blog have dealt with the topic of why humans are tops among most all animals when it comes to long-distance endurance running (see my Evolution of Running in Humans post, and my Persistence Hunting post). Well, it just so happens that a new running book is set to be released on May 5th that deals to a certain extent with these very topics (and I honestly had no idea until after I put out those posts – a link to an article by the book author came across my Twitter wire last night).
The book is titled Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, and authored by Christopher McDougall. The book has been receiving some buzz in the media, and the article mentioned above seems to be linked to by a number of running sites. The basic premise of that article is that we are killing our feet and legs by wearing modern, high-tech running shoes, and questions whether they are really worth the money we spend on them. You can view it yourself by clicking the article title below:
The painful truth about trainers: Are running shoes a waste of money?
This article is sure to generate some controversy, and I’m not yet sure that I’d give up my fancy shoes, but it’s very thought provoking. I don’t know much else about the book, but it sounds interesting enough to me as an evolutionary biologist and runner that I plan to give it a read when it comes out.
Here’s an excerpt from the book description on Amazon:
“Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.
With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. Born to Run is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.“
If you’re interested in purchasing this book, you can find it on Amazon by clicking the button below:
About Peter Larson
I’ve read before about running barefooted or in sandals. There are also some very expensive shoes that are intended to emulate running barefooted. A friend of mine tried these and really liked them. Ever given them a shot?
Nike Free are the shoes I think you’re referring to – I’d like to try them,
but you’re right about the fact that they’re pricey. Apparently it also
takes some time to build up endurance in your feet/legs when using those. There’s also the Vibram Five Fingers, which I think are just a bit strange, but some people like them. I have a pair of lightweight/minimalist Saucony Fasttwitch racing shoes I really like (my 5k and Half-Marathon PR’s came with those on), and I’m going to try the Nike Luna Racers which are even lighter and more minimal.
On the one hand I believe that a lot of what some of these authors say has merit when it comes to the value of shoes, but I also come back to the fact that our ancestors weren’t running on asphalt or concrete, so maybe the added cushioning/support isn’t so bad for us modern runners. I guess I need more data before I come to a conclusion.
Thanks for the comment!
Pete
You guys will love the book…and you are right, it will rock the shoe industry world.
Eric – how did you get a hold of the book already? I’m looking forward to
reading it!
Hi Pete – I actaully coached Chris for this book and the Copper canyon ultra…which Chris uses as a story back drop for the book.