3 ms·

I couldn’t find a mention of oxygen usage. Given that running at speed is aerobic past 800m or so (for Olympic-level athletes. Mortals hit that point way earlie

I couldn’t find a mention of oxygen usage. Given that running at speed is aerobic past 800m or so (for Olympic-level athletes. Mortals hit that point way earlier), would athletes actually be able to make the extra effort?

wolverine876 3y ago
My understanding is that a species' maximimum speed depends simply on muscle mass. The reason elephants don't outrun cheetahs is that they accelerate more slowly and run out of energy before hitting the top speed their muscles could produce. Look up allometry for more. There are formulas for calculating top speed based on mass.
- Someone 3y ago
  > My understanding is that a species' maximum speed depends simply on muscle mass If so, that doesn’t mean that they would get faster if only they got more muscle. I would expect that species evolve towards not having more muscle than they can effectively use. I think looking at elite human runners supports that. At longer distances, they get less muscular. > The reason elephants don't outrun cheetahs is that they […] run out of energy before hitting the top speed their muscles could produce. > Look up allometry for more. There are formulas for calculating top speed based on mass. I think our best knowledge is that adding more muscle only works for a limited time. https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d51544f7767444e/share.html https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d51544f7767444e/share.html: “If muscles were all that mattered "elephants would reach maximum speeds of about 600 kph (370 mph)," she told AFP. Instead, tuskers peak at about 34 kph (21 mph). Big beasts, in other words, run out of so-called anaerobic energy, supplied by the muscles, before being able to reach their theoretically maximum speed.“
  - wolverine876 3y ago
    >> The reason elephants don't outrun cheetahs is that they accelerate more slowly and run out of energy before hitting the top speed their muscles could produce. > Big beasts, in other words, run out of so-called anaerobic energy, supplied by the muscles, before being able to reach their theoretically maximum speed.“ Aren't we saying the same thing?

wolverine876 3y ago

My understanding is that a species' maximimum speed depends simply on muscle mass. The reason elephants don't outrun cheetahs is that they accelerate more slowly and run out of energy before hitting the top speed their muscles could produce. Look up allometry for more. There are formulas for calculating top speed based on mass.

Someone 3y ago
> My understanding is that a species' maximum speed depends simply on muscle mass If so, that doesn’t mean that they would get faster if only they got more muscle. I would expect that species evolve towards not having more muscle than they can effectively use. I think looking at elite human runners supports that. At longer distances, they get less muscular. > The reason elephants don't outrun cheetahs is that they […] run out of energy before hitting the top speed their muscles could produce. > Look up allometry for more. There are formulas for calculating top speed based on mass. I think our best knowledge is that adding more muscle only works for a limited time. https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d51544f7767444e/share.html https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d51544f7767444e/share.html: “If muscles were all that mattered "elephants would reach maximum speeds of about 600 kph (370 mph)," she told AFP. Instead, tuskers peak at about 34 kph (21 mph). Big beasts, in other words, run out of so-called anaerobic energy, supplied by the muscles, before being able to reach their theoretically maximum speed.“
- wolverine876 3y ago
  >> The reason elephants don't outrun cheetahs is that they accelerate more slowly and run out of energy before hitting the top speed their muscles could produce. > Big beasts, in other words, run out of so-called anaerobic energy, supplied by the muscles, before being able to reach their theoretically maximum speed.“ Aren't we saying the same thing?