Born To Run Chapter Summary

1. The Lone Wanderer of the High Sierras
A title should attract the audience, hint to themes, or inform the reader of the main idea of the chapter. The first chapter of Born to Run introduces a character known as Caballo Blanco, and the author focuses on telling his story. He is claimed to be somewhere alone in the mountains, so the author refers to him as a lone wanderer, with knowledge of the ancient secrets of the Tarahumara. This title is appropriate because it intrigues the reader and focuses on what the chapter is about. The author comes to the conclusion that the story is a hoax, but the mysteries of the Tarahumara are still unsolved, which causes the audience to want to continue reading.
2. Tarahumara Land
In the second chapter of

Born to Run, the author points out the vast distinctions between the Tarahumara and today’s society. The author wants to understand how the people of this tribe can compete in marathons, consisting of hundreds of miles back to back, and never become injured. He is puzzled by the way athletes of developed nations cannot compete with these runners. He explains the differences regarding the two cultures, which is the purpose of this chapter in the book. The Tarahumara live in a utopia that is free of the crime, addiction, abuse, disease, and corruption that affect communities in other parts of the world. However, it is expected that their world would be the opposite. They live on corn beer and party all the time, but in Tarahumara land it works.
3. No False Steps
In the third chapter of Born to Run, the author focuses on the dangers of the territory he is exploring. The Tarahumara land is empty, and no homes or humans are found by explorers. The areas surrounding Tarahumara country are full of dangers, and a false step would leave a climber with a mangled corpse, according to an adventurer named Frederick Schwatka. The author goes on to explain his fears about encountering people other than the Tarahumara. The area he is traveling through is often traveled by Mexico’s drug gangs. A false step leads him into their frequently traveled trails, but he makes it out of the situation safe. His sigh of relief doesn’t last long because he realizes he is lost. He comes close to the edge of a cliff, where a false step would’ve harmed him. The author realizes the land has beautiful attributes, but a false step could’ve finished his expedition.
4. Tarahumara Etiquette
In the fourth chapter of Born to Run, the author finally finds the Tarahumara, but he learns quickly how his approach and attempt at interviewing them is not the right way to greet the Tarahumara. The author and his partner in the expedition make mistakes by approaching the hut. They did not wait to be invited in by the man. The author realizes his questioning of the man is too creepy. The Tarahumara are reserved, cautious, and apprehensive when it comes to strangers. The man is forgiving of their mistakes and decides to sit down with them. The author explains the rough relationship the Tarahumara have with outsiders, and he proceeds to realize he will not find answers to his questions from the man.
5. Caballo Blanco Spotted in the Copper Canyons
In the fifth chapter of Born to Run, the author writes about the strange events that can happen in the mysterious Copper Canyons. He meets Ángel first, a man who runs a school for the Tarahumara children. He tells a story of two children and himself encountering Caballo Blanco about ten years ago. The boys think the man is a ghost, but the elders correct their mistake, by calling it a soul of the dead. The author continues by explaining that is it a natural law that weird creatures appear where people disappear. The Copper Canyons inhabit all different forms of misfits, and they are the place for unexplainable circumstances happening. The author writes about the various torments travelers face and the supernatural powers of the Copper Canyons. Ángel continues his story of Caballo Blanco, and he claims Caballo Blanco still appears. Caballo Blanco and the Copper Canyons are the author’s main focus in this chapter. However, the author remains exhausted and without answers. He realizes his hunt for Caballo Blanco is only now starting.
6. Caballo Blanco is Close
In the sixth chapter of Born to Run, the author has doubts about Caballo Blanco again. He meets Marcelino, a boy who attends Ángel’s school. Marcelino claims Caballo Blanco is good friends with his father, which confuses and surprises the author. The author now has faith in Caballo Blanco again. Ángel alerts the author that Caballo Blanco is heading to another town, but it is possible to catch him. The author is now on a mission to see Caballo Blanco, and he knows this could be his only chance. His goal is to find him. He’s full of adrenaline and iskiate as he follows Salvador to the edge of a cliff. They continue looking the next day, but they couldn’t find him. The author begins to conclude that it is good that he managed to see the lone wanderer before Caballo Blanco saw him.
7. The Plan
In the seventh chapter of Born to Run, the author reaches Caballo Blanco. He needs to gain Caballo’s trust before he flees. He tries to start a conversation, and he informs Caballo that he isn’t a cop or an agent. Caballo eventually opens up and tells stories to the author. The author realizes how lucky he is to have this discussion. He mentions that somehow Caballo has looked for him too. At the end of the chapter, the author writes about a plan. A bold plan that involves both of them. The chapter ends there, but the plan has to be significant or symbolic to what is going to happen in the rest of the book. The author ending the chapter without explaining the plan captivates the audience to read on.
8. The Fisherman’s Fiasco
During the eighth chapter of Born to Run, the author goes back in time to explain Rick Fisher’s adventures, navigation skills, photography, and his great fiasco with the Tarahumara. Fisher dreams of establishing a track team of Tarahumara runners, but it is impossible. However, he becomes friends with Patrocinio, a Tarahumara man wandering into the modern world. They make a deal together. Patrocinio agrees to organize a race for him, if he feeds the whole tribe. Fisher is astonished by the way they run, but he did not realize he is creating big problem. The author ends the chapter there, but by ending the chapter in this way, he is foreshadowing that Fisher’s plan is not going to work out.
9. Fast and Fearless
During the ninth chapter of Born to Run, the author explains the giant flaw in Fisher’s race.

It happens to flow into the Leadville Trail. Leadville is a ghost town now, but it was once a thriving community. The town turns into a depressed, empty, poor, and dangerous place to live once the mines shut down. One citizen decides to organize a race, which helps the economy but hurts the participants. The problem is the Tarahumara do not face this dangerous climate during their regular competitions. This territory is a whole new world to them. The Tarahumara are incredibly fast, but they are not fearless. This trail is capable of injuring the tribe who never is injured. Completing this race will be the most difficult run they have ever imagined.
10. The Real Running People
During the tenth chapter of Born to Run, the author writes about how Fisher refuses to give up. None of Fisher’s runners can make it half way, and the Tarahumara runners fail at their first attempt in the competition. Fisher realizes not just any Tarahumara runner will work, so he embarks on a journey to find the real running people. He creates a group of new runners, which consists of younger and older runners. This time he succeeds. The group of runners beat records and take home first and second place.
11. Can Anyone Beat These

Guys?
During the eleventh chapter of Born to Run, the author writes about Ann Trason. Rick Fisher claims she is capable of beating the Tarahumara. It is possible for Ann to run fifty five miles in one day. Ann does not run the way a normal person does, and the key to her success is relaxing into the run. Ann decides it is time to run a real marathon, but she wants the run to be rough and challenging. She choses the American River 50-Mile Endurance Run. The possibility of encountering poison oak, wild horses, and rattlesnakes is high. She is inexperienced going into her first run; she is not pacing herself and becoming dehydrated. However, she wins the race and beats the female record. She goes on to become a champion and wins an abundance of races. She’s able to compete with the real running people. This shows that people are capable of being running people just like the Tarahumara.
12. A Race War
During the twelfth chapter of Born to Run, Rick Fisher becomes hostile because of Ann Trason.

Ann is heading back to Leadville to compete. Fisher is angry because he fears his team will lose to her. He claims the Tarahumara do not lose to women, and they won’t start now. By opening up his mouth to the media, he puts pressure on himself. He knows the Tarahumara are the underdogs. Ann has experience on the trail and at high altitudes, unlike Fisher’s new recruits from Choguita. He wants to undo the bond the Tarahumara have, in order to find the best runners. He is in the wrong because racing is what unites the tribe, and he is trying to take that away. He builds up this mentality that the race is a battle between his runners and a woman. He separates them from their competition, and he makes the Tarahumara look alone and

lonely.
13. Predator and Prey
During the thirteenth chapter of Born to Run, the author writes about different strategies and strange outcomes in long distance competitions. Dr. Joe Vigil attends the race. He wants to create a better grasp around the mysteries of ultrarunning. He watches from the sidelines, and the Tarahumara decide to quickly get ahead in the beginning. Both the Tarahumara and Ann Trason change up their strategy throughout the race. She decides to quit hunting the Tarahumara, and she becomes the prey. The predator can have multiple opportunities, but the prey cannot make any mistakes. Ann is fierce and confident. She is not intimidated by her competition, so she races ahead.