Running Reimagined: Smart Plans for Everyone

No matter how strong or fast you are, if you compete in a sports event with other animals on Earth, you will most likely lose!

Even the fastest runner, Usain Bolt (100 meters in 9.58 seconds), is like a baby compared to cheetahs, horses, ostriches, and even many cats.

Whether it's swimming, high jumping, or weightlifting, humans don't stand a chance. However, there is one competition where humans might beat any animal! This is the human vs. horse marathon we are discussing today.

Humans have incredible endurance; whether it's a half marathon, full marathon, or even an ultra-marathon exceeding 100 kilometers, we can complete them successfully.

The competition between humans and horses

Located in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, the smallest town in the UK, with only 600 residents living leisurely.

At that time, a man named Gordon Green was drinking with a local hunter in a bar. He got excited and said, 'In long-distance running, humans are definitely faster than horses.' The hunter decided to bet with him, leading to the birth of this race.

In the 30-plus years since the race began, the champions have often been thoroughbred horses. However, humans have also had their moments of victory!

A man named Hew became the first human to beat a horse in 2004. It turns out our bodies are built for long-distance running.

Our inner ears have specialized structures that help us maintain balance while running; we also have more elastic tendons compared to other primates, allowing us to use bounce to save energy while running.

The human vs. horse race in Wales is a 22-mile multi-terrain marathon, including mud, mountains, rivers, and more.

For human participants, aside from not using four legs to run, other advantages are apparent: humans can be more agile at turns, better at handling slopes, and can stay cooler in hot weather—a crucial survival skill for our ancient ancestors during hunting.

It can be understood this way:

Humans fell from trees, started walking upright, and felt very hungry. When an antelope passed by, humans knew they couldn't outrun it, but they could sweat. Antelopes can't sweat effectively and need to stop frequently to pant and cool down.

So, on a hot afternoon, our ancestors began a frantic chase. The antelope would overheat and collapse (heat exhaustion), allowing our ancestors to enjoy a hearty meal!

In this way, running provided us with delicious meat, which promoted our evolution. The large intake of fats and proteins increased our brain capacity, leading to the creation of language, culture, science, music, and more.

It turns out that running made us who we are today.

Interaction time

From zero running to forming a running habit,

what have you experienced?

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