Alternative metabolic strategies are employed by endurance runners of different body sizes; implications for Human Evolution

A suite of adaptations facilitating endurance running (ER) evolved within the hominin lineage. This may have improved our ability to reach scavenging sites before competitors, or to hunt prey over long distances. Running economy (RE) is a key determinant of endurance running performance, and depends largely on the magnitude of force required to support body mass. However, numerous environmental factors influence body mass, thereby significantly affecting RE. This study tested the hypothesis that alternative metabolic strategies may have emerged to enable ER in individuals with larger body mass and poor RE.Introduction - Humans as Endurance Runners - Influence of Environmental Factors on Running Economy - Body Mass and Metabolic Approaches to Endurance Running Methods - Study Design - Submaximal Treadmill Protocol - V̇O2max Protocol - Blood Lactate and Glucose Analysis - Pulmonary Gas Exchange Responses - Statistics Results - Descriptive Statistics - Body Mass, RE and V̇O2Max - V̇O2 Max and RE Discussio