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Born to Run
- The Hidden Tribe, the Ultra-Runners, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Cultural & Regional
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Publisher's Summary
Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?
In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world's greatest distance runners and learn their secrets - and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.
Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence.
With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a 50-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder. With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra runners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons.
Born to Run is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.
Critic Reviews
"Hugely entertaining.... One of the most joyful and engaging books about running to appear for many years." (Times)
"Equal parts quest, physiology treatise, and running history.... [McDougall] seeks to learn the secrets of the Tarahumara the old-fashioned way: He tracks them down....The climactic race reads like a sprint....It simply makes you want to run." (Outside magazine)
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What listeners say about Born to Run
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 14-08-2020
worst book I have ever read
The story was long and boring. It could have been told in 1 hour. The interesting part of the book only comes around it's 3/4 and lasts for half an hour. I don't know how this book became a best seller.
2 people found this helpful
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- Belinda A. Booth
- 01-05-2015
Interesting and v enjoyable
As a runner I found his investigations and findings fascinating, I even tried some of the techniques. Told very well so as not to become boring and an ending that had me on the edge of my seat. Very well narrated too.
2 people found this helpful
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- Jen1977ni
- 23-11-2019
So good, I’ll probably ‘read it’ again lol
Very informative, loved it! Would recommend for anyone whose serious about their running! Well narrated too!
1 person found this helpful
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- Sharon
- 08-07-2019
Totally fascinating, am hooked!
What a wonderful story, mesmerisingly vivid scenery, tales of courage and strength and a great insight into the history of running.
1 person found this helpful
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- Scott Moyse
- 09-05-2019
Excellent
This is an excellent story, and very well narrated. Engaging, passionate and informative. I loved it. Worth every penny
1 person found this helpful
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- Amy
- 13-03-2015
Loved it!
This book exceeded my expectations. Very informative and inspiring. Useful even as a total novice ;) I'll definitely read it again
1 person found this helpful
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- Fred
- 19-02-2022
An enjoyable surprise
I accidentally hit download on this book but thought I'd go ahead and listen to it anyway. I'm not a runner but this turned out to be an entertaining, enjoyable and most of all inspiring piece of work! I loved the mystery and integrity of the Taru O Mara tribe and the book was one of a great storyteller. I would highly recommend it.
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- Tiahna-Jane Richens
- 26-01-2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book
This was a hilarious and enjoyable journey with intriguing running and living tips along the way.
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- Anonymous User
- 06-12-2021
Great listen
awesome. a great book absolutely enjoyed it all the way through so much so I'm listening to it again.
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- Warwick
- 28-09-2021
awesome.
just what needed to get motivated and do what I was born to do. ... run..
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- Amazon Customer
- 29-12-2021
Most inspirational book I've read(listen to)
Loved this book. Im going to get a physical copy of it now after listening to it. Really, really made me want to get out and run.
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- tractrox
- 30-09-2021
interesting but poc take a pause
if you're interested in running, there are some great anecdotes about real runners. However, the constant "othering" of latin American people and "mystic native" tropes get really tiresome. there's a whole chapter at the beginning devoted to garish gang violence for no reason except to prop up the author's own ego and sense of bravado. The auditor's "colorful" descriptions come off as dated and earn a fair few eye rolls...
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- G Jenson
- 01-05-2021
awesome
loved this book... great stories as well as interesting information. Didn't want it to end.
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- Neil
- 14-01-2020
Completely changed my thoughts on running!
I recently watched Chris’ TED talk, “Are we born to run?”, and immediately got hooked on his masterful way of storytelling. “Born to Run” was an even better experience and made me completely reconsider the way I think about running. I love the combination of sport science, anthropology, storytelling, good humour and compassion. Narration by Fred Sanders is excellent and keeps you hooked throughout the book.
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- Samantha Vosloo Harrison
- 12-03-2019
Inspirational!
This book kept me coming back for me and has changed me as an athlete. I would highly recommend it!
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- maximilliano molina
- 03-03-2019
A must read for Runners
This is a must-read book for runners out there
Very interesting history and I'm sure you will get various insights out of this book.
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- Jonas
- 16-10-2018
exceptional in every way
positively devoured this book. exceptionally written. amazing story. life changing revelations on what this body of mine can achieve.
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- Vishisht Badri Vishal
- 08-07-2018
Must read!! Loved the story!!
The narrator has done a really good job and I loved how it inspires us to run and the entire story is very captivating to listen to! Learnt a lot from this book.
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- Michael
- 05-05-2018
loved this book. great story and well told.
absolutely recommend this book - fantastic. it has heart, drama, soul and a beautiful message :)
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- nikhil vij
- 28-11-2017
A romantic book for runners
great book. author tries to play role of a scientific researcher as well which - to a scientific mind - looks very half baked. but nonetheless the story is extremely interesting and keeps you hooked till end. if you are even slightly interested in long distance running, you will love this book.
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- Gilmonkey
- 23-05-2012
Born to Run
The most inspirational book I have read or listened to in a long time. Makes you want to stop everything and go for a run.
23 people found this helpful
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- Ian
- 20-07-2012
Great story, well written and read
There's a lot going on here. It's a book about running that weaves a thrilling story of an adventure race in the Copper Canyons in Mexico, the culture, attitude and history of long distance running, the science behind endurance running, the mystery of a hidden culture of Mexican Indian runners and their unlikely US Ambassador and - most importantly - the author's journey into, and successfully out the other side of the world of adventure racing.
McDougal's skill is to make the characters larger than life, make his own story relevant and interesting and keep the narrative from getting to bogged down in history, science, statistics or geography.
It's an adventure story, a travelog, an inspirational tale, an informative journal and a very funny and memorable story. The narration is first class as well, keeping the wit dry and the pace just enough to keep your breath.
20 people found this helpful
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- OnceUponaTime
- 15-12-2012
A great exploration
I read this book because I wanted to improve my own running, I am fascinated by outlying tribes hidden from the world, and I love reading about seemingly super-human abilities.
Born To Run tells the history of the Tarahumara tribe of super runners in northern Mexico. They are a secretive people who routinely run marathons back to back, before getting wildly drunk, before waking up and doing it all over again. They run because they love it, and I have a feeling that an average Tarahumara man or woman could probably run further and faster than 30 average non-Tarahumara men or women running in relay.
There was nothing in the book about Tarahumara genetic insights, so I am next off to Google to see if anyone has figured out the Tarahumara superhero secrets. There was some mention throughout the book of the Tarahumara diet, and I just purchased some Chia seeds online. I'm very interested in seeing them turn water into gel. How odd.
Born to Run told a captivating story and was very entertaining, and is well worth reading. This book made me want to run more, burn my running shoes, and live in the woods.
"If you don't think you were born to run, you're not only denying history; you're denying who you are."
I also learned that the average human has a longer stride than a horse. The human is a more efficient running machine than a horse, so if both were engines filled with the same amount of fuel, the human would go further. We out-horse the horse!
13 people found this helpful
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- s c shanks
- 21-07-2019
The most over rated book ever
Had seen and heard lots about this book in Bio's of runners and articles so thought it would be an education. I got totally sick of hearing "The Tarahumara" over and over again I couldn't wait for it to end.
12 people found this helpful
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- MR
- 04-07-2012
A must-read
a great book for anyone interested in running or training for any run from a 10km to a marathon and beyond (and you will learn all about how far beyond people go!)
11 people found this helpful
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- Gareth
- 14-08-2012
A beautiful book, beautifully read
With the sad loss of Caballo Blanco earlier this year "Born to Run" now takes on an added poignancy.
For a book about a bunch of misfits running in the wilderness it is remarkably gripping and is so well written that I felt I knew all the characters. So much so that when I met, and ran with, Barefoot Ted I spoke to him as if he was an old friend I hadn't seen for years.
I will also add that it is worth buying just for the pronunciations.
9 people found this helpful
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- max
- 02-08-2016
Utter Rubbish
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
Less fluffing. A lot less back tracking. Keeping track of the utter rubbish the author spouts out
Has Born to Run put you off other books in this genre?
It's put me off trusting reviews
What didn’t you like about Fred Sanders’s performance?
Nothing
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Born to Run?
All of them
Any additional comments?
Author is a total hypocrite, pulling story's and myths and melding them into this drivel that the media hyped up. The author continuously backtracks on what he has said repeatedly but the story is so 'cut and paste' i doubt many have noticed.
Get it only if it is free and the end of the world is due
7 people found this helpful
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Overall

- MsRanPan
- 29-12-2012
Loved it
What can I add, other reviewers knew of or knew the runners here. Comparatively I just read this book. It was interesting, engaging, educational, I really hope this guy did his homework and has really delivered us the truth and I have no reason to doubt this. Its a easy listen but educational, what more can a reader want!
7 people found this helpful
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- Sam
- 25-12-2012
Really enjoyable and inspiring listen
I found the book to be easy to listen to and found myself finishing it relatively quickly over a few drives on my way to work.
I do enjoy running but have never attempted a marathon and never even contemplated anything further! The author brings out the fun in running, exploring the motivations that drive people from various walks of life to regularly run distances that few of us "mortals" have ever attempted on foot.
The book inspired me to relax my running style a little and to try some lighter trainers (not quite "barefoot" but a lot less clunky than the normal structures running trainers I've gotten used to).
6 people found this helpful
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- KennethO'Rourke
- 20-07-2015
Entertaining but sometimes seemed a bit phony..
I would not recommend this book to a friend. The author seemed to use poetic license to dramatize events which really didn't require embellishment. At times however he captures the spirit of the sport very beautifully. I have since read that some athletes who were characterised in the book later expressed their displeasure with the author's characterisation of them. Anyway, I will be feeling infinitely more guilty about my modern lazy lifestyle, and for that the author is to be commended!
5 people found this helpful
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