Improving running speed: tips and myths

By Dawn P. Coe, University of Tennessee and Elizabeth (Kip) Webster, University of Tennessee Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, in yellow, holds the world’s speed record for humans. AP Photo/David J. Phillip Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why are some people faster than others? – Jon, age 14, Macon, Georgia Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest human, ran a 100-meter sprint at a speed of 23.35 miles per hour (37.57 kilometers per hour). That’s mind-blowingly fast for a human. It’s about the same speed as cruising in a car through your neighborhood or in a school zone. It might not seem that fast when you’re in the car, but for a person? Few runners in the world can even come close. There are several reasons why some people can run very fast while others tend to run more slowly. Genetics – the traits you inherit from your parents – play a role, but so do your choices and experiences. As pediatric exercise scientists, we create and evaluate programs that help children be healthy. The exciting news is that while you have no...