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Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring and Informative
Review: After reading this book I'm running every day, really paying attention to what I'm doing while running and what my body is telling me, feeling stronger, getting stronger, and loving it. Thoughout my life I have run inconsistently, mostly as a chore to get in shape, preferring to bicycle when ever I wanted to engage long distance, aerobic efforts. Running always hurt too much in comparison to cycling. After reading this book my strengths, physical and mental, have come forward, and I run with a great deal more ease and enjoyment. But that's only half of it. Bern is a very high class story teller too. Very enjoyable book all the way around.
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Summary: I'd Rather Eat Worms than Deplete
Review: Anyone (like myself) who likes to run longer distances (and likes ~bugs~ to boot) will just plain enjoy reading about Heinrich's passion for the simple, elegant and primordial sport of running. Heinrich has woven his autobiography with scientific inquiry...his vocation (biology) is what gives this book about his avocation (running) an interesting bent. Heinrich talks about antelope, birds, toads, dogs and cats etc. and investigates what those animals can teach us about running, and what humans do or do not have in common with these animals regarding stamina, endurance, and even focus. I think that this book gives the reader / runner something to think about and be inspired by in an abstract way rather than serving as a ~step-by-step process~ on how to be a better runner. This is not some boastful read for the old-fart jock club (which by age I would qualify for), but an inspirational life story ~and~ scientific investigation regarding the human spirit, our primal / animal need to run (well, some of us anyway) and the drive to pursue our dreams (that goes for all of us!).
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Summary: Running Is Life!
Review: As an experienced student of the human condition I write to heap great praise on this book. In its pages are found fascinating remote evidences of the struggle that Mother Nature faced in creating that remarkable animal called us. Heinrich mines his treasury of biologic endurance characteristics and produces this wonderful treatise that bids us struggling zoo animals to regain our precious exercise heritage.
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Summary: Very entertaining book
Review: I can't disagree with the other reviewers that say this book is original and intense. However, I'm struggling to find out how my running can benefit from Heinrich's advice. The problem I have with the book is that it's disorganized. It starts off comparing the physiology of animals and humans' running ability, and ends with Heinrich's triumph at the big ultramarathon. I'm not sure what message the author and publisher are trying to convey to me. I was totally enthralled though with the discussion of the physiology of animals. I guess I was hoping for more details on how a runner can best prepare for an ultramarathon.
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Summary: Re: A Cautionary Tale
Review: I'd like to write a review of the previous review from Chicago. All it tells me is the the couch potato wasn't smart enough to buy the right book and then sought to blame the author(Heinrich) for his disappointment. Not much help.
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Summary: interesting exploration of the biology of running
Review: In "Racing the Antelope" (which has since been renamed "Why We Run"), Heinrich presents us with an exploration of the biological features that make running and other types of activity (for example sprinting, flying, and even marathon bouts of mating calls amongst male frogs) possible. He devotes the middle chapters of the book to individual animals (insects, birds, pronghorn antelopes, camels, frogs, dogs, cats, and more) and the biological characteristics which allow them to develop incredible endurance or speed. The beginning and end of the book are concerned with the story of Heinrich's own experiences with running, an activity which has been for him an integral part of life. This autobiographical story is a bit disjointed, though. At the beginning of the book, we learn about the role running plays during Heinrich's childhood, through his school and college years, and on into graduate school. The end of the book details his preparation for, and participation in, a 100K race (62.2 miles). It is only at the end of the book that its structure becomes readily apparent. Preparation for the race is what ties everything together; Heinrich looked to the examples of the animals discussed in the middle of the book for ideas that would help him as he trained for his ultramarathon. I would liked to have seen the structure of the book be a bit more apparent to the reader throughout. That said, this book is a nice overview of the incredible variety of--and potential for--endurance and speed present in animals (including humans) today. I read this book because I was looking for something to inspire and motivate my own running; this book isn't quite what I was looking for. However, once I finished it I found myself thinking about my running from a perspective I had not previously considered. Recommended for those with interests in biology, distance running, or both.
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Summary: Don't Forget We are All Animals!
Review: Racing the Antelope is one of the finest books on running I have ever read. Heinrich draws us in with his anecdotes as an ultramarathoner and enriches us with his deatiled knowledge of biology and physiology. The technical aspects are informative yet not too heavy. Any experienced or even beginner runner can profit from his examples. Well done!!
Rating:
Summary: An Unique Perspective
Review: This is a great little book. It's title doesn't fully convey the complete story which includes one man's quest for a life-time-in-the-making run. While Bern Heinrich's description of his quest pertains to ultra-marathoning, I found the principles he brought out equally applicable to lesser efforts. His vignettes of the natural endurance abilities various animals and insects are useful to ponder as one tries to squeeze a little extra performance out of a marathon. I found his observations of mankind's natural abilities and their comparisons to wildlife very interesting. I also found his commentary of his thoughts and tactics in preparation for and during his actual 100k race identical to some that I've had during my own endurance runs. All in all, a unique read for the experienced runner who doesn't need another "how to" book on running.
Rating:
Summary: An Unique Perspective
Review: This is a great little book. It's title doesn't fully convey the complete story which includes one man's quest for a life-time-in-the-making run. While Bern Heinrich's description of his quest pertains to ultra-marathoning, I found the principles he brought out equally applicable to lesser efforts. His vignettes of the natural endurance abilities various animals and insects are useful to ponder as one tries to squeeze a little extra performance out of a marathon. I found his observations of mankind's natural abilities and their comparisons to wildlife very interesting. I also found his commentary of his thoughts and tactics in preparation for and during his actual 100k race identical to some that I've had during my own endurance runs. All in all, a unique read for the experienced runner who doesn't need another "how to" book on running.
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Summary: Distance Running
Review: This was a thoughtful venture into the science of distance running. The authors presents us with this scientific material (the physiology of endurance running) in a digestable manner. His prose is excellent for a scientist.
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