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In a message dated 11/20/2004 4:00:37 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

the  authors have a legitimate point
in that running *could* have been the  driving force. It's possible that the
earliest "modern humans" had to run a  whole bunch just to survive.


I think of kangaroos who can move very quickly for a few hundred yards,
maybe a mile, and that's it and it works.  I think our running ability,  like our
climbing and diving/swimming ability is only for short getaways,  otherwise,
we are walkers.  We can walk for a long time with very little  fatigue.  But,
running presents many problems, particularly in the  knees.  Our knees are not
made for the percussion effect of fast  movements.  If we look at endurance
runners, their leg movements are short  so as to minimize shock on the leg
joints.  The athletic body type that  runs is not too common, if we don't
hypothesize evolutionary specialization, we  have to consider why so few people are
good at running, most humans can't run  for very long and very few can manage a 5
minute mile at any age.

Fred

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