# Factoid: "Humans are the best long distance runners on the planet". True? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758 "2013-05-19T20:43:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758/61 "2013-05-21T17:55:36Z")
Sled dogs in the Iditarod are given regular rest and food breaks; they don’t run non-stop. If they decide they are too tired to run any more, they have been known to simply refuse to do so. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758/62 "2013-05-21T19:26:31Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Last I checked, attracting women is one of the primary purposes of nearly everything men do. Actually, there can be only one “primary” purpose. Primary purposes are very unique. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758/63 "2013-05-21T19:50:37Z")
This is a good oportunity to link to my favorite all time picture. The hunter has run down the antelope with his dogs and is preparing to dispatch it with a spear. It has several elements mentioned in this thread. [![](https://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/download/file.php?id=17419&sid=a0e0b0fcc4d792bc1cae5aae329e4b6b&mode=view) ](https://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/download/file.php?id=17419&sid=a0e0b0fcc4d792bc1cae5aae329e4b6b&mode=view) the most perfect picture of being human that I know of ---
**Author:** ![Intelligently\_Designed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intelligently_designed/32/20957_2.png) [@Intelligently\_Designed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intelligently_Designed)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758/64 "2013-05-21T22:45:49Z")
[An insightful documentary](http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episode/the-perfect-runner.html) on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758/65 "2013-05-21T23:11:09Z")
> [@Beingmanda](#): > > For some extremely relevant and mind opening reading read “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall. > > Seriously. Read it. Great book, I read it after I saw his TED talk and then started running again. The Chia seed/water/line juice/honey drink isn’t too bad either. TED talk here where McDougall discuss the running man hypothesis. I think in the book he also mentions we were probably running down prey a long time before we had significant tool use, or effective hunting weapons. [http://www.ted.com/talks/christopher\_mcdougall\_are\_we\_born\_to\_run.html](http://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_mcdougall_are_we_born_to_run.html) ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758/66 "2013-05-22T06:04:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of course, we should also include the caveat that “running” means on land. If you include birds, we’re nothing. Why do we need to add the caveat that running means on land? There isn’t anyone reading this board that doesn’t know the meaning of run. No one would consider a flying bird to be a long distance runner as the verb run does not mean fly. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758/67 "2013-05-22T14:51:48Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Why do we need to add the caveat that running means on land? There isn’t anyone reading this board that doesn’t know the meaning of run. No one would consider a flying bird to be a long distance runner as the verb run does not mean fly. Yes. I am unaware of any organisms that can run on air. A few can run on water, like basilisk lizards and water striders. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758/68 "2013-05-22T15:11:01Z")
Yes, but a flying bird can accomplish the same end as a running human, and do it much more effectively. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758/69 "2013-05-22T15:33:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yes, but a flying bird can accomplish the same end as a running human, and do it much more effectively. It can’t catch a horse. In any case, that wasn’t the question. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factoid-humans-are-the-best-long-distance-runners-on-the-planet-true/658758.md?page=3)