What Makes Us Run?

Abstract

When the Persian fleet approached the plains of Marathon in 490 B.C., the Athenian Pheidippides set out for Sparta in quest of military aid. Despite the summer heat, he traveled 240 km of mountain roads in 48 hours at an average speed of 5 km per hour. His oxygen consumption, work output, energy stores, water metabolism, and cardiovascular function were sufficient to sustain him on this journey. His brain was adequately supplied with blood, and upon arrival, he acted diplomatically as a suppliant and orator. Although the Spartans agreed to meet their treaty obligations, they postponed their departure until the . . .