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The Strength Running Podcast

The Meaning of Endurance: Anthropologist Michael Crawley on Why We Run

The Strength Running Podcast

Jason Fitzgerald

Health & Fitness, 10k, Beginnerrunning, Marathontraining, Fitness, Injuryprevention, Marathon, Halfmarathon, Running, Sports

4.81.3K Ratings

🗓️ 27 November 2024

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What drives us as humans to push our physical and mental limits in endurance events?

Michael Crawley is a 2:20 marathoner, professor of anthropology at Durham University, and author of the new book To the Limit: The Meaning of Endurance From Mexico to the Himalayas.

We talk about:

  • The collective nature of running culture
  • Why we voluntarily sign up for exhausting endurance activities
  • An evolutionary perspective on running
  • Technology's role in modern running
  • Incorporating endurance into daily life
  • How Michael's personal endurance approach has changed through his book research

Send this episode to your running friend who's also a history or culture nerd, and make sure they subscribe to the Strength Running Podcast!

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Ready, set, go!

0:04.4

This is episode 379, with 220 marathoner, professor of social anthropology at Durham University,

0:12.8

and author of the new book, To the Limit, The Meaning of Endurance from Mexico to the Himalayas, Michael Crawley.

0:27.9

Thank you. to the Himalayas, Michael Crawley. Welcome to the Strength Running podcast.

0:30.3

We surround you with the same experts as pro runners.

0:33.4

So keep listening to hear coaches, physical therapists, strength experts, dietitians, sports psychologists,

0:39.8

and other thought leaders give you the best guidance possible to take your running to the next level.

0:45.4

I'm your host, coach Jason Fitzgerald.

0:47.4

I ran cross-country, indoor, and outdoor track for Connecticut College.

0:51.6

I one time ran a 239 marathon PR, and now I'm the head coach

0:56.2

of Strength Running and a monthly columnist for Outside Magazine. You can learn more about me

1:01.1

and Strength Running at Strengthrunning.com. And by the way, a big thank you to you. I was pleasantly

1:07.8

surprised to see the Strength Running podcast at the number one position

1:11.5

on the podcast charts just this past weekend, and I'm glad that these conversations are resonating

1:17.1

with you. Don't forget to actually hit the follow button in your podcast player so you don't

1:21.5

miss any episodes. And if you're a diehard fan or you just want to express some gratitude this

1:26.7

holiday season, if this show has helped you're running in any way, you just want to express some gratitude this holiday season,

1:32.1

if this show has helped you're running in any way, go ahead and leave a five-star review wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you again. It is my true joy to help you level up your

1:37.4

running. Next, show some love to our partners who support the show and take advantage of their

1:42.7

unique discounts just for you.

1:45.1

We're supported by one of my favorite strength and performance tools, the Mobo Board.

1:50.1

Go to MoboBord.com and use code Strength Run 10 to save 10% on your board.

...

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