The subheading of this book is: A hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen. All of this is true. This book was so enjoyable and so enlightening! It reads like a great suspense novel, full of mystery and intrigue. And it also has great information about feet, running shoes, anatomy, running, Mexico's geography, and the craziness of runners, specifically, ultra-runners. There is so much good research summarized here, that I am keeping this book as a reference. And, I want to read it again, because there was a lot I want to read more carefully again. I was impressed, especially, by the story of the running shoe companies and their research results. I want to be sure I understand that before I talk about it anymore! It was convincing enough, though, for me to buy some Merrell shoes that are among the minimalist sort, to see if it will help my right foot, in particular.
The suspense comes from the story of a race the author puts together. We wonder, along with him, if he can pull it off. The elusive Tarahumara Indians are fascinating to learn about, and we wonder, along with him, if they will even race. And the ultra runners and their personalities are intriguing.
Because I love working out, I love the descriptions of the training and the challenges, and the nutrition that goes along with it. I also enjoy the description of the mental state that is achieved through this effort. I've had a few experiences along these lines, and hope to have more. This race and geography is way more ambitious than I could ever undertake, but it's fun to fantasize about being a part of such an adventure.
