When my wife first presented this book to me a couple of weeks ago, I had mixed emotions. I had heard all the hype. Christopher McDougall wrote a book preaching about running barefoot…yada, yada, yada. The great debate on whether the running shoe industry is ruining those it caters to. That humans were natural runners and the foot should be left alone. In all honesty, I’m tired of this subject and didn’t know if I really wanted to read about it…AGAIN!!!

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Born to Run ranks right up there with one of the best running books I’ve read. What Christopher McDougall has done is craft one of the greatest race accounts I’ve come across (before this book Duel in the Sun had no contest). He had me hooked from the first sentence.

“For days, I’d been searching Mexico’s Sierra Madre for the phantom known as Caballo Blanco – the White Horse.”

White Horse? It’s a person? What in the world is going on?

From there, a wild running story is crafted. Set in an exotic location with a crazy cast of characters I never would have imagined the story that awaited. I couldn’t wait to dig in and get my hands around his experience that not only clued me in on some of running’s history but also of those who were responsible for carving it.

The Tarahumara Indian’s of Mexico’s Copper Canyons, Caballo Blanco (aka Michael Hickman, aka Micah True), Scott Jurek, Jenn Shelton, Billy Barnett, Luis Escobar and “Barefoot Ted”. As soon as I was done reading the book, I spend a couple of hours reading up on these runners and all their accomplishments. It’s quite a resumé and outside of Scott, you’d have a hard time recalling any of these great runner’s unless you were an Ultra geek.

Besides spinning a great tale, Christopher McDougall did something pretty ingenious. The aforementioned “running debate” was snuck in as part of the story. The best way I can describe it as commercials to the story. He didn’t come out and preach for 5-10 chapters but wove the research and medical opinions so they flowed with the story. Not only did it soften the blow of the topic for me but it actually got me doing a little preaching myself. There was a longer segment toward the back of the book where I thought it was a little long but maybe it just seemed that way because I wanted to get back to the “Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.”

To give you the Cliff Notes version of this book wouldn’t do the story justice. Please do yourself a favor and go grab a copy from your nearest library or bookstore.

Before reading this book, I had already started converting over to minimalist running by ditching the clunky shows and going for a trimmed down version (Nike Free). After reading this book, I’m ready to start incorporating barefoot running into my training schedule.

RMFR

Many of you have asked about the running quotes I’m publishing every morning.

1) I hope you like them. I schedule them first thing in the morning to try and catch you before you head out on your daily run.
2) No way could I accumulate all these on my own.

That honor goes to “The Quotable Runner,” edited by Mark Will-Weber. I have to give credit where credit is due. This book is great. I’d passed it over many times at the bookstore, wanting a story instead of blurbs. I pulled the trigger and pick the book up everyday. I used to get quotes in my email from Runner’s World but they didn’t come with the greatest frequency. So I’ve vowed to do my best to send a quote out every day at the same time. If you like these quotes, you’re going to love this book!!!

RMFR

I’d seen Mark Remy’s book on the shelves many times before I actually picked it up. I thought to myself, “great, another book telling me how I’m supposed to run” – so I avoided it like a cheeseburger. As time passed, I saw snippets here and there. Then, runner’s like Ryan Hall and Josh Cox were tweeting about it. OK, there has to be something behind that red cover that’s actually worth reading. Let me rephrase that. If you’re a runner, YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!!

“The Runner’s Rule Book: Everything a Runner Needs to Know – And Then Some” is one of the funniest and most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time!!! Mark Remy also writes for Runner’s World and in the January 2010 issue (p. 75), you can get a taste of what’s in store for you in the rest of the book.

To somebody who doesn’t run, a lot of this book will go right over your head. Most of it would need some explanation or at least confirmation from a runner that this stuff is true and really happens. It’s a quick read and is laid out as a bunch of rules. I found myself going back and rereading a bunch of them over again. I don’t want to give to much away because I think every runner needs this on their bookshelf but here are a couple of my favorite examples:

Rule 1.18
Learn and Love the Farmer’s Blow
Mastering the Farmer’s Blow is a must for every runner. A good Farmer’s Blow is a wonder to behold, satisfying, efficient, and brilliant in its simplicity.

Rule 1.9
Pass Gas, Not Judgement
(the bullet points for this rule are instant classics)

Rule 2.32
Do Whatever It Takes to Finish Ahead of a Costumed Runner
Because being outkicked by Elmo is too much to bear.

Rule 3.5
Save the Race Shirt for Postrace
Wearing the official race shirt during the race is like wearing a U2 t-shirt to a U2 concert. Not cool. Don’t do it.

RMFR

When I get my Runner’s World every month, I usually bust thru the entire thing soon after I get it. I love reading about running. Especially stories that have that personal touch. The story of someone recovering from some personal tragedy thru running will captivate me for hours. What are some of your favorite running books? I’m dying to add more to the bookshelf. Here’s a list of what I’ve read and my “wish to read” list:

Books I’ve Read:

Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner by Dean Karnazes
- Very cool personal story on a very cool ultramarathoner.

My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon by Bart Yasso
- I’d read his occasional columns in Runner’s World and reading his running legacy has inspired me even more. Really entertaining read.

Pre: The Story of America’s Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine by Tom Jordan
- What do I need to say?

Books I Want to Read:

Once A Runner by John L. Parker
- Supposed to be the “classic” running novel. The book has a fascinating history and is finally being reissued after 31 years. Read the “Interval Workout” excerpt in May’s Runner’s World on page 93.

Again to Carthage by John L. Parker
- This is the sequel to “Once A Runner”. Sequels are always a hard sell but it’s on my “must read” list.

50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! by Dean Karnazes
- C’mon!!! If somebody runs 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states, how can you not want to read that!!!

Out of Nowhere: The Inside Story of How Nike Marketed the Culture of Running by Geoff Hollister
- This was recommended to me at a race. Sounds interesting and it’s Nike after all.