Designed+For+Distance

Designed For Distance ~ Garrett Kraus ~ June 1, 2011

//Homo sapiens//have many adaptations that show they have been genetically designed for long distance running. These adaptations include "our abundant sweat glands to our Achilles tendons, from our big knee joints to our muscular glutei maximi” (Chen). As we evolved to run "the joints in the legs and pelvis got bigger to absorb a lot of impact; and we grew a bigger butt muscle” (Joyce). As Harvard University paleoanthropologist Daniel Lieberman states: “We're loaded top to bottom with all these features, many of which don't have any role in walking, our anatomy suggests that running down prey was once a way of life that ensured hominid survival millions of years ago on the African savanna."

One of the most important adaptations that humans evolved to have is the advantageous system of temperature control. While other animals, such as the cheetah, have to pant in order to cool their body temperatures enough to survive, //Homo sapiens// have a system of millions of sweat glands that allows us to cool off much more rapidly. Having no fur, though it might seem like it puts humans at a disadvantage, actually helped those first humans millions of years ago on the African Savanna to cool off more quickly then any other animal. This was advantageous to these early humans.

//Homo sapiens// are the only endurance running species without a tail. Instead of having this tail, humans have something slightly less conspicous; you may know it as the Gluteus Maximus. Said University of Utah Biologist Dennis Bramble: The butt is "basically a substitute for a tail." From a study it was shown that, while walking, the Gluteus Maximus is not in action much at all, but as soon as a person begins to break into a jog, it immediately started working hard, the faster the pace, the harder it works. This is due to the fact that as the human body runs, the torso is placed at a forward degree. This causes the center of gravity to become off-balanced, which would normally make the body fall upon impact. However, "The gluteus maximus prevents that: It fires just before the foot slams into the floor, creating a braking action that keeps the torso from falling down" (Chen).

Two other greatly important adaptations that humans evolved specifically for running is the achilles tendons and big knee joints. When walking, people tend to land heel first followed by the rest of their foot. The achilles tendon and knee joint are not used very much with this type of motion. However, when in a running motion, "The legs become springs. You land on and squash the entire arch and bend your knee" (Chen). The achilles tendon, along with other tendons throughout the leg, are stretched rapidly when you take each running step. When this happens, the tendons naturally snap back like a rubber band, propelling you forward. The large knee joint is used by the body as a shock absorber as well. The human body was so well designed for distance running, as shown through these adaptations, that "Over long distances and under the right conditions, they can also outrun just about any other animal on the planet" (Chen).