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Comment by malditogeek | Hacker News Reader

"But anyone who has run a marathon knows that it’s not all science. There is a huge mental component in the last six miles. Humans aren’t designed to run that far."?

I think she should visit the Tarahumara http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarahumara

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiannis_Kouros

Humans aren't designed to run that far. But if you start running before you can walk, I'd say your body could adapt pretty well.

One of the classic hunting methods that humans evolved to handle is to just chase after an animal with less endurance until it collapses of exhaustion. Humans are designed to run farther than other animals, and deal with the heat better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistence_hunting

It's silly to argue over whether humans were "designed" to run that far. There are some things we definitely can't do, like jump fifty feet in the air or outrun a cheetah or stay underwater for two hours. But running a marathon is nowhere near the limits of human capability -- pretty much any able-bodied human being under the age of fifty can get there with sufficient training. I've never run a marathon but I've done a half and I'm planning a full one in the next few years. Of course the mental component is a lot easier for the happy-just-to-finish crowd like me than it is for anyone hoping to actually finish at the front.

> [...] or outrun a cheetah [...]

Outrunning a cheetah is actually pretty easy for a human over all but the shortest distances.

Unfortunately the typical running race between a human and a cheetah lasts about five seconds and ends with a lot of teeth and claws.

Not if you happen to have a big, pointy stick and know how to use it.

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