Born To Run ~ This book (and website) says it all, and much more about how we are built for running. Born To Run is about how we are born to run and we don't need $150 shoes to do it! Actually, the more cushion and support the shoe has, the more likely we will be injured. Christopher McDougall, the author of Born To Run, who was an injured runner in his past, goes down to the Copper Canyon in Mexico and meets the secretive, illusive Tarahumara Indian tribe and personally witnesses 55 year olds (and older!) running huge distances per day through rocky terrain in just hurache sandals with just a sort of corn mush to eat. (The book also goes into dietary practices of this tribe and that aspect alone is cause for a blog all of its own!) He is taught by the mysterious Caballo Blanco, the way the Tarahumara run and finds that he was able to overcome years of injury and ends up running 50 miles in the Copper Canyon with 'Caballo'.
Funny enough, I witnessed the majesty of the Tarahumara people in 1992 in Batopiles, the location where the story takes place. A young Tarahumara girl took us hikers on an breathless and breathtaking hike in the dead of winter and through snow and ice in only her bare feet! I remember hearing the other hikers say things like, "... the Tarahumara are drunks, they are simple peasants, who just don't know any better." This young girl was so fast, no one could keep up with her. We were all afraid we would be lost in the canyon if we didn't keep up with her. She was amazing and we all gave her a small donation for her trouble. Sadly, I had no idea how fortunate I was to be in her presence. All I remember is that I was grateful that I was able to keep up and that I had warm Timberland hiking boots and thick wool socks on my feet. Now, 18 years later, I am hearing about this wonderful people in a whole different light. This book honors Tarahumara and their simple, harmonious, cooperative lifestyle and their amazing running practices. Another beautiful thing about this book is that it extols the virtue of running and that running is our nature! Well, this is such wonderful news to me because I run everywhere! I rarely walk. I have actually tried walking and it's just too slow. So, this book has inspired me to run more. It has released that deep internal longing I have always possessed to run. I have always had knee problems when I ran and so I just didn't do the long distance run much. But, now I am inspired to see how far I can actually run using this barefoot running.
I also have to say, that all through this book is a subtle golden thread of what I call "The Soulforce Living Philosophy." Running is spiritual. It does no harm. It requires no monetary investment, no gym membership and you can do it with others or alone. When you run outdoors, you are getting benefits of nature (... provided you are not slathered with sunblock and wearing an IPod!) because with each step you are connected with your planet. Being barefoot helps you connect with both yourself and the earth beneath your feet. The writer of this book asks us to consider why the feet are so sensitive. We are not supposed to suppress their delicate sensors with padding but to use them and feel and sense. Another key character in this book is Ted McDonald a.k.a. Barefoot Ted. Barefoot Ted is a genius at this stuff and gives running clinics in his home town in Oregan. I've been listening to some of Barefoot Ted's interviews on the internet and you can tell that this guy knows how to listen to his body. He is a big supporter of honoring your body. Your body is pure perfection. The more you pound your feet, says Barefoot Ted, the stronger they get.
Another group that inspires what I consider the Soulforce Living Philosophy is: "Natural Hygiene". This organization believes that our bodies are perfect. "Our bodies are only as strong as we need them to be." We need no drugs, or huge quantities of calcium and protein to survive. Natural Hygiene teaches that we are designed to eat a plant-based diet and to exercise. Now, this mindset goes perfectly with the concept of being barefoot. With practice, our feet can get stronger and handle any terrain. (Good thing I live in the tropics! I wonder how long it would take me to run in the snow? Or on freezing pavement? Humm.... I will have to think about that.) Right now I am on Day #4 of barefoot running. I am doing a little bit each day and building up the pads on my feet. I feel great! No knee pain.
In closing, let me say that my mind keeps going back to an image I had once of a young Mexican girl in my neighborhood. She was just standing outside her house in her bare feet. For some reason I was captivated by her feet simply connected with Mother Earth. That's all it was, feet and earth. I can still see that image to this day. I have never have forgotten it. Here I am 24 years later wondering if this book has opened more than just a door to barefoot running.
See Earthing for more information about how to ground yourself to Mother Earth.
Funny enough, I witnessed the majesty of the Tarahumara people in 1992 in Batopiles, the location where the story takes place. A young Tarahumara girl took us hikers on an breathless and breathtaking hike in the dead of winter and through snow and ice in only her bare feet! I remember hearing the other hikers say things like, "... the Tarahumara are drunks, they are simple peasants, who just don't know any better." This young girl was so fast, no one could keep up with her. We were all afraid we would be lost in the canyon if we didn't keep up with her. She was amazing and we all gave her a small donation for her trouble. Sadly, I had no idea how fortunate I was to be in her presence. All I remember is that I was grateful that I was able to keep up and that I had warm Timberland hiking boots and thick wool socks on my feet. Now, 18 years later, I am hearing about this wonderful people in a whole different light. This book honors Tarahumara and their simple, harmonious, cooperative lifestyle and their amazing running practices. Another beautiful thing about this book is that it extols the virtue of running and that running is our nature! Well, this is such wonderful news to me because I run everywhere! I rarely walk. I have actually tried walking and it's just too slow. So, this book has inspired me to run more. It has released that deep internal longing I have always possessed to run. I have always had knee problems when I ran and so I just didn't do the long distance run much. But, now I am inspired to see how far I can actually run using this barefoot running.
I also have to say, that all through this book is a subtle golden thread of what I call "The Soulforce Living Philosophy." Running is spiritual. It does no harm. It requires no monetary investment, no gym membership and you can do it with others or alone. When you run outdoors, you are getting benefits of nature (... provided you are not slathered with sunblock and wearing an IPod!) because with each step you are connected with your planet. Being barefoot helps you connect with both yourself and the earth beneath your feet. The writer of this book asks us to consider why the feet are so sensitive. We are not supposed to suppress their delicate sensors with padding but to use them and feel and sense. Another key character in this book is Ted McDonald a.k.a. Barefoot Ted. Barefoot Ted is a genius at this stuff and gives running clinics in his home town in Oregan. I've been listening to some of Barefoot Ted's interviews on the internet and you can tell that this guy knows how to listen to his body. He is a big supporter of honoring your body. Your body is pure perfection. The more you pound your feet, says Barefoot Ted, the stronger they get.
Another group that inspires what I consider the Soulforce Living Philosophy is: "Natural Hygiene". This organization believes that our bodies are perfect. "Our bodies are only as strong as we need them to be." We need no drugs, or huge quantities of calcium and protein to survive. Natural Hygiene teaches that we are designed to eat a plant-based diet and to exercise. Now, this mindset goes perfectly with the concept of being barefoot. With practice, our feet can get stronger and handle any terrain. (Good thing I live in the tropics! I wonder how long it would take me to run in the snow? Or on freezing pavement? Humm.... I will have to think about that.) Right now I am on Day #4 of barefoot running. I am doing a little bit each day and building up the pads on my feet. I feel great! No knee pain.
In closing, let me say that my mind keeps going back to an image I had once of a young Mexican girl in my neighborhood. She was just standing outside her house in her bare feet. For some reason I was captivated by her feet simply connected with Mother Earth. That's all it was, feet and earth. I can still see that image to this day. I have never have forgotten it. Here I am 24 years later wondering if this book has opened more than just a door to barefoot running.
See Earthing for more information about how to ground yourself to Mother Earth.
