Born to Run by Christopher McDougall: the running book I have recommended to the most people

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall is the book I have recommended to more people than any other in my life. I read it myself many years ago and have since read it three times. It is incredibly well written and varied, and along the way you hear about everything from personal stories and breathtaking journeys to big personalities and scientific research.

This book is perfect to read before, during or after the Camino. It has inspired countless people to become better runners and to change their attitude to long-distance sport. On top of that, it is excellent for improving your running technique and, not least, your mental strength.

What it is about

The book starts from the author’s own life. Despite many years in sport and journalism, he had always had pain in his foot and elsewhere when he went running. He sets off on a long journey that turns into a beautiful adventure, where he meets superathletes whose own remarkable stories are told in the book too.

Born to Run is above all about ultrarunning and about a hidden people in Mexico called the Tarahumara. This tribe still lives very primitively, much like their ancestors, and they have become world famous for their simple lifestyle, where they run through jungle and hard terrain. Over generations, that lifestyle has made them phenomenal runners, and you hear how they beat some of the best runners in the world. They cover distances of more than 150 kilometres with playful ease, wearing white robes and sandals, and their culture is truly romanticised in the book.

The people you meet

Among others, you hear about an old boxer who now goes by the name Caballo Blanco, the white horse, along with a host of other impressive individualists. You also meet Scott Jurek, the legendary ultrarunner who, among other things, has won ultra races against David Goggins.

Something else that makes the book fantastic is that it is full of scientific research and stories from the old days. You hear, for instance, a wonderful tale about Emil Zatopek, and I could go on.

Why it lands with a hiker

I was recommended the book myself by my brother, and I have since recommended it to countless others. It has changed how many people see running, and it is part of the reason FiveFingers became the worldwide success it did.

My own attitude to running changed considerably after Born to Run, and of course I could not resist testing FiveFingers. I have even brought them on the Camino. When you walk hour after hour on a trail, you naturally start to feel how your body moves, and the book gives you language for exactly that sensation.

My recommendation

I could say plenty about this book, but I would rather you read it yourself. Many people have thanked me for the recommendation over the years, and I am fairly sure you will thank me afterwards too. Take it on your next long trip, and let it change the way you think about moving.