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Post by vela on Nov 18, 2004 9:14:49 GMT -5
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Post by jojocircus on Nov 30, 2004 21:30:46 GMT -5
I always wanted to be able to run. I am a super vast sprinter, but when it comes to long distance forget it. Other people like Oprah can be overweight and out of shape and just run a mile  . I think it would have been more of an evolutionary advantage for men. Women's wide hips (which are necessary for childbirth) make it very difficult for running. Plus running burns off too much fat for reproduction. Female runners often lose their periods and suffer from bone loss. Men would need to run long distances to bring home the meat. |
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Post by vela on Dec 2, 2004 11:43:29 GMT -5
I always wanted to be able to run. I am a super vast sprinter, but when it comes to long distance forget it. Other people like Oprah can be overweight and out of shape and just run a mile . I think it would have been more of an evolutionary advantage for men. Women's wide hips (which are necessary for childbirth) make it very difficult for running. Plus running burns off too much fat for reproduction. Female runners often lose their periods and suffer from bone loss. Men would need to run long distances to bring home the meat. Very good observation. The article doesn't make a specific reference or a contrasting remark about the effects of running on men as opposed to women. It is logical to conclude that men, as you say, would benefit more from this evolutionary advantage, as they had to chase after their next meal. However, I remember having heard something about felines that they are more sprinter-like when it comes to hunting. If they don't get the prey on the first attempt then they have to take a break and try later.  Maybe the most distinct anatomical differences between man and woman (like skeletal structure, adipose tissue, etc.) are linked to our ancestral roles of hunter and gatherer respectively? |
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Post by BioMan on Feb 6, 2005 19:56:48 GMT -5
One thing I noticed however is that West Africans seem to be the best short distance runners while they are horrible long distance runners(most African American heck most slaves were West African).
Yet East Africans like Kenyans are superb long distance runners yet horrible short distance runners.
This is probally due to the fast twitch and slow twitch muscle ratio difference. Most African Americans arnt that good at long distance running. Kenyans usually win the long distance titles. African Americans as well as descendents of slaves from the American continent like Jamaica are are the opposite. So it also has something to do with genes.
Can anyone describe the geological differences between west and east Africa?
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Post by Faelcind on Feb 7, 2005 0:45:35 GMT -5
Actually there have been a number of very good african american distance runners and lots of Kenyans and ethiopians are very fast sprinters just not as fast as they are over longer distances. Haile gebrasaile can run the 200 meters in under 22 seconds which is quite fast especially for some who trains almost entirely for distance races, on other hand he was able to break the 10K record nine times.
All Africans tend to have longer lower legs bones and longer achilles tendons providing a more efficient spring when their feet hit the ground, I don't know why but also notice they have advante in the hips which allows them to drop them lower with creates a longer, lower stride. The differences between west africans and east africans is muscle bulk and prepoderance of Type I and IIb Muscle fiber. West africans are heavier muscled and have the highest percentage of the IIb(fast twitch) muscle yet seen in the world, while east africans have the highest percentage of type I seen in the world as well as high red blood counts and exceptional tolerance to lactic acidosis.
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Post by Elistariel on Feb 10, 2005 18:52:58 GMT -5
Good observations. I think we also need to think of breating abilities. I can sprint well enough, and as for running, for example a mile. I'm out of breath long before I'm tired. (I'm white female). If I could actually breathe well enough, I could run a decent mile. That is, if I warmed up before hand. Otherwise I'd have side stitches.  |
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. I think it would have been more of an evolutionary advantage for men. Women's wide hips (which are necessary for childbirth) make it very difficult for running. Plus running burns off too much fat for reproduction. Female runners often lose their periods and suffer from bone loss. Men would need to run long distances to bring home the meat.
