The Running Joke
Curious Cases
BBC
4.8 • 4.1K Ratings
🗓️ 24 August 2018
⏱️ 38 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"How fast can a human run and would we be faster as quadrapeds?" This question flew in via Twitter from historian Greg Jenner.
Is there a limit to human sprinting performance? In this episode we investigate the biomechanics of running, statistical trends in human performance and which kind of monkey runs the fastest.
But first, an experiment. Due to some spurious and possibly fictional injuries, neither Hannah nor Adam are fit enough to take part in a sprint trial at the University of Bath. So long-suffering Producer Michelle steps up to the challenge and into the starting blocks. Not known for her love of athletics, or exercise of any sort, how will she fair in the ultimate speed test?
Biomechanist Peter Weyand from Texas discusses the role of different muscle types in speed versus endurance. Sports scientist Polly McGuigan reveals why Usain Lightning Bolt is still the fastest man in the world. And Prof of Sports Engineering Steve Haake reveals how fast a man can run like a monkey.
Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford Producer: Michelle Martin.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I'm Dr Adam Rutherford. And I'm Dr Hannah Fry. And you are going to send us your everyday |
| 0:10.8 | mysteries. And we are going to investigate them using the power of science. Science. |
| 0:16.5 | I like it. |
| 0:18.5 | Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba. |
| 0:28.4 | This is not a programme of that boxing. No, but it is about super athletics. People at the |
| 0:33.9 | very peak of their physical achievements. The limit of what humans are capable of. And |
| 0:38.9 | and and and Michelle Marson. And Michelle Marson. So we're finally getting our revenge on all |
| 0:44.6 | evil experiments that she set us up on over the years. By making her do the first bit of exercise |
| 0:49.6 | she's done in 25 years. Yes, yeah. And both Hannah and I have got minor injuries which prevent us |
| 0:56.4 | from engaging in the test that you're going to hear in a few minutes time. But is that |
| 1:00.4 | she true by the way? It is. I mean, I did make more of it than I perhaps needed to. |
| 1:08.2 | I've got a bit of a herty ankle from twisting it from playing rugby. |
| 1:12.0 | Yeah, I've got a slipped disc in my back from being tall lying on the sofa a lot. But Michelle, |
| 1:18.8 | she stepped up to the plate although it wasn't baseball. And she did exactly what was asked of her |
| 1:24.5 | above and beyond just being a radio producer. And you know one thing I can guarantee, |
| 1:28.9 | dear listeners, is that Michelle's time is going to shock you. |
| 1:36.1 | Oh yes it is. Anyway, on with the show, but just a quick a quick message we've got a very special |
| 1:41.4 | guest coming in at the end of the podcast. But I think the first time ever we've got the person |
| 1:47.1 | who asked a question on your marks. Get set. Go. This question was sent into curious cases at |
| 1:59.2 | BBC.com UK by Greg Jenner. He asks, what's the fastest a human could run and would we be faster |
| 2:06.4 | as quadrupeds? Okay, now this surely calls for one of our famous experiments. Now Hannah and I are |
| 2:11.6 | both finely tuned athletes. Our bodies are like coiled springs. Oh indeed we are. But unfortunately |
... |
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