As part of our "How Do We Endure" Project in Biology, our class read "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall to gain a perspective on human limits, performance, and biological advantages. The book investigates the phenomena of the Tarahumara tribe, and its production of some of the world's greatest ultrarunners. Throughout the reading, we answered questions such as, "Is ultrarunning a natural ability?" and "Can anyone progress to the level at which the Tarahumara compete?" to discover answers behind human potential and our understanding of athletics. Below, you will find a QCQ (Quote-Commentary-Question) regarding a specific portion of the book that I chose to highlight. To the right, you will find the in-class essay that I wrote regarding the book.
Quote: "When it comes to the rest of the planet, the Tarahumara are living contradictions: they shun outsiders, but are fascinated by the outside world. In one way, it makes sense: when you love running extraordinary distances, it must be tempting to cut loose and see where, and how far, your legs can take you" (McDougall 28).
Commentary: 1. This quote particularly relates to human capability and endurance in the sense that moderate runners and ultrarunners share a desire to expand their limits. As muscle continues to build up in the thighs, calves, and/or other ligaments in the leg, strength increases steadily. Once one is in a position to challenge him/herself in a new environment or through more difficult exercise, the activity will become more of a testament to the greater effort of the individual.
2. While the first half of the quote was more pertinent to dismissing outside views and perspectives, I can definitely relate to the feeling of wanting to push my own boundaries. As an avid runner, I get a rush of adventure and thrill when I switch up the scenery around me and explore new areas. Not only does this pertain to location, but I can also step outside of my comfort zone by running longer distances or focusing on running with more speed.
3. Some of the themes presented in the book have included human capability, active limitation, biological advantage(s), and potential in performance. By exploring the Tarahumara people in-depth, the narrator is starting to realize what differentiating factors or natural traits that he possesses that would prevent him from running like the Tarahumara. He has also heard from a variety of doctors who have stated that some people have certain characteristics that contribute to their respective skill levels.
Question: Is it possible to overcome the natural performance gap caused by biological advantages through the utilization of time, practice, and effort?
As you will find below, I wrote an in-class essay that was relevant to my knowledge and understanding of the key concepts presented in the story. My essay reviews many essential moments and events in the text, and connects the systems of the body to McDougall's literary wonderings.