Why do black athletes dominate the marathon? Among many factors, leg construction cannot be ignored.
Take a look at the comparison of the leg shapes of the 430, 215 and 205 in the whole marathon, and you will know why we can't outrun those "old blacks"!
Top black marathon runners have long, thin legs that look like antelopes on the African savannah.
Leg structure analysis
When analyzing the leg structure of marathon runners in depth, it is not difficult to find several distinguishing characteristics that are key to their excellent performance.
Marathon runners usually have longer legs, especially the calf part accounts for a higher proportion of the total leg length, which is significantly larger than the average person.
This ratio not only affects the length of the stride, but also optimizes the cadence, allowing the athlete to maintain high speeds over longer distances.
Long legs with proper stride length and cadence are one of the key factors for efficient running in a marathon.
Therefore, when professional running coaches select athletes, they usually look at the position of the athlete's navel first, which has a direct impact on their running efficiency.
A higher belly button means longer legs and a higher center of gravity for the body, which is good for athletes to maintain stability and reduce energy expenditure when running.
In terms of muscle structure, marathon runners have predominantly endurance muscles (red muscles). These muscles are rich in myoglobin and are able to work continuously in a low-oxygen environment, making them ideal for long endurance exercises such as marathons.
The high percentage of red skin not only provides long-lasting power output, but is also an important factor in low body fat percentage.
Low body fat percentage can reduce the burden during exercise, improve exercise efficiency, and more importantly, it makes muscle lines clearer, which is conducive to the rapid dissipation of heat and the regulation of body temperature.
The legs of the top marathon are so thin because there is no fat at all.
Through the combination of these specific body structures and muscular properties, marathon runners are able to excel in long-distance running. This is not only a manifestation of talent, but also the ideal state that can be achieved by scientific training and individual effort.
The influence of genetic talent
In endurance sports like marathons, the influence of genetic talent cannot be ignored.
Scientific studies have shown that the type of muscle fiber in different individuals has a significant impact on their athletic performance. Muscle fibers can be broadly divided into fast-contractile fibers and slow-contractile fibers. The former is more suitable for explosive sprints, while the latter is dominant in endurance sports.
Genetic factors play a key role here, determining the proportion of an individual's slow-shrinking fibers, which in turn affects their performance in long-distance races.
In addition, the leg length ratio mentioned above is also one of the important signs of genetic determination. This body structure not only increases stride length, but also helps to increase the efficiency of movement, allowing each step to cover longer distances with less energy expenditure.
Genetic factors cannot be altered, but understanding this is extremely important for marathon runners' training choices and tactical deployment.
It not only helps athletes make better use of their physical strengths, but also targets their weaknesses in training.
The value of individual effort
While genetics provide athletes with a certain amount of talent and in some ways even an advantage, it doesn't mean that people without talent can't achieve a high level of performance. In fact, consistent and purposeful training is an integral part of shaping top athletes.
While some people may genetically have a higher proportion of red muscle and are suitable for endurance sports, training can significantly change that ratio. Through targeted endurance and endurance training, white muscles can be gradually transformed into muscle fibers with functional properties closer to those of red muscles, which opens up the possibility of transformation for those who are not born with a high proportion of red muscles.
In addition, mental factors such as motivation, perseverance and the ability to withstand psychological pressure are also crucial, which are constantly honed and improved through daily training and competitions. A person's athletic performance is not only a pile of physical conditions, but also inseparable from mental tenacity and unremitting pursuit.
In recent years, the performance of Chinese marathon runners has made rapid progress, and the performance of mass runners has also improved year by year, which is the comprehensive result of paying attention to scientific training and hard work.
I wish every runner who wants to achieve good results in endurance events such as marathons can realize their potential through continuous hard work and scientific training.
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