Eli5: how are humans, who are two legged, able to out endure creatures that are four legged?

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Eli5: how are humans, who are two legged, able to out endure creatures that are four legged?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

The benifits of being self aware should also be taken into account, along side all the physical elements.

We know why we are chasing / hunting some animal, we are aware of the desired outcome and we can through determ8nation and grit “override” our bodies need to not run long distances.

In essence we choose to do run whilst animals are doing it out of instinct or need.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Others have it, but not a good ELI5.

Most four legged mammals’ breathing is connected to their stride. One step, one breath. These mammals also can’t sweat, they have to pant in order to cool down. So they have to stop running in order to cool down.

This is compounded by the fact that four legged creatures have their entire back exposed to the sun. A two legged posture, by contrast, offers much less surface area to the sun overhead.

So basically, sweating. Being able to sweat is the human super power.

Source: Born To Run (great book!)

Anonymous 0 Comments

Others have it, but not a good ELI5.

Most four legged mammals’ breathing is connected to their stride. One step, one breath. These mammals also can’t sweat, they have to pant in order to cool down. So they have to stop running in order to cool down.

This is compounded by the fact that four legged creatures have their entire back exposed to the sun. A two legged posture, by contrast, offers much less surface area to the sun overhead.

So basically, sweating. Being able to sweat is the human super power.

Source: Born To Run (great book!)

Anonymous 0 Comments

because its a tradeoff between speed and endurance

if you go and sprint, it wont be long before you start feeling pain from sprinting BUT you covered distance really fast

Slower running/jogging will allow you to run for MUH longer, go longer distances, but slower.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I saw a video a while back that basically said that each step for a human is just a controlled fall, which uses less energy than quadrupeds who have to use their limbs in unison to stay upright.

Anonymous 0 Comments

This topic comes up so often on reddit I can’t imagine this question wasn’t asked while knowing exactly the answer

Anonymous 0 Comments

This topic comes up so often on reddit I can’t imagine this question wasn’t asked while knowing exactly the answer

Anonymous 0 Comments

We can sweat and cool off so we don’t overheat.

Imagine a race between all sorts of cars. Remove the oil from all of them except one. That car will last longer than every other car.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I saw a video a while back that basically said that each step for a human is just a controlled fall, which uses less energy than quadrupeds who have to use their limbs in unison to stay upright.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The way humans walk is absurdly efficient too. We sort lean forwards and catch ourselves each step which doesn’t require much energy at all.