Are we born to run?

Chris McDougall is a great storyteller who presents a compelling thesis about our running heritage. I like the notion that we were built for the long haul. McDougall loses my interest and support when he rails against the running shoe industry for being the Achilles' heel of runners. Professional runners don't blame their shoes when they get injured and they log more miles than anyone. When running injuries come up in conversation it's usually not two runners comparing war wounds. It's usually a non-runner recounting the story of an injured runner-friend to a runner in the subtext of 'runners are idiots'. I would bet dollars to donuts that the vast majority of running injuries are due to over-training whether you're a neophyte or a professional.

I do agree with McDougall that we as runners need to rediscover the joy of running. That does not mean throwing away your running shoes, as he suggests. Instead, throw away the mindset that running is penance for a poor diet, or that running is solely a remedy for some malady, or that you must constantly push your limits to get any benefit. Most importantly from an injury perspective, running needn't be so goal-oriented. Why can't we just run for fun?

I've been running, in running shoes, for >20 years without injury and I know I'm not alone. My running has goals, but these are very recent and they are not why I run. I run for the pleasure of running. I like to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine, and I like to experience the world I live in other than through a car window or on television. Every run is an adventure even if it's a regular route. In my opinion, that's the key to injury prevention.