Comments on: Did Humans Evolve to Be Long-Distance Runners? http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/ Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:51:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Bola http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-473248 Bola Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:29:56 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-473248 Hello: I found this blog while researching bipedalism in human species, mostly scientific papers. It's helpful to read comments by actual runners instead of "guesses" by researchers. One thing I would say, is that just about everyone projects modern lifestyles on early humans, but this is backwards: how we use our bodies for locomotion is a result of bipedalism; there are no goals in evolution. Hunting is the result of exploiting our various abilities. Thanks... Hello: I found this blog while researching bipedalism in human species, mostly scientific papers. It’s helpful to read comments by actual runners instead of “guesses” by researchers. One thing I would say, is that just about everyone projects modern lifestyles on early humans, but this is backwards: how we use our bodies for locomotion is a result of bipedalism; there are no goals in evolution. Hunting is the result of exploiting our various abilities. Thanks…

]]> By: Runner http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-461814 Runner Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:38:00 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-461814 your an idiot your an idiot

]]> By: Weylyn http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-459576 Weylyn Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:27:19 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-459576 Look up Tarahumara Indians or their actual name Raramuri. They are capable of keeping pace with deers and even let them run from them until they collapse of exhaustion. And yes they still exist in the Copper Canyons of Mexico. They are amazing ultra distance runners and can run all day and do it again the next. We originally did evolve into long-distance runners but tools made it so that it was not a necessity. Look up Tarahumara Indians or their actual name Raramuri. They are capable of keeping pace with deers and even let them run from them until they collapse of exhaustion. And yes they still exist in the Copper Canyons of Mexico. They are amazing ultra distance runners and can run all day and do it again the next. We originally did evolve into long-distance runners but tools made it so that it was not a necessity.

]]> By: Harry http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-443653 Harry Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:22:53 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-443653 No males on my distance team (including myself) are frequently sick. 8 hours of sleep and good meals to go along with hard training = good health. No males on my distance team (including myself) are frequently sick. 8 hours of sleep and good meals to go along with hard training = good health.

]]> By: Darwinist http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-433914 Darwinist Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:29:34 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-433914 If we didn't evolve to be long distance runners, why are we good at it? I think you're forgetting that literally all of our qualities are a result of darwinian evolution. Persistence hunting does not rely on heat stroke, it relies on wounding an animal with thrown weapons and then tracking it until it is weak enough to kill without significant physical risk, and it is still practiced by most aboriginals today. If we didn’t evolve to be long distance runners, why are we good at it? I think you’re forgetting that literally all of our qualities are a result of darwinian evolution. Persistence hunting does not rely on heat stroke, it relies on wounding an animal with thrown weapons and then tracking it until it is weak enough to kill without significant physical risk, and it is still practiced by most aboriginals today.

]]> By: John http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-412668 John Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:39:56 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-412668 koko, Thanks for the reply! I'm so glad to know this is normal. I was just trying it out with my dog running down the grass. It does seem like something I should continue. I only did 3 or 5 short sprints that day... I'll give it time, and increase my numbers and or distance slowly. Hopefully it will help my mountain bike riding as well! koko,

Thanks for the reply! I’m so glad to know this is normal. I was just trying it out with my dog running down the grass. It does seem like something I should continue. I only did 3 or 5 short sprints that day… I’ll give it time, and increase my numbers and or distance slowly.

Hopefully it will help my mountain bike riding as well!

]]> By: koko http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-412665 koko Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:35:10 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-412665 Its very normal. I experienced the same thing. We do use these muscles daily but not with this kind of intensity. Give it a few days or even a week and go again. Gradually the recovery will only take a day or even less. The first time I did full-out sprints it took me about 9 days to recover, but then I did go a bit nuts the first time. IS there any other way to sprint? I'll say this about it, it is exhilarating and exciting to move that fast! Its very normal. I experienced the same thing. We do use these muscles daily but not with this kind of intensity.

Give it a few days or even a week and go again. Gradually the recovery will only take a day or even less.

The first time I did full-out sprints it took me about 9 days to recover, but then I did go a bit nuts the first time. IS there any other way to sprint?
I’ll say this about it, it is exhilarating and exciting to move that fast!

]]> By: John http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-412660 John Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:27:31 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-412660 I don't know where to put this comment, if I want it to be seen... Anyway, I'm fairly active and I mainly single speed mountain bike. The other day I tried some full on sprints on the sidewalk in front of my house. I didn't sprint very far, and I only did a few. I cannot believe how sore my hip flexors and upper thighs are! I had no idea this would happen, can't believe how long the soreness is lasting, and can't believe how much I use these every day and don't realize it. Is this normal for someone starting out with sprinting? I don’t know where to put this comment, if I want it to be seen… Anyway, I’m fairly active and I mainly single speed mountain bike. The other day I tried some full on sprints on the sidewalk in front of my house. I didn’t sprint very far, and I only did a few. I cannot believe how sore my hip flexors and upper thighs are! I had no idea this would happen, can’t believe how long the soreness is lasting, and can’t believe how much I use these every day and don’t realize it. Is this normal for someone starting out with sprinting?

]]> By: David Brzostowicki http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-410508 David Brzostowicki Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:35:47 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-410508 Well guess what Gene, I think Mark has a lot more than his own personal expierience to work off of. I'll tell you about mine, and im sure mine is similiar to others. I'm 18 now, and used to be a long distance runner; ran in high school. I ran about 40-50 miles a week, 5 days a week, for leisure(more like grueling work), and upwards of 70-80 for competition. I was pretty good, and always ran at medieum-high intensity. What was the payoff for this? I had to consume ALOT of food, mainly processed crap, and guess what? I felt like CRAP. I was always sick, but kept running. I had a myriad of leg injuries, and always felt tired. Very similiar to Mark...I was also underweight even with all the eating I did, and had little muscle mass. Eventually, I quit, I was tired of it all, and felt depressed. A couple months after I quit, I stumbled on this website, and tried the workouts suggested and food. Within a coupple weels I felt absolutely amazing. My leg injuries started disappearing one by one, even though I sprinted on them hard 2-3 times a week. I am never sick, and always feel energized. My blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides have lowered. After a couple months of this primal eating and short intense workouts, My body fat is a low 7 percent! It was 12 when I did long distance running. I dont need to work out as much and still have gained and maintained much more muscle mass and healthy weight than before (from 130 pounds to 155 with still 7 percent BF). Went from benching 105 to 165, and hope to get to 200 in the next couple months. I don't know about records or fossils or anything about that I will admit, so i cant argue from a scientific standpoint, but does it really matter when you have personal expiereinces such as mine and Marks? This site is about reshaping your body and fitness to be the best it can be, and it has worked amazingly for me, and I can't thank Mark enough for opening my eyes to it. I think it’s good in making exercise arguments to go off of empirical evidence, and whatever the fossil record may suggest, me and so many others on this site have the empirical evidence to show you that this works man, and that maybe it is an indicator that from an evolutionary standpoint this is the way to achieve optimum health. Well guess what Gene, I think Mark has a lot more than his own personal expierience to work off of. I’ll tell you about mine, and im sure mine is similiar to others. I’m 18 now, and used to be a long distance runner; ran in high school. I ran about 40-50 miles a week, 5 days a week, for leisure(more like grueling work), and upwards of 70-80 for competition. I was pretty good, and always ran at medieum-high intensity. What was the payoff for this? I had to consume ALOT of food, mainly processed crap, and guess what? I felt like CRAP. I was always sick, but kept running. I had a myriad of leg injuries, and always felt tired. Very similiar to Mark…I was also underweight even with all the eating I did, and had little muscle mass. Eventually, I quit, I was tired of it all, and felt depressed. A couple months after I quit, I stumbled on this website, and tried the workouts suggested and food. Within a coupple weels I felt absolutely amazing. My leg injuries started disappearing one by one, even though I sprinted on them hard 2-3 times a week. I am never sick, and always feel energized. My blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides have lowered. After a couple months of this primal eating and short intense workouts, My body fat is a low 7 percent! It was 12 when I did long distance running. I dont need to work out as much and still have gained and maintained much more muscle mass and healthy weight than before (from 130 pounds to 155 with still 7 percent BF). Went from benching 105 to 165, and hope to get to 200 in the next couple months. I don’t know about records or fossils or anything about that I will admit, so i cant argue from a scientific standpoint, but does it really matter when you have personal expiereinces such as mine and Marks? This site is about reshaping your body and fitness to be the best it can be, and it has worked amazingly for me, and I can’t thank Mark enough for opening my eyes to it. I think it’s good in making exercise arguments to go off of empirical evidence, and whatever the fossil record may suggest, me and so many others on this site have the empirical evidence to show you that this works man, and that maybe it is an indicator that from an evolutionary standpoint this is the way to achieve optimum health.

]]> By: Dmitrij Petters http://www.marksdailyapple.com/did-humans-evolve-to-be-long-distance-runners/#comment-387668 Dmitrij Petters Mon, 18 May 2009 06:56:18 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3664#comment-387668 Even though I have little truly scientific knowledge about this, I would agree with the following. 1. The human body is inferior to animals - except for long-distance running. The best long-distance runners can outrun any animal, whether it be a horse or dog. 2. However, it's not right to say that we evolved into long distance runners, for some of our ancestors did not hunt, but instead walked around and gathered stuff. Thus, while some of our traits are indeed advantageous for running (hence #1), many are not. 3. It's not clear cut and never will be. I'm a high school "long" distance runner with a 9:33 2 mile/ 4:32 mile and one would NEVER think that my parents are indeed my parents, if you get my drift. Theres no way they would, could, or should run. Even though I have little truly scientific knowledge about this, I would agree with the following.

1. The human body is inferior to animals – except for long-distance running. The best long-distance runners can outrun any animal, whether it be a horse or dog.

2. However, it’s not right to say that we evolved into long distance runners, for some of our ancestors did not hunt, but instead walked around and gathered stuff. Thus, while some of our traits are indeed advantageous for running (hence #1), many are not.

3. It’s not clear cut and never will be. I’m a high school “long” distance runner with a 9:33 2 mile/ 4:32 mile and one would NEVER think that my parents are indeed my parents, if you get my drift. Theres no way they would, could, or should run.

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