Can We Blame our Genes for Speed?

Author: Rosilie Lim

programmer/professor/entrepreneur/blogger/runner

 

Regardless of how much I tried to be faster, I could not simply move much faster than I used to before. And, normally, I get the usual disappointment that I am simply not good enough to win any race where the elite runners are in. My 10Km race would pitch an average of  1.13 hours but I had endured a 16km trail run with faster recovery than most runners and completed it for almost 2 hours.

So, am I simply slow or I can just blame my training, or better yet, blame my genes for being a tortoise – type runner? Ken Sparks, Ph.D and Dave Kuehls, authors of “The Runners Book of Training Secrets,” mention that we are born   with predominant number of contracting fibers ( fast  twitch) for distinct speed  and slow – contracting fibers (slow twitch) for endurance.

Consequently, fast sprinters like  Carl Lewis and Linford Christie do have fast twitches that they can be quite faster than most runners but they can’t definitely go for long distance since they will be easily worn out.  If you are dominated with slow twitches, you have greater chance of going the long way.

But,  is there any way we can switch to fast – to – slow twitch fibers? Our body has its way to adapt to changes. Build then our endurance, so, that our fast – twitch muscles can  be eventually slow twitchers. You can go for fast – slow running and your fibers will gradually mimic the transition, strengthen your muscles, tendons and ligaments. However, extreme caution must be observed because we don’t want to cause any injury.  Incorporate then enough rest and recovery from trainings and speed and endurance shall simply follow.

So, when you see that there are simply runners ahead of you, don’t be too disheartened because with enough training, you will be running with the fast and furious elite racers.