There was a show called the “six million dollar man” about a crippled man who was rebuilt by the government for six million dollars. “Many of his damaged parts are replaced by experimental bionic limbs, including his right arm, his left eye, and both legs. These bionic’s give him superpowers such as increased speed and strength and the ability to see long distances” (IMBD). This gave him extraordinary power and strength but for now, is still science fiction. What about people who can do what seems to be impossible feats just through training and practice.
Here is a man who with a bmp of 32 instead of 72 can run ultra marathons when most people don't even want to think about a 5k run.
"Well-trained athletes usually have slow heart rates with occasional pauses in the normal rhythm. Evaluation is usually not needed unless other symptoms are present, such as lightheadedness or fainting (syncope), or there is a family history of heart problems" (WebMD). By exercising more you can lower your heart rate but can everyone become and ultra marathoner? Just because your resting heart rate is lower does not mean that you are in better shape then someone else. "Both a couch potato and a highly trained marathoner could have a heart rate of 50 to 60," says Benjamin D. Levine, MD, professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. So can anyone do it?
According to Matt Frazier you are going to need to have completed at least three marathons and have three years of running experience to complete and ultramarathon. "It's an incredible feat that only a tiny percentage of people will ever have the discipline and courage to do. It requires a lot of work, especially when you consider that inside every ultrarunner, there's a marathoner, something that requires plenty of work in its own right" (Frazier). Frazier argues that its not the ultramarathon that's hard its getting to the marathon first. But if you look at some people who have completed a marathon (Oprah and P-Diddy) it seems more attainable. The difference is how fast it can be done.
"World-class athletes really are superhuman and born with special genes that let their bodies perform faster, longer, and better than mere mortals" (Warner, WebMD). What separates the top athletes from the average Joe is the ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) gene. This appears to be abnormal in all Olympic sprinters and long distance runners. Another gene that affects the fast-twitch muscles, known as ACTN3, has also been linked to superior performance (Warner, WebMD). But to be the best, on top of all the variations of genes that you are born with you also have to train and nutrition yourself to the most perfect possible conditions.
But soon will we be able to alter the genes of humanity to create perfect athletes?
And here are just some more interesting videos of people and there talents.
Work Cited
IMBD. The Six Million Dollar Man. Tv Series. 1974-78. 10/5/10
Human Body. National Geographic. Heart. 10/5/10
Jennifer Warner. WebMD. Health and Fitness. Genes Separate Olympians From Average Joes. 10/6/10
Matt Frazier. No Meat Athlete. How YOU Can Run an Ultramarathon (and Still Have a Life). 10/6/10
National Geographic is a great reference because all of its content is professionally edited and check by scientist or doctors who have research the subjects on the website. Also WebMD is very credible because its content is provided by doctors for in home help with symptoms you may have. IMBD and No meat Athlete are great but not perfect sources, but I have used both personally and have tested out the information myself and have proved that it is credible to the point where the information is true.
