Christopher McDougall

Christopher McDougall is the author of the acclaimed New York Times bestseller Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.

McDougall’s epic journey began with a persistent foot ailment that prevented him from running long distances. In his search for a remedy, he ended up in Mexico’s Copper Canyons, where he lived with the reclusive Tarahumara Indians, the world’s greatest distance runners. Able to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury, these barefoot runners seemed to know secrets that eluded McDougall in his own training. Although he had been told by doctors that he would never run again, McDougall was ultimately able to overcome his injury, find his own inner ultra-athlete, and join the tribe for the challenge of a lifetime, a 50-mile race through the canyons.

With the publication of Born to Run, McDougall has been credited with sparking the biggest innovation in modern sportswear: the barefoot-running movement. He is an engaging and inspirational speaker who lectures on how he overcame the mental and physical challenges of being an athlete, all while partaking in the adventure of a lifetime. His message resonates with anyone facing a challenge, and, consequently, he speaks to diverse groups, from university students to fitness enthusiasts and corporate executives.

McDougall earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. A former war correspondent for the Associated Press, McDougall is a three-time National Magazine Award finalist. He is also the author of Natural Born Heroes: Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance and Running with Sherman: The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero (October 2019). He does his own running in rural Pennsylvania, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.