I was asked by the editor of Northwest Runner Magazine to write a book review of the bestselling book Born To Run. As published in the September 2009 issue, the following was my submission.Recently I was having a discussion with a Pilates instructor about the human body. Her belief is that we have not evolved to stand upright, explaining why a majority of our population reports back pain.
I had to argue. To me her view says we are inevitably broken and pain is to be expected. I believe the majority of complaints have more to do with extended activities beyond standing upright, like sitting in chairs. I'd love to completely digress and write this entire piece on how the chair shortens our hip flexors and hamstrings, causing havoc to our backs and beyond. But I'll get to the point of this article.
What are we doing with our feet? Why do our feet hurt?
Christopher McDougall found himself asking this question in his bestselling book, Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. McDougall attempted to figure out why, for him, running and foot pain seemed to be connected. Many of us have experienced this ourselves, and, like McDougall, have received many of the same answers. By some of the top in the field, he was told he needed orthodics, better running shoes, he's just too big to be a runner, and that humans plainly should not be running. Just not acceptable answers nor acceptable remedies to McDougall.
On assignment in Mexico, something caught McDougall's attention. He saw a photo of a Tarahumara runner, appearing smooth and effortless, and of another era. He dug in to researching these indigenous running people, many of whom are still living traditionally and running in their handmade sandals. He received an assignment from Runner's World to write a feature piece on the Tarahumara, referring to themselves as the Raramuri, which in their language means "fleet of foot". His trip down to their home of the Copper Canyon led to him searching for a man named Caballo Blanco (the White Horse). Caballo Blanco was said to know the secrets of the Tarahumara, to have befriended these generous, yet shy and somewhat reclusive peoples.
Running has been a critical part of the lives of this peaceful tribe. Running to eat. Running to get from canyon to canyon. Running as play. Yes, the Raramuri challenge neighboring villages to events which entail a number of runners joining in a ball-kicking game, running along the trails, spectators making bets and partying. Often these last for days, covering up to 100 miles or more. Running is very much a living part of their traditional culture; men, women, young and old.
It's a long story how Caballo Blanco ended up building a small rock hut in the Copper Canyon and how the Copper Canyon Ultramarathon came to be. McDougall uses his experiences leading up to the race as a backbone for great storytelling while he continues to search for an answer to his question. He makes a very interesting case that we are "Born to Run", as he successfully completes his first 50 miler alongside local ultrarunning star Scott Jurek, some college kids from Virginia's beaches who love to party as much as run (or party as much as they can and then run), the eccentric Barefoot Ted, and other fascinating characters along way. McDougall challenges the concept that in order run without pain or injury, we need to fix something that's broken (presumably our feet), with padded and "supportive" shoes protecting us.
When working with injured runners in my massage practice, in addition to treatment, we consider the potential causes. Often there is an underlying issue in movement patterns or posture. Commonly the core, hip, and pelvis muscles do not support as they should. Over the years I've had my share of injuries and have analyzed and worked on my running technique. What I noticed when I started running barefoot miles was pretty profound. The various technique improvements I've always been mindful of (almost) naturally occurred. It was easier to engage my core stability muscles, easier to to stay open in the front of the hips, and easier to run lightly. The feedback from the ground was more instant, allowing the muscles to absorb the shock rather than relying on shoes. In his book, McDougall points to an interesting concept to consider: the more cushion we put between us and the ground, the more impact we need to put into the ground for our bodies to respond appropriately.
At a May 28th book signing at Seattle Running Company, following the usual Thursday night store run, McDougall shared stories and answered questions for a full house. Prior to the book signing, McDougall ran in his "minimal shoes" with technology the store uses for shoe selection. The idea is the less force presented, the better that particular shoe for the person. McDougall, categorized as a "Clydesdale" in many races, registered a lesser amount of force than seen in any other shoe/runner combinations according store co-owner, Scott McCoubrey. McDougall has put a lot of effort and education into his running technique and it's proven successful for him.
There are many kinds of footwear used all over the world by many indigenous peoples for purposes of protection from stones to protection from the elements and I'm not going to argue that shoes should be avoided. The shoe industry is responding to the movement, acknowledging there may be a lot we can learn from ditching the shoes or moving to more minimal footwear once in a while.
The most important message from the book is that maybe we were "Born to Run". Maybe when we're experiencing pain, it's our body telling us there's something to learn from it, if we pay attention. McDougall found a way that works for him, and many others are following a similar path. But mostly, no matter which path, I feel strongly that most of us are not broken. It's our responsibility to believe in our bodies and find our own way.
came out in 1999.
. Try it out and when you are ready, connect with an instructor to give feedback and answer questions or clarify concepts. Remember, it's a gradual process, especially if you have some harmful habits to unlearn!
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