BASIC FOOTWEAR: Arnulfo Quimare, a Tarahumara Indian who is a champion distance runner, laces up his sandals for a 50-mile race on canyon trails. Photo: Tara Parker-Pope
There’s an interesting blurb of an article in the NY Times this week on why humans are so good at running — The Human Body Is Built For Distance. It barely scratches the surface of the subject, but it’s a fair overview.
Most mammals can sprint faster than humans — having four legs gives them the advantage. But when it comes to long distances, humans can outrun almost any animal. Because we cool by sweating rather than panting, we can stay cool at speeds and distances that would overheat other animals. On a hot day, the two scientists wrote, a human could even outrun a horse in a 26.2-mile marathon.
If you’re interested in the subject, I HIGHLY recommend the book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall. It’s the hot new book that everyone in the running community is talking about. When I was working in the running store I had 3 or 4 people a week ask me about it and/or the idea of running barefoot or in Vibram Five Fingers.
I read Christopher’s book back in the summer and couldn’t put it down. It’s the best book on running I’ve ever read. Even if you’re not a runner I think you’d appreciate the story he tells.
