Research suggests that a marathon runner’s body shape could be just as crucial to their performance as their training.
A study of 170 Ironman contestants found out that runners with lengthier legs performed better in warm temperatures, whilst shorter, stockier individuals fared best in colder climes. However, the effect was only observed among men.
Study author Professor Ryan Calsbeek of Dartmouth College, said that the research was among the first to suggest that human physiology had evolved to suit varying climates in order to optimise physical performance.