The Tarahumara, also known as the Rarámuri, are an indigenous tribe from the Copper Canyon region of Mexico known for their exceptional endurance and long-distance running abilities. They have fascinated sports scientists and researchers, who have studied their lifestyle and training methods in an attempt to understand their exceptional endurance.
A Life of Hunting, Gathering, and Farming
One of the reasons for the Tarahumara's exceptional endurance is their lifestyle. Living in a remote, mountainous region, they rely on hunting, gathering, and farming for their livelihood. This has made them accustomed to regular physical activity, which has contributed to their extraordinary running abilities.
The Tarahumara Diet: High in Carbohydrates and Low in Fat
The Tarahumara are also known for their unique diet, which is high in carbohydrates and low in fat. This diet provides them with the necessary energy to sustain long-distance running. Additionally, their diet is composed of natural, unprocessed foods, which contributes to their overall health and physical fitness.
A Running Technique of Minimal Effort
Another factor that contributes to the Tarahumara's endurance is their running technique. They run on their toes, with a light and quick foot strike, and use minimal effort. This allows them to run for long periods of time without experiencing fatigue. They also prefer to run in sandals, which promotes a more natural and comfortable stride.
Running as a Cultural and Spiritual Practice
For the Tarahumara, running is more than just a physical activity; it is a cultural and spiritual practice. Running is a central part of their culture, and they often use it as a means of communication and a way to bond with others. Their running is also a part of the spiritual and ceremonial aspects of their culture.
The Fascination of Sports Scientists and Researchers
The Tarahumara's endurance and running abilities have not gone unnoticed. Their success in ultramarathons and other long-distance running events have attracted the attention of sports scientists and researchers. They have studied their training methods, lifestyle, and culture in an attempt to understand their exceptional endurance and apply their findings to the broader population.
The Tarahumara's Exceptional Endurance
In conclusion, the Tarahumara are a tribe of indigenous people from Mexico known for their exceptional endurance and long-distance running abilities. Their endurance is a result of their lifestyle, diet, running technique, and culture. Their success in long-distance running has attracted the attention of sports scientists and researchers, who have studied their training methods and lifestyle in an attempt to understand their exceptional endurance. The Tarahumara serve as a fascinating example of the role that lifestyle and culture can play in physical fitness and endurance.
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The Tarahumara of northern Mexico, of all the world cultures with a history of running, probably best deserve the top accolades for their achievements in the ultrarunning realm. After all, these proud Native Americans refer to themselves at the “Rarámuri,” which means “those who run fast” and have a long tradition of covering hundreds of miles on foot over the course of several days in order to communicate, trade and hunt.
Christopher McDougall’s bestselling book, Born To Run, featured these incredible runners, and due to their minimalist footwear, spawned a barefoot running movement. But, footwear and biomechanics aside, what sets these runners apart from the rest of the world? How are they able to run so far for so long? Here are four secrets of the Tarahumara you can use to apply to your own running:
American ultrarunning legend Scott Jurek, who won seven straight Western States Endurance Run and set numerous American ultra records, spent time with the Tarahumara in Mexico’s Copper Canyon in 2006. He observed that nothing is wasted with these runners. “What really stood out to me when I ran with them is the efficiency with how they live their lives as well as the efficiency while running,” he says. “They are really about not wasting energy or calories. When I was in the Copper Canyon hiking with Micah True and the Tarahumara for 16 hours, I didn’t particularly notice that they had the perfect stride—not that they didn’t—but I noticed how they didn’t waste any energy. We would take a water break or a rest and they would all sit down right away. They didn’t stand. It was all about conservation to them.” Jurek also points out that this focus on efficiency translated into all things for the Tarahumara, from water conservation to their running stride to pacing. “A lot of people think there is some magical secret around the Tarahumara, but it really comes down to simple things like how you use your energy and when you are consuming energy, being in that present moment,” he says. Jurek also notes that the Tarahumara don’t subscribe to the philosophy of “putting time in the bank” for long runs. “As a culture they have to be able to have the energy to run over a canyon after transmitting messages or trading with another tribe,” he says. “Their pace can’t be haphazard, because they don’t have a lot of extra calories to waste.”
McDougall points out that the Tarahumara benefit from running together as a tribe. “Anyone who’s ever joined a running club has already learned one of the most important lessons of the Tarahumara: collaboration makes you stronger and happier,” he says.
The Tarahumara always race as a team, not as individuals. They feed off each other’s energy and camaraderie, but there’s also another benefit: by pacing yourself to the group, you reduce the risk of going out too hard and blowing up. “These days, I run with friends as often as possible and it’s made a tremendous improvement in my mileage and enjoyment,” McDougall said.
Dana Richardson and Sarah Zentz recently completed a documentary, Goshen, about the Tarahumara and picked up on their love of the sport. “What we noticed when filming the Tarahumara men running the traditional ball race [Rarajipari] and the women running their hoop and arrow race [Ariweta], that for the Tarahumara running is a joyful and sacred experience with a powerful spiritual significance,” says Richardson.
“Their traditional running is about working together in teams, celebrating as a community and honoring one another. Their laughter while running their traditional races was not only contagious but inspiring. When we came back to the States and examined the faces of people running, we noticed pain, suffering, and unhappiness. I believe we get it wrong firstly by running without having correct form. Therefore, we do experience pain from injuries and lose the joy that can be found in running.”
The Tarahumara don’t rely on GPS watches, heart-rate monitors, pace calculators, detailed training plans or a special shoe that best matches their running stride. Keeping things simple allows them to focus exclusively on running. McDougall contends that most runners today are too focused on the wrong things: the ‘getting’ instead of learning—i.e., getting new shoes, getting into Boston, getting a PR, getting ahead of that other guy on Strava—all that acquire and conquer nonsense. “The Tarahumara treat running as a fine art, something to be learned slowly and perfected over a lifetime,” he says. “The goal isn’t necessarily to become fast; it’s to become good. Artists don’t obsess over speed; they obsess over mastering skills. For runners, that skill is form. The more you learn about moving your body lightly and efficiently, the closer you’ll be to running like the Tarahumara.”
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