TEDxPennQuarter - Christopher McDougall

REINVENTING Running

Christopher McDougall is a former war correspondent for the Associated Press who reported from Rwanda, Angola and the Congo. A three-time National Magazine Award finalist, he has written for Esquire and The New York Times Magazine. While on an unrelated assignment in Mexico, he happened upon the Tarahumara Indians, a reclusive tribe that preserves the ancient human art of super-long distance running. McDougall described his time among the Tarahumara, and his own transformation from broken-down ex-runner into an ultra-marathoner, in his New York Times bestseller, Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. He now does his own running among the Amish farms around his home in rural Pennsylvania, usually barefoot.

About TEDx

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

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[Countcordeaux]

We are not sprinters. We are marathoners, ultramarathoners. Read Christopher McDougall's book, Born to Run.

[sonfowler1127]

I want this video on my L3100 unit.

[jessehaley615]

This is a very "devilish" video. =p

[AdolfoNetoUTFPR]

@constillustrus He agrees with that. Scott Jurek, a famous ultrarunner portrayed in the book, is vegan. Read the book.

[constillustrus]

@RienVesseur Of course we have much more time than the agrarian period on this earth.But I don't believe we were much of a hunter species...:)) that's my problem...

I kinda like running. I run 30 k's from time to time.It's a great experience

[RienVesseur]

@constillustrus I agree that his self-created "mystery" is b.s. but it appears scientifically proven that man was a hunter-gatherer for much longer than he was a farmer. Whether that means we all should be runners.. I doubt it. The tribes that still run a lot and that do it well are thin by nature, they have a genetical advantage. If you don't have that, do another sport, because running is probably not going to do you much good.

[constillustrus]

his theory about humans and hunting seems to me just fuckig bullshit.we live the best on fruits not on killing other animals.

[cbaultman]

Fascinating talk! Thanks for posting.

[Cearce]

GabrielGaleano is absolutely correct. Humans were meant to sprint everywhere, that's why sprinters are sexier, they run to the top of trees to grab the fruit faster and chase bunnies better than the marathon runners. The marathon runners have to run really far to get to the food that's left and that's why they're so skinny.

[summerland232]

@GabrielGaleano with all due respect, you are a stupid fuck. Humans were not born to sprint or move heavy objects. If we were sprinters we'd have no problem outrunning cheetahs or jackrabbits. And as for heavy lifting apes and other primitive animals put us to shame.