why are black people faster runners than white people?

Question

is there a scientific explanation for this?

Answer 1

this has to do on the type of muscle fibers you have, which are affected by genetics and the way you train.
there are slow oxidative fibers, these contract slow, use an aerobic pathway to get energy, have a high myoglobin content, and are fatigue resistant. they are used for endurance type activities such as running a marathon. structurally they are small in diameter have many mitochondria and are red in color.
then there are fast oxidative fibers. their speed of contraction is fast, get energy from a combination of anaerobic glycolysis and aerobic pathways, have a moderate store of glycogen and are more fatigable than slow oxidative fibers. structurally they are larger in diamerter and are red to pinkish in color. these fibers are used in sprinting.
the last type of fibers are called fast glycolytic fibers. these also contract very fast but rely strictly on the anaerobic glycolysis pathway to obtain energy, therefore they have a large store of glycogen. they are quickly fatiguable and are used during short-term intense or powerful movements. they are large in diameter and white.
although everyones muscles contain mixtures of the 3 fiber types, some people have relatively more of one variety. these differences are genetically initiated, but are modified by exercise and no doubt determine athletic capabilities (endurance vs strength) to a large extent

Answer 2

In general, black people DO run faster than white people. There are many theories as to why: higher bone density, length of legs vs. center of gravity, tighter muscle fibers. Higher testosterone levels, maybe, selective breeding, probably. Consequently, Harlem will never win a statewide high school swimming competition. Those who say all this is irrelevant, only their pigmentation is different, and speed is only about hard work, are ignorant. That's why I believe that they were bred selectively to be stronger, faster and to not be able to use the Mississippi River as an escape route.

Answer 3

I don't believe this is really a black/white people thing. Did giraffes get their long necks from wanting to eat leaves off high trees and eventually evolved so they'll have longer necks? No. This is just a speculation but maybe they just have a larger lung capacity? Strong muscles?

Answer 4

Sad but true reason. In the slavery era slavery were esentially selective bred. Like animals. The stongest males and the strongest females. This makes it so the best traits are passed down from generatin to generation. After 175+ years of this, better traits are established in the gene pool. Thats the story sad but true.

Answer 5

those of African descent tend to be swifter at operating/sprinting with the aid of DNA/Gene which determined the African body construct. African have wider bones hence better and more suitable muscular tissues with the aid of ecosystem they stay in. also, in order to sprint somewhat quickly, your body calls for loopy volume of oxygen hence your lung means must be honestly enormous and your nostril structure could probable be wider so better oxygen is inhaled. the technique of sprinting/operating is particularly complicated interior our bodies. i might want to argue over why do often Europeans excel in events alongside with Swimming/cycling? this is all right down to Genes and DNA's. wish I helped.

Answer 6

The environmental factors influencing human evolution granted greater ability in this area to those of African descent.

Answer 7

Different proportions of leg, and different insertion points for muscles on those legs, and dense muscle. During the past 20,000 years, you can speculate that running was more important for hunters than it was for farmers.

Answer 8

Where did this idea come from? It all depends on your genes and the drive to push yourself to the limit. Has nothing to do with whether you are black or white.

Answer 9

they are not. Take a look at the world records.
Here's a list of all running records
http://www.wakelydam.com/records.htm

Answer 10

Genetics that has evolved from their ancestors.