A TCU kinesiology professor is breaking down the science behind human speed.
Featured in Women’s Health, Peter Weyand, professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology and director
of TCU’s Locomotor Performance Laboratory, explained why some runners are naturally
faster than others and examined the factors that contribute to an individual’s performance.
According to Weyand, in many cases, it comes down to genetics. Genetic data can play a role in one’s muscle composition, body type and overall health. Performance is also based on VO2 max, a key measure of how much oxygen your body can take in and use when exercising at max effort.
“A higher VO2 max helps your body use oxygen more efficiently, meaning you can sustain harder effort for longer without feeling exhausted,” Weyand said.
Weyand’s research highlights how physiology, body composition and training contribute to determining speed, offering insight to competitive runners or anyone looking to improve their performance.