Born To Run Long Distances

Thanks To Human Evolution

By Eden

Run2eat has a whole new meaning now. I attended a seminar on "How Running Made Us Human" by a professor of biological anthropology. Dr. Daniel Lieberman explores the idea that endurance running was an integral part of human evolution. The reason humans may have evolved to be better long distance runners is because of meat, yes meat. It is suggested that we had to compete as scavengers with other animals for food. And the human body not only revolutionized into long distance trekking but also able to do it in hot temperatures. The body has the ability to sweat which can radiate our heat, where as most other furred animals are not as efficient in hot weather.

There are many animals that can run faster than humans such as cheetahs and horses but humans are capable of beating all animals in long distances.

In this lecture there turned out to be a relationship with Galloway's Run/Walk method. Professor Lieberman explained that humans developed unique muscles that enables us to run efficiently, muscles that we do not use when we walk. So in theory we are resting our running muscles when we walk.