Christopher McDougall (born 1962) is an American author and journalist. He is best known for his 2009 book ''
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen''. He has also written for ''
Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
'', ''
The New York Times Magazine
''The New York Times Magazine'' is an American Sunday magazine Supplement (publishing), supplement included with the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times''. It features articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted man ...
'', ''
Outside
Outside or Outsides may refer to:
General
* Wilderness
* Outside (Alaska), any non-Alaska location, as referred to by Alaskans
Books and magazines
* ''Outside'', a book by Marguerite Duras
* ''Outside'' (magazine), an outdoors magazine Film, th ...
'', ''
Men's Journal
''Men's Journal'' is an American monthly men's lifestyle magazine focused on outdoor recreation and comprising editorials on the outdoors, environmental issues, health and fitness, style and fashion, and gear. It was founded in 1992 by Jann Wenne ...
'', and ''
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
'', and was a contributing editor for ''
Men's Health''.
Biography
McDougall resides in
Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania
Peach Bottom is an unincorporated village in Fulton Township, Lancaster County, in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. It lies on the east bank of the Susquehanna River.
The original town of Peach Bottom was located across the river ...
, a town located within
Fulton Township.
''Born to Run''
In 2009's ''Born to Run'', McDougall tracks down members of the reclusive
Tarahumara Indian tribe in the Mexican
Copper Canyons. After being repeatedly injured as a runner himself, McDougall marvels at the tribe's ability to run ultra distances (over 100 miles) at incredible speeds, without getting the routine injuries of most American runners. The book has received attention in the sporting world for McDougall's description of how he overcame injuries by modeling his running after the Tarahumara.
He asserts that modern cushioned running shoes are a major cause of running injury, pointing to the thin sandals called
huaraches worn by Tarahumara runners, and the explosion of running-related injuries since the introduction of modern running shoes in 1972.
''Natural Born Heroes''
In the ''Natural Born Heroes'' (2015), McDougall explores various aspects of heroes and physical fitness, covering the
abduction of a Nazi general during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
,
parkour
Parkour () is an athletic training discipline or sport in which practitioners (called ''traceurs'') attempt to get from point A to point B in the fastest and most efficient way possible, without assisting equipment and often while performing a ...
, and various other challenging situations.
Natural Born Heroes' Is Self-Help the Special Operations Way"
April 16, 2015, NPR. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
Works
* ''Girl Trouble: The True Saga of Superstar Gloria Trevi and the Secret Teenage Sex Cult That Stunned the World'' (2004)
* '' Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen'' (2009)
* ''Natural Born Heroes: How a Daring Band of Misfits Mastered the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance'' (2015)
* ''Running with Sherman: The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero'' (2019). .
See also
* Scott Jurek
Scott Gordon Jurek (born October 26, 1973) is an American ultramarathoner, author, and public speaker. Throughout his running career, Jurek was one of the most dominant ultramarathon runners in the world, winning the Hardrock Hundred (2007), t ...
* Erwan Le Corre
Erwan Le Corre, a French American born on September 10, 1971, is the founder and innovator of a physical education system and lifestyle known as MovNat, which derives from the French words "mouvement naturel" ("natural movement").
Early life and ...
, a natural movement instructor featured in ''Natural Born Heroes''
* Persistence hunting
* Jenn Shelton
Jenn Shelton (born 1983) is an American ultramarathoner. She has set course records in several of the most demanding American ultramarathons.
Shelton attended the University of North Carolina where she played on the rugby team. She dropped out to ...
* Micah True
Micah True (November 10, 1953 – March 27, 2012), born Michael Randall Hickman and also known as Caballo Blanco (white horse), was an American ultrarunner from Boulder, Colorado, who received attention because of his depiction as a central ...
, an ultrarunner who appears in ''Born to Run'' under his nickname "Caballo Blanco"
* Curtis Imrie
Walter Curtis Imrie Jr. (September 18, 1946 – January 21, 2017) was an American radio personality, film-maker, sportsman, animal breeder, and candidate for elected political office. He was particularly noted for his role as an organizer of th ...
, pack burro racer described in ''Born to Run''
References
External links
Website
an
blog
of Christopher McDougall
{{DEFAULTSORT:McDougall, Christopher
1962 births
American male journalists
American non-fiction writers
Associated Press reporters
Harvard University alumni
Kent School alumni
Living people
People from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania