Before you say “I’m not a natural runner” or “I’m not built to run”, have a think about all the different types of runners out there. Some are all legs and lungs; others are squat and muscular. Usain Bolt and Mo Farah have vastly different body types, for example, but both are incredible runners. How do you know what type of runner you are and which distance is right for you?
Many different things affect the type of runner we are ‘naturally’ – and the type of runner we’d like to be. Body shape, genetics, history of physical activity, training and motivation all play a part in shaping us as runners. One of the amazing things about running, of course, is that it’s possible to transform from one type of runner to another. And with this in mind, it’s difficult to categorise runners into strict categories. However, there are plenty of clues that can help us to determine which distances we’ll be best suited to…
It’s in the genes
Our DNA – our genes – are our blueprint for life and determine our physical structures. Are you born to run a marathon or are you a natural sprinter? A team of researchers based at Loughborough University led by Professor Jamie Timmons have developed a gene test that can help predict marathon running performance. They found more than 100 genes that determine how a person adapts to endurance training and that nearly a fifth of the population lacks this combination. Those who have the genes adapt really well to endurance training and can run faster for longer, while those that don’t have the genes won’t develop the same endurance capacity.
Body types
American psychologist William Sheldon popularised three broad ‘categories’ of body type in the 1940s: endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph. The classic long-distance runner is typically ectomorphic (long and lean), while shorter-distance runners are typically more mesomorphic (bulky and muscular). There are, of course, exceptions to the rule – St Kitts sprinter Kim Collins was very lean, for instance – but as a general rule, it’s pretty accurate.
Fast twitch / slow twitch
Being better suited to distance or speed is determined, in part, by the number of fast-twitch or slow-twitch muscle fibres that we’re born with. Human muscle contains a genetically determined mixture of fast- and slow-twitch fibres and the blend of the mix can determine whether we are naturally fast and strong or slow and efficient. Fast-twitch muscles fibres contract quickly but get tired rapidly and don’t use oxygen to produce energy. Slow-twitch muscle fibres, by contracts, contract slowly but keep going for a long time and are a rich supply of oxygen. Fast-twitch muscle fibres can produce small amounts of energy quickly, whereas slow-twitch muscles can produce large amounts of energy slowly. In most people, the distribution is about 50-50, although elite sprinters and power athletes may have up to 80% fast-twitch fibres while elite endurance athletes may have 80% slow-twitch.
Nature versus nurture
Despite physical characteristics, the type of training runners do definitely has a significant impact on what the clock says when they cross the finish line. Training is arguably the single most important factor determining running performance. When we run, we are placing our bodies under stress. That’s the point of regular training. We stress the body in a particular way, at different times, so that it learns how to deal with this stress and subsequently adapts. In doing so, when we do it again, it feels easier. At least, that’s the theory. Specific training, therefore, brings about specific results. Take an extreme example. If I signed up for my first marathon and to get ready all I did was run one mile, once a week, as fast as I could for 6 weeks, even I had the best genes in the world, it’s likely that the final 20 miles of my marathon debut would be rather tough indeed. By contrast, if I’d trained specifically for the marathon event, built up my distance progressively over many months and focused on my ability to run at one controlled pace for a sustained amount of time, my marathon would more likely be a success.
