1+Caitlin+Toner

5. Eating Habits

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1. Surgeon Training

15. You want to do what? ULTRA RUNNING

Video of a seminar []

In this video Christopher McDougall, the author of //Born to Run// explains why man was designed to do long distance running. Before humans created tools to hunt their prey, they would out run their prey. Horses, gazelles, and other animals may have been faster than humans, but they had to run in quick bursts and then take a break. Like the tortoise and the hare, humans would gradually catch up to the tired prey that would then try to sprint again. McDougall also believes humans ran in packs like wolves, so they would all motivate each other to catch dinner. Humans are also very effective perspiring so they can run and cool off at the same time rather than stopping.

Female Ultrarunners [] This article shows that the longer the distance, the more equal male and female runners become. When it comes to ultra running, women have been seen coming in first overall. In a 100 mile race in Leadville, Colorado it was reported 90% of the women who signed up finished the race while only 50% of the men finished (//Born to Run)//. There are many theories why women are so good at long distance running. The article believes that since women are shorter and have a better center of gravity, they can endure hard courses more easily. This may be true why women on average can run just as well (if not better) than men on average in ultra marathons, but I doubt a short person has a significantly better advantage than a tall person. The article believes since women have a higher percentage of body fat than men they can store more energy and last longer. I also feel skeptical about this theory because it seems to suggest people with more fat do better,but the men and women who are running and winning ultra marathons do not have much body fat to spare. The article also suggests the ability to give birth means women can endure more pain, but is running dehydrated or with a bad knee the same pain as giving birth? And can women really endure this pain more? I think a key characteristic is that women are good at pacing. As seen in sprinters, I think men's testosterone levels help develop their muscles and give a sudden burst. Ultramarathons become an even playing field because it is no longer a competition on who has the bigger muscles. These 100 mile races are so long that it becomes a mental game more than anything else, and as seen in the classroom and work place men and women can work side by side when using their head.

Barefoot Running [|barefoot ken bob] []

Both the ABC video and the Runner's World article explain the benefits of running barefoot. High tech shoes with new and improved sole support have only been around since the seventies (coincidentally that's when Nike was growing). Before that people would run in light shoes with minimal support or no shoes at all. Both sources believe that the bottom of one's feet is very sensitive and when a person wears shoes it is "blinding" the feet's sensory and perception. Running shoes also change the stride of runners, running more on the heel rather than the balls of the feet or the middle. Sneakers (trainers) try to absorb shock by inserting plastic or other heavy material in the shoe, but makes a runner's stride less efficient. Although these two reports support barefoot running, they think people need to make the switch slowly and gradually with caution. The feet need time to "see" again and so walking barefoot before running is recommended. Although barefoot running can help a runner's stride and prevent shin splints, stepping on a rusty nail or a broken piece of glass brings new physiological problems.

Living evidence that this lifestyle could have been plausible are the Tarahumara, Native Americans that live in the rugged canyons of Mexico. They can run a hundred miles without stopping in just sandals and shorts. They defy all the hype of high-end gear to do well in running. They also run with a different mentality