Why We Run: A Natural History

This book is actually several different books woven together. It’s part autobiography of the author’s running life, it’s part a study of comparative biology between various creatures with an endurance bent and humans, it’s part an examination of the evolutionary biology of humanity’s proclivity to run, and it’s part guide to preparing to engage in ultramarathons. Often I pan such books as being unfocused, ill-planned, and—most often—attempts to whip an article’s worth of material into a book length piece. However, Heinrich keeps it interesting enough that I don’t feel it necessary to level these criticisms. Still, my first warning to readers is that one has to read on for quite a while before one gets to the book that one thought one bought—i.e. one that answers the title question of “why WE (i.e. people in general and not the author specifically) run.” In short, you’ll need to have an eclectic set of interests to get through the whole book, but some may find reading only part of it gives them all they wanted from the book.It should be noted that the book is on its second title. The original title was: “Racing the Antelope: What Animals Can Teach Us about Running and Ourselves.” The author explains in the front matter why the original name was changed (apparently some loud and obnoxious writer had a similarly titled book on a different subject and whined about it.) Changing the title wasn’t required because: a.) titles cannot be copyrighted, and b.) it wasn’t exactly the same title anyway. Still the new, more succinct, title may lead one to expect a succinct book, which this isn’t so much.Some readers will enjoy Heinrich’s writing style; others will find that it ventures too far into flowery territory on occasion. I did enjoy it. However, I can see how a reader might find some of the descriptive sequences to be excessive--particularly toward the beginning of the book.While there’s some overlapping and interweaving, one can think of the book in three sections. It’s written in twenty chapters. The first six tell the author’s story of getting into running and his youth. The next eight chapters deal in comparative and evolutionary biology. In general, these chapters look at the biology of other creatures as they pertain to said animals’ ability to engage in running (or activities that are like running in that they involve endurance of muscles and the cardiovascular system.) Also included in this section is the evolutionary biology of humans as it relates to becoming a species of runners. This is the core of the book and was the most interesting section for me. In it, Heinrich considers the endurance activities of insects, birds, antelopes, camels, and frogs. Each of these has a particular relevance. For example, camels are masters of endurance under harsh conditions. Frogs tell the story of the difference between fast and slow twitch musculature (relevant to sprinters versus distance runners.) Antelopes are, of course, the exemplars running in the animal kingdom, but the nature of their running is so different from that of humans (i.e. making quick escapes versus pursuing wounded prey.) The last six chapters can be seen as a guide to preparing for ultramarathon races, but it’s also a continuation of the author’s self-examination of his running life from the time he began ultramarathoning.I’d recommend this book for readers who are interested in the science of human performance. It’s well written, and the insights it offers into the biology of other animals are fascinating. Whether you read the whole book or just the part that pertains to your interests, you’ll take something away from this book.

This book was thoroughly enjoyable and what I expected/hoped as opposed to the Bicycle Diaries. The author's understanding of biology and the biology of running was fascinating. The fact that this guy did not just run marathons but ultramarathons was just sick. That is about 62.3 miles to the rest of us.The tale flowed nicely. At times, the writing felt awkward but this generally occurred during the science explanations and I can only surmise that the editor might have had a hand in this. I think it was a function of editing because when the author talked of his youth, growing up, and races, the writing was tight and had a good flow.I am still not sure if this book inspired me though. Why? He might as well as described how he flies as that is about as likely for me to do as run an ultra. I did like his narrative when he focused on his feelings while running and the most fascinating aspect is there is a scientific reason behind `the wall' that most distance runners hit.The only thing that I could not fathom is that since he resides in the northeast of the U.S.A., he has to run in the winter to maintain his training. How does he run in the cold? For some of us, our lungs collapse down into little raisins when it gets cold and even after attempting it for several weeks, there is no work around. This is something for which I would have liked to have a science based solution.Lastly, the book explored his many theories on running preparation and diet and provided scientific theories for just about everything he consumed. It was nice to not hear pseudo science but the real deal from this amazing athlete.

Stick with this book if you enjoy running for the sake of running. The first half was too bogged down in the science of insects, but it eventually got to its point and had some fantastic inspirational points that echoed those feeling I have when I run.It seemed less like an instructional guide and more of a "Why I Run" book with some interesting historical theories mixed in.

This book was published in 2001, 20 years after the author ran in the 100 kilometer ultramarathon race in Chicago at the age of 41. You can guess the outcome :) This is one of those rare books where the writing gets better towards the end, unlike the deadline rush or inspiration vacuum that afflicts the quality of too many books in the last chapters. The early part of the book is devoted to biological treatises on various animals and examples of extreme adaptations (e.g., the speed of the antelope, the distance capacity of the camel without water, the extreme distances of certain bird migration patterns). This stuff reads very academically (the author is a PhD biologist) and won't appeal to all readers, but is interesting in that you see how it fuels the author's thinking about his own training preparations later in the book. The last few chapters are simply superb. It is the story of the author's training and experimentation with energy management of fats and carbohydrates during training, his stream of consciousness during the race itself, and of course the race outcome. Imagine running 62 miles in less than 7 hours! At the age of 41. Some of the author's philosophy of running and of life itself emerges as well, and you get a sense of an unassuming ego that is so pleasant in today's fist-pumping narcissistic age.

I just love the whole history of evolution and especially how we evolved. The running angle to this really interested me as I also do minimalist types of running, including barefoot running which taps into the structures that have evolved in our feet particularly for running.

Very much enjoyed this read, factual and contains surprising information about the incredible adaptions of both humans and animals.

Amazing book. Its condition as expected and described by the seller. Thank you!!

Book recounts personal running experiences of the author as well as his interest and studies into nature and animals with regard to endurance.Did take me a few pages, maybe chapters to get the hang of the style and way of writing.Enjoyable, interesting and reflective on our own and nature's possiblies ... .If you're looking for concrete running tips ... you'll not find them. If you're looking for inspiration and want to build believe in your own capacities, this is a good read.

Libro ricevuto nei tempi ed imballato ottimamente come sempre da Amazon.Più che un libro sulla corsa un libro sulla natura, umana ed animale.Un libro che arricchisce, che impegna certo nella lettura (non è immediato come un romanzo), ma che ripaga ampiamente dello sforzo.