After almost a dozen friends recommended that I read this book, I just finished reading Christopher McDougall's "Born to Run."
(Thank you Michael!)
This book was published in May 2009, so it is fairly recent, but I sincerely wish it had been published earlier.
Much of the book focuses on the Tarahumari "running people" of Mexico's Copper Canyons - but McDougall puts forth some revolutionary thoughts, which shouldn't be.
Some of these are -
Evolution:
Humans are designed to be runners. At one point in the evolutionary timeline the burly, smart, toolmaking, weapon building, cave dwelling neanderthals and homo sapiens coexisted. One question he asks is why did homo sapiens being dumber (smaller brained), less muscled, and thinner skinned become the dominate race on the planet?
His book allies with the theory that homo sapiens became persistence hunters - Being able to run down protein (prey) because they could simply outrun it. Not run down fast like cheetahs, and jack rabbits, but long. A human can sweat and cool itself, and thusly run farther without rest than any other species known to have existed. Consider when your dog pants itself out a few miles into a run, and you are able to keep running.
Recreation:
Why thousands of people around the world get together every weekend and run marathons?
Why do we think people who run 50, 100, 100+ mile trails are crazy?
Perhaps it is more crazy to live obese, eating processed foods, partially hydrogenated oils, and spending our lives in front of the TV. Adult and childhood obesity are skyrocketing. America is a country where the poor people are fat. Obesity is a just a gateway to so many other diseases and life afflicting ills, (heart disease, cancer, depression etc.). We look for medical care to save us and cure us from our lifestyles of laziness when the solution is quite probably on the ends of our legs.
Another is mood and attitude. Chemically, the endorphins released while exercising boost morale. So many of us see running as chore, or painful task to push through, rather then enjoying the freedom, scenery and release. If you enjoy what you do, it's not work.
The myth/mystic of Running Shoes:
Now many people argue that people hurt themselves running, and running long. And statistics indicate this as well. I am sure he is ruffling the feathers of several people when McDougall puts forth the argument that these injuries can be attributed to medical advice and running shoes.
The thought that running shoes actually cause more injuries may seem counterintuitive, but it is likely to be true. Statistics show that since the advent of running specific shoes in the 1970's, running injuries per athlete have increased.
Think about it. Our ancestors weren't sporting gels, and the only air under their heels was from the blowing wind. Studies show that wearing running shoes actually increases the impact and force we place on our feet and tendons. Running shoes causes us to change our gait, enable us to lengthen our strides, and cause us to weaken. Running shoes let us run past the point of pain and injury when our bodies would otherwise tell us to stop or slow down.
Certain medical doctors looked at running and the foot as a poorly designed evolutionary flaw, and even today attempt to correct it with motion control shoes, and orthopedic devices. These just mask problems and encourage poor running form. Rather than developing the muscles, ligaments, and natural equipment we all already have, we have submitted to the belief that we need high price technological advancements to carry us along.
Check out barefoot running: http://TheRunningBarefoot.com/?
I might get around to putting down some other ideas and thoughts from this book, but I strongly encourage everyone to read this book.
