Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Started with foot pain: Christopher McDougall began his journey after suffering repeated running injuries. He was told by doctors that his body was too big and heavy for distance running. This simple question, “Why does my foot hurt?” launched him on an adventure that would become a bestselling book.

Three million copies sold: Born to Run became a massive international bestseller. The book spent over four months on The New York Times Best Seller list. It completely changed how millions of people think about running.

Caballo Blanco was real: The mysterious character Micah True, known as Caballo Blanco or “White Horse,” was an actual ultrarunner from Boulder, Colorado. He lived among the Tarahumara people and created the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon in 2003 to help preserve their running culture. Tragically, he died in 2012 while on a solo trail run in New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness.

The race was for charity: Every finisher of the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon receives 500 pounds of corn. International runners traditionally donate their corn to local Tarahumara families. The race brings in roughly 100,000 pounds of staple corn and $14,000 in prizes to support the indigenous community.

Ann Trason nearly won outright: At the 1994 Leadville Trail 100, ultrarunning legend Ann Trason finished second overall, beating all but one of the Tarahumara runners. Her time of 18:06:24 set a women’s record that stood for 31 years until 2025. She finished just over an hour behind the male winner.

Sparked the barefoot movement: The book triggered an explosion in barefoot and minimalist running. The Barefoot Runners Society was founded in November 2009, the same year the book was published. Sales of Vibram FiveFingers doubled every year in the early 2010s as runners ditched their cushioned shoes.

McDougall was a war correspondent: Before writing Born to Run, Christopher McDougall covered wars in Rwanda and Angola as a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press. His journalism background shaped the book’s compelling narrative style and adventure storytelling approach.

The Tarahumara run 200 miles: The Tarahumara people have a tradition of running distances up to 200 miles at a time. They use running for inter-village communication, transportation, recreation, and competition. They wear minimalist sandals called huaraches made from thin strips of tire rubber.

Leadville became famous: The book’s focus on the 1994 Leadville Trail 100 dramatically increased interest in ultramarathons. The 2011 Leadville race sold out months earlier than ever before. The race takes place at extreme altitude, starting at 10,200 feet and climbing to 12,532 feet at Hope Pass.

McDougall ran the fifty-miler: After training in the Tarahumaran style, McDougall successfully completed a 50-mile race through the Copper Canyon. He focused on fixing his running form, doing hill work, strength exercises, and improving his diet. His transformation showed that the book’s lessons worked in practice, not just theory.