Author: The Dragonfly Swimmer Published: April 27th, 2011
He never stood a chance.
If you happen to be a distance runner or a quadruped, there's an article that may interest you in the May 2011 issue of Outside magazine.
The article is titled "Fair Chase" and subtitled "On the plains of New Mexico, a band of elite marathoners tests a controversial theory of evolution: that humans can outrun the fastest animals on earth," and you can read it right here.
The framework for the article — let's pit some fast marathoners against a pronghorn antelope and see if they can't pursue the thing until it overheats and falls over — is a little gimmicky, but fun. And I won't give away the ending here.
The underlying idea is the theory that, as Outside explains, "our ancestors evolved into endurance athletes in order to hunt quadrupeds by running them to exhaustion." (This is called "persistence hunting.") Harvard's Daniel Lieberman, an evolutionary biologist, is among this theory's most visible proponents.
Well, with all due respect to Dr. Lieberman and his fellow experts: I think you're close, but not quite there.
My own theory is that our ancestors did indeed use running to hunt — not by running animals to exhaustion, but by cornering them in social situations and talking to them about running until they collapsed of boredom.
At which point the runners could surround the quadruped and devour it at their leisure, using the calories to fuel more long runs and speed workouts, which they could then describe at agonizing length to future quadrupeds, who would then collapse of boredom, etc.
You know. Circle of life.
A typical scenario might play out like this, at a gathering of our australopithecine ancestors, one of whom has buttonholed an obviously uncomfortable antelope by a crude, stone punch bowl:
* * *
Australopithecine ancestor: "Me been runner for long time. Me not training for anything right now. Maybe spring marathon. Whatever 'marathon' is. And 'spring.' You run? You have four leg. You probably run."
Antelope: [snorts]
Australopithecine ancestor: "Me bet you run fast. Me no run fast. Me more of jogger. Ha ha. But at least me out there. Me try to do many short run most time, then one long run some time. Also Yasso 800."
Antelope: [eyes dart nervously, looking for an out]
Australopithecine ancestor: "You barefoot runner? Me into barefoot running. Change life. Just seem more natural."
Antelope: [snorts, shudders]
Australopithecine ancestor: "You know where me like run? Savanna. Flat, pretty. Me feel like me can run forever on savanna. Me perspire, but that okay. You perspire? No? Ha. You look like you want perspire now. Anywaaaaaay… Me tell you about time me hurt leg?"
Antelope: [twitching, panting, scratching at ground]
Australopithecine ancestor: "Me try to run through hurt. No work. Hurt spread! Look, me show you where pain go…"
Antelope: [falls over, unconscious, bored out of its skull]
Australopithecine ancestor, to others: "Dinner ready!"
* * *
…Like I said, this is also just a theory. Maybe someday I'll test it. As soon as I finish that crude, stone punch bowl.
Attention, Lehigh Valley (Pa.) Area Runners!
If you're running this weekend's Lehigh Valley Half-Marathon and 5-K — or, heck, if you just live nearby, come meet a few Runner's World staffers at the race expo this Saturday:
Author: The Dragonfly Swimmer Published: April 25th, 2011
By Susan Rinkunas
Earlier today, Runner's World surpassed 200,000 fans on our Facebook page! To commemorate this milestone and to thank you for following us, we’ve got some giveaways and discounts, including the lowest prices ever on RW training plans and several RW books.
First, we're giving one free issue to the first 200 U.S. residents who sign up here! UPDATE: We've reached the maximum of 200 free issues.
And for the next 200,000 seconds (through 2 am ET on Thursday 4/28), we're also happy to offer:
Author: The Dragonfly Swimmer Published: April 25th, 2011
By Susan Rinkunas
Earlier today, Runner's World surpassed 200,000 fans on our Facebook page! To commemorate this milestone and to thank you for following us, we’ve got some giveaways and discounts, including the lowest prices ever on RW training plans and several RW books.
First, we're giving one free issue to the first 200 U.S. residents who sign up here! UPDATE: We've reached the maximum of 200 free issues.
And for the next 200,000 seconds (through 2 am ET on Thursday 4/28), we're also happy to offer:
The Ticker
No, this isn't just a "your momma's so fat" joke: A recent study, published in the journal Diabetes, suggests a mother's diet during pregnancy can impact her child's risk of obesity later in life… Desiree Davila, second-place finisher at Monday's Boston Marathon, is receiving a warm welcome back in Michigan, where she trains with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. This Tuesday, she'll throw the first pitch in the Detroit Tigers game against the Mariners… Two days after her breakthrough performance, Davila was named USATF Athlete of the Week… Last weekend, one British man completed the London Marathon in 3:47:45, then ran the 99 miles back to his hometown… This week marked the 22nd anniversary of the Central Park Jogger attack. The five young men who were convicted, then freed in 2002, still have $50 million lawsuits pending against the city of New York. Filmmaker Ken Burns has a project slated for 2013 to tell the story of the "Central Park Five"… We share this new piece on former NBA point guard Stephon Marbury if for no other reason than it allows us to revisit an old favorite: this YouTube clip of Starbury trail running… Sports Illustratedhas a lengthy profile on Team Hoyt–father Rick and son Dick–who have been on the road together since 1977… Should spitting in public be banned? Filthy habit or not, some of us runners would be in trouble if such laws were ever enforced… Perhaps the insanely high gas prices will cause a spike in running shoe sales. More drivers are hitting empty and getting stranded, says AAA of Oklahoma. But, if you don't have roadside assistance, you'd better have a comfortable pair of sneakers in the trunk of your car…
The Video
The Tweet @BartYasso: My fav tweet ever from Janice "I always thought running Yasso repeats stood for running Your ass Off"
The Quote
"I'm more nervous for this than I was at the Olympics."
–Wallace Spearmon, Jr., U.S. 100- and 200-meter sprinter, on the MythBusters episode, Running on Water.
Do you have a link, photo, or hot tip worthy of Runner's Digest? E-mail it to us: rwwebedit@rodale.com
Author: The Dragonfly Swimmer Published: April 21st, 2011
By Dana Blinder, Rodale.com
The hours you spend running do wonders to keep your body healthy. By lacing up your shoes this spring, you can improve the health of our planet, too.
The environmentally fit team at Rodale.com has compiled a list of Earth Day-themed races scheduled around the country. Add these events to your race calendar and head to Rodale.com for tips and information on how to make our planet strong and sustainable.
Author: The Dragonfly Swimmer Published: April 21st, 2011
Tyrone Curry. Screen grab via MSNBC.com
Regular readers of this blog know that every so often, we take a break from the weird and the wacky to spotlight an unusually inspirational or moving story.
Well, it's time for a break.
Today's moving story comes to us courtesy of MSNBC.com, which reports that a high school janitor in Washington state is buying the kids at his school a new track.
Curry, who is also the school's track and field coach, won nearly $3.4 million in the state lottery five years ago. Now he's making good on a promise he made to himself long ago, says MSNBC:
"Ten years ago, I said if I win some money, I'm going to put a track here."
In early April, coach Curry presented the district with $40,000 to go towards a brand new track. …
Curry said the gift he has given Evergreen pales in comparison to what the kids have given him.
"Kids do things for you," says Curry. "They keep you young."
Clean-up in Aisle Heart!
Have a good weekend, everyone.
We Have a Winner! Finally!
Two weeks ago, I asked you to write captions for three of my race photos from the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10-K. The winner, I said, would get a shout-out here and a signed copy of The Runner's Rule Book (Rule 2.38: Race Photos Never Look Good).
It was a tough call. But the winner is…
"Damn the knackwurst, full steam ahead!" (For photo #2.)
The winning caption is from Run Hard Run Happy, who in a stroke of tactical genius simply reused a recent RW Daily headline. RHRH edged out an identical entry from Swirling Eddy by 56 minutes. (Sorry, Eddy.)
Honorable mentions go to…
Huskerme, who wrote: "This is just like beggar's canyon back home…woooo!" (Photo #1.) (Star Wars reference! Nice!)
Hotshot320, who wrote: "Why would they make us run through Cabbage Town?" (Photo #1.)
And everyone who made a flatulence joke. Always a nice touch.
Mr. or Mrs. Happy, expect an email from me shortly to arrange delivery of your prize. And thanks to all who contributed.
Three-time World Ironman Champion Chrissie Wellington took Ironman South Africa by storm on Sunday in Port Elizabeth. Wellington put on yet another impressive record-breaking performance by shattering the Ironman South Africa bike, run and course records, to finish in a time of 8:33:56 and in the process record the all-time fastest women’s time for a sanctioned Ironman event. In bettering the previous course record by an enormous 42m:36s, Wellington’s time was also good enough for an eighth-place finish overall.
Wellington exited the water in 51:40, which left her 2:45 in arrears to swim leader Amanda Stevens of the USA (45:55) and only 0:34 back to her fellow compatriot, Rachel Joyce (51:06), as she hit the beach.
However, the 34 year-old then made quick work of eliminating her deficit and disposed the leading pair in the opening kilometers of the bike. In typical Wellington fashion, she increased lead with every pedal stroke. In wiping out Natasha Badmann’s Ironman South Africa bike course record of 4:45:23, Wellington managed to build up an insurmountable 16:51 advantage over her closest rival, Rachel Joyce, and greater leads over Belinda Granger, Stevens and Diana Riesler as competitors entered the bike-run transition.
After the damage she inflicted on the women’s field on the bike, Wellington set out on a blistering pace for the three-lap run course, eventually crossing the (marathon distance) finish line in a time of 2:52:54 – the fastest run split of the day for both the men and women’s fields. Her remarkable time of 08:33:56 was significantly quicker than the previous women’s world of 08:36:13 set in November 2010 at Ironman Arizona.
Once the dust had settled on her record breaking victory, Wellington said:
“I am so incredibly thrilled with the result of the Spec Savers Ironman Africa. To get the victory, and break the World Ironman Record gives me a huge amount of pride and satisfaction, but more importantly it causes me to rethink what is humanly possible for both myself and others in endurance sports.
Having spent the last two months training in the wonderful town of Stellenbosch near Cape Town I have had the opportunity to experience the rich South African culture, fantastic scenery, great food, incredible hospitality and passion - and this has made racing here all the more special. I am so happy I was able to give everyone a show to remember!”
Three-time World Ironman Champion Chrissie Wellington took Ironman South Africa by storm on Sunday in Port Elizabeth. Wellington put on yet another impressive record-breaking performance by shattering the Ironman South Africa bike, run and course records, to finish in a time of 8:33:56 and in the process record the all-time fastest women’s time for a sanctioned Ironman event. In bettering the previous course record by an enormous 42m:36s, Wellington’s time was also good enough for an eighth-place finish overall.
Wellington exited the water in 51:40, which left her 2:45 in arrears to swim leader Amanda Stevens of the USA (45:55) and only 0:34 back to her fellow compatriot, Rachel Joyce (51:06), as she hit the beach.
However, the 34 year-old then made quick work of eliminating her deficit and disposed the leading pair in the opening kilometers of the bike. In typical Wellington fashion, she increased lead with every pedal stroke. In wiping out Natasha Badmann’s Ironman South Africa bike course record of 4:45:23, Wellington managed to build up an insurmountable 16:51 advantage over her closest rival, Rachel Joyce, and greater leads over Belinda Granger, Stevens and Diana Riesler as competitors entered the bike-run transition.
After the damage she inflicted on the women’s field on the bike, Wellington set out on a blistering pace for the three-lap run course, eventually crossing the (marathon distance) finish line in a time of 2:52:54 – the fastest run split of the day for both the men and women’s fields. Her remarkable time of 08:33:56 was significantly quicker than the previous women’s world of 08:36:13 set in November 2010 at Ironman Arizona.
Once the dust had settled on her record breaking victory, Wellington said:
“I am so incredibly thrilled with the result of the Spec Savers Ironman Africa. To get the victory, and break the World Ironman Record gives me a huge amount of pride and satisfaction, but more importantly it causes me to rethink what is humanly possible for both myself and others in endurance sports.
Having spent the last two months training in the wonderful town of Stellenbosch near Cape Town I have had the opportunity to experience the rich South African culture, fantastic scenery, great food, incredible hospitality and passion - and this has made racing here all the more special. I am so happy I was able to give everyone a show to remember!”
Three-time World Ironman Champion Chrissie Wellington took Ironman South Africa by storm on Sunday in Port Elizabeth. Wellington put on yet another impressive record-breaking performance by shattering the Ironman South Africa bike, run and course records, to finish in a time of 8:33:56 and in the process record the all-time fastest women’s time for a sanctioned Ironman event. In bettering the previous course record by an enormous 42m:36s, Wellington’s time was also good enough for an eighth-place finish overall.
Wellington exited the water in 51:40, which left her 2:45 in arrears to swim leader Amanda Stevens of the USA (45:55) and only 0:34 back to her fellow compatriot, Rachel Joyce (51:06), as she hit the beach.
However, the 34 year-old then made quick work of eliminating her deficit and disposed the leading pair in the opening kilometers of the bike. In typical Wellington fashion, she increased lead with every pedal stroke. In wiping out Natasha Badmann’s Ironman South Africa bike course record of 4:45:23, Wellington managed to build up an insurmountable 16:51 advantage over her closest rival, Rachel Joyce, and greater leads over Belinda Granger, Stevens and Diana Riesler as competitors entered the bike-run transition.
After the damage she inflicted on the women’s field on the bike, Wellington set out on a blistering pace for the three-lap run course, eventually crossing the (marathon distance) finish line in a time of 2:52:54 – the fastest run split of the day for both the men and women’s fields. Her remarkable time of 08:33:56 was significantly quicker than the previous women’s world of 08:36:13 set in November 2010 at Ironman Arizona.
Once the dust had settled on her record breaking victory, Wellington said:
“I am so incredibly thrilled with the result of the Spec Savers Ironman Africa. To get the victory, and break the World Ironman Record gives me a huge amount of pride and satisfaction, but more importantly it causes me to rethink what is humanly possible for both myself and others in endurance sports.
Having spent the last two months training in the wonderful town of Stellenbosch near Cape Town I have had the opportunity to experience the rich South African culture, fantastic scenery, great food, incredible hospitality and passion - and this has made racing here all the more special. I am so happy I was able to give everyone a show to remember!”
Three-time World Ironman Champion Chrissie Wellington took Ironman South Africa by storm on Sunday in Port Elizabeth. Wellington put on yet another impressive record-breaking performance by shattering the Ironman South Africa bike, run and course records, to finish in a time of 8:33:56 and in the process record the all-time fastest women’s time for a sanctioned Ironman event. In bettering the previous course record by an enormous 42m:36s, Wellington’s time was also good enough for an eighth-place finish overall.
Wellington exited the water in 51:40, which left her 2:45 in arrears to swim leader Amanda Stevens of the USA (45:55) and only 0:34 back to her fellow compatriot, Rachel Joyce (51:06), as she hit the beach.
However, the 34 year-old then made quick work of eliminating her deficit and disposed the leading pair in the opening kilometers of the bike. In typical Wellington fashion, she increased lead with every pedal stroke. In wiping out Natasha Badmann’s Ironman South Africa bike course record of 4:45:23, Wellington managed to build up an insurmountable 16:51 advantage over her closest rival, Rachel Joyce, and greater leads over Belinda Granger, Stevens and Diana Riesler as competitors entered the bike-run transition.
After the damage she inflicted on the women’s field on the bike, Wellington set out on a blistering pace for the three-lap run course, eventually crossing the (marathon distance) finish line in a time of 2:52:54 – the fastest run split of the day for both the men and women’s fields. Her remarkable time of 08:33:56 was significantly quicker than the previous women’s world of 08:36:13 set in November 2010 at Ironman Arizona.
Once the dust had settled on her record breaking victory, Wellington said:
“I am so incredibly thrilled with the result of the Spec Savers Ironman Africa. To get the victory, and break the World Ironman Record gives me a huge amount of pride and satisfaction, but more importantly it causes me to rethink what is humanly possible for both myself and others in endurance sports.
Having spent the last two months training in the wonderful town of Stellenbosch near Cape Town I have had the opportunity to experience the rich South African culture, fantastic scenery, great food, incredible hospitality and passion - and this has made racing here all the more special. I am so happy I was able to give everyone a show to remember!”
