Fellow Mad Dogs:

I just finished reading one of the most interesting books on running I have
ever come across: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the
Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, by Christopher McDougal. This was
on the best-seller list in the last year and with good reason. Its
centerpiece is the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, who are renowned for their
running ability, especially through the mountains and canyons that are their
home. What is their secret? Genetics? Performance-enhancing beer?
Running in sandals? McDougal entertains a variety of hypotheses. Along the
way, he introduces the various characters (truly!) that run ultra-marathons
like the Leadville 100 and the Western States 100. After you read this book
your faith in running shoes may never be the same and you may even seriously
consider going barefoot! The book culminates with a thrilling showdown
between the Tarahumara runners and top runners from the U.S. on the Indians¹
home turf. On top of all this, McDougal is a very good and very witty
writer. I really, really recommend this book!

Cheers,

Bob Welch