Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

The Copper Canyons are a group of canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range of northwestern Mexico. The canyons play a central role in Born to Run, as they are the home to the indigenous Tarahumara, many of whom still live in cliffside caves or lower camouflaged huts (19). McDougall also points out that because of its rugged terrain and inaccessible nature, the canyons have become a base for drug cartels and marijuana harvesting (21).

Chabochi is a Tarahumara word used throughout Born to Run to refer to white men. In Chapter 4, McDougall explains that “in the Tarahumara tongue, humans come in only two forms: there are Rarámuri, who run from trouble, and chabochis, who cause it” (29). This harsh view of the world stems from the centuries of exploitation and violence the Tarahumara have suffered from outside groups.

Creel is an old mining town located in Northwestern Mexico, bordering the Copper Canyons. The town plays a central role in Born to Run because it serves as a meeting place for Caballo and the author. It is in the lobby of an old hotel in Creel that McDougall first meets Caballo Blanco, who treks from the canyons there to use a computer and internet connection.