Have you ever run a marathon? I haven’t, and chances are it would take me all day to finish one, if I finished at all. I’m certain any animal could outrun me, but it’s the horse that goes against humans in the annual marathon in Wales.
When we asked you before who you thought would win this marathon, most of you answered “horses.” Personally, I’d think so too. But according to NPR, the marathon is one area where humans have the advantage. NPR reports that “our bodies are actually built for long-distance running. We’ve got structures in our inner ears to keep us balanced…, springier tendons than our primate cousins so we bounce as we run and use less energy, narrow waist and huge bottom muscles that keep our trunks stabilized.” Other benefits for humans? “They don’t have to carry a person, they’re nimble on turns and steep inclines and if it was a hot day, they do better at keeping cool.”
So with all those things going for humans, did one win the marathon this year? Well, a man named Hugh came in first at 2 hours and 30 minutes. However, since the humans had a 15-minute head start, and a horse came in just five minutes later, clocking in at 2 hours and 20 minutes, the horse once again outran the human. Maybe next year.
Cari Jorgensen is a web content specialist who is also an adjunct professor of English at Santa Ana College.
Tom McEwen of Great Britain had a big day under beautiful skies at the Kentucky…
Dressage is halfway complete at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event CCI5*-L. Currently in first…
Lexington, Ky. — Three of the world’s four top-ranked riders and defending champion Tamie Smith…
Stay up to date on the action from the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Find…
Tom McEwen of Great Britain had a big day under beautiful skies at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.,…
Dressage is halfway complete at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event CCI5*-L. Currently in first is Yasmin Ingham of Great…
Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…
Read the full article about showing in hand in Horse Illustrated’s June 2024 issue! Here is some great content we…
Plenty has been written about the prevention, causes, and treatment of founder, but less information is available on whether or…