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 gentleman ...
'', ''
The New York Times Magazine
''The New York Times Magazine'' is an American Sunday magazine included with the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times''. It features articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors. The magazi ...
'', ''
Outside
Outside or Outsides may refer to:
* Wilderness
Books and magazines
* ''Outside'', a book by Marguerite Duras
* ''Outside'' (magazine), an outdoors magazine
Film, theatre and TV
* Outside TV (formerly RSN Television), a television network
* '' ...
'', ''
Men's Journal
''Men's Journal'' was an American 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 Wenner of ...
'', and ''
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
'', and was a contributing editor for ''
Men's Health
''Men's Health'' (''MH''), published by Hearst Communications, Hearst, is the world's largest men's magazine brand, with 35 editions in 59 countries; it is the bestselling men's magazine on American newsstands.
Started as a men's health magazin ...
''.
Biography
McDougall resides in
Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, 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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
,
parkour
Parkour () is an athletic Training#Physical training, training discipline or sport in which practitioners (called ''traceurs'') attempt to get from one point to another in the fastest and most efficient way possible, without assisting equipment ...
, and various other challenging situations.
Natural Born Heroes' Is Self-Help the Special Operations Way"
April 16, 2015, NPR
National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
. 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
* Erwan Le Corre, a natural movement instructor featured in ''Natural Born Heroes''
* Persistence hunting
Persistence hunting, also known as endurance hunting or long-distance hunting, is a variant of pursuit predation in which a predator will bring down a prey item via indirect means, such as exhaustion, heat illness or injury. Hunters of this ty ...
* Jenn Shelton
* 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 ultrarunning, ultrarunner from Boulder, Colorado, who received attention because of his depiction ...
, an ultrarunner who appears in ''Born to Run'' under his nickname "Caballo Blanco"
* Curtis Imrie, 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