I just finished one of the most amazing books I've ever read. It's called Born to Run written by Christopher McDougall. The author (a journalist) goes in search of secrets from a hidden tribal community in faraway Copper Canyon of Mexico. A place where people go, and don't always return. It's a book about running, but it's not really about running. It's about so much more. It's an anthropological study of an ancient culture. A historical account of the evolution of "running man." It's a book about what makes us human, and what makes us special. It's an amazing journey and I'm so sorry that it has ended. It took me several chapters to get into the book. See, I thought it was about running, and I wanted to read about an athlete. And then slowly, as the author wove his tale, my mind was captured and I couldn't put it down. I was taken on adventures through Mexico, Colorado, and Africa. I was entertained with scientific theories, facts and discoveries. I could feel the passion both from the author and his subjects. It wasn't about running as a sport. It was about running as a necessity, a passion. Something so innate to one's being as breathing.
Being only a 100 pages shy of the finish on Sunday when I ran the PF Chang's Rock and Roll Arizona Half Marathon, I found myself at mile 4 with a tense look on my face. I tried to remember the stories I had read about these great runners of the ancient tribe... I relaxed my face, replaced my effort with a smile... and I ran faster. I had more fun. I enjoyed every minute, every step, every breath. And spectators responded. They cheered louder. They wanted to know the secret. They wanted to be running. I was running, and it was a beautiful thing.
You don't have to be a runner to appreciate all that this offers. You only have to be human. You will be inspired, amazed, uplifted.
Note: This post was reprinted from my Ladies Gourmand blog post entry on Tuesday, January 19. The Ladies Gourmand blog (shared by a women's book/supper club) is not accessible to non-authors. I hope you enjoy my book review.
XO,
RunnerChick
3 comments:
I just ordered a copy to see what all the fuss is about! :)
hello mary, I'm happy that you read about my people en chihuahua state, I'm from there and I have been there many times,they are the tarahumaras or raramuris. bye
Wow, Joshua! That's so cool that you are from there. I really loved the book! So much passion for community and running. Alida, I hope you love it! I was skeptical at first too but it captured my heart. Enjoy!
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