Sprints > Long Distance

Based on personal experience, whenever someone declares that they want to pursue some athletic endeavor, it's usually some long distance event such as a triathlon or marathon. Very rarely do you ever hear someone set a goal of running 100m under 13 seconds or the 400m under 50 seconds. To most people, time and distance of an event are somehow proportional to the supposed health benefits that one shall receive.

long distance runner - left
sprinter - right


Is the above picture an anomaly? I don't think so. Check out the physiques on other top runners.

Michael Johnson (200m, 400m Olympic champion)


Donovan Bailey (100m Olympic champion)


Linford Christie (100m Olympic champion)


Hicham El Guerrouj (1500m, 5000m Olympic champion)


Haile Gebrselassie (10,000m Olympic champion)



With some kinesiology and grade-11 level physics knowledge, it's not difficult to figure out why the above runners appear the way they do.