Footspeed
Encyclopedia
Footspeed, or sprint speed, is the maximum speed
at which a human can run. It is affected by many factors, varies greatly throughout the population, and is important in athletic
s and many sports, such as Football, Rugby
, and American Football
.
metabolism, though at the cost of inferior efficiency over longer periods of firing. The average human has an almost-equal ratio of fast-twitch to slow-twitch fibers, but top sprinters may have as much as 80% fast-twitch fibers, while top long-distance runners
may have only 20%. This ratio is believed to have genetic origins, though some assert that it can be adjusted by muscle training.[Dead link] "Speed camps", which purport to provide fractional increases in maximum footspeed, are popular among budding professional athletes, and some sources estimate that 17% to 19% of speed can be trained.[Dead link]
Though good running form is useful in increasing speed, fast and slow runners have been shown to move their legs at nearly the same rate – it is the force
exerted by the leg on the ground that separates fast sprinters from slow. Top short-distance runners exert as much as four times their body weight
in pressure
on the running surface. For this reason, muscle mass in the legs
, relative to total body weight, is a key factor in maximizing footspeed.
sprint (average speed between the 60th and the 80th meter) by Usain Bolt
. Humans cannot run any faster than around 30 mph.
Maximum human sprint speed is strikingly slower than that of many animals. Compared to other land animals, humans are exceptionally capable of endurance
, but exceptionally incapable of great speed. For example, cheetah
s can attain short bursts of speed well over 100 km/h (62 mph), the American quarter horse
has topped 88 km/h (55 mph), greyhound
s can reach 70 km/h (43 mph), and the Mongolian Wild Ass
has been measured at 64 km/h (40 mph). Even the domestic cat may reach 48 km/h (30 mph).
Speed
In kinematics, the speed of an object is the magnitude of its velocity ; it is thus a scalar quantity. The average speed of an object in an interval of time is the distance traveled by the object divided by the duration of the interval; the instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as...
at which a human can run. It is affected by many factors, varies greatly throughout the population, and is important in athletic
Athletic
Athletic may refer to:* An athlete, or sportsperson* Athletic director, a position at many American universities and schools* Athletic type, a physical/psychological type in the classification of Ernst Kretschmer...
s and many sports, such as Football, Rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
, and American Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
.
Factors in speed
The key determinant of footspeed in sprinting is the predominance of one distinct type of muscle fiber over another, specifically the ratio of fast-twitch muscles to slow-twitch muscles in a sprinter's physical makeup. Though fast-twitch muscles produce no more energy than slow-twitch muscles when they contract, they do so more rapidly through a process of anaerobicAnaerobic exercise
Anaerobic exercise is exercise intense enough to trigger anaerobic metabolism. It is used by athletes in non-endurance sports to promote strength, speed and power and by body builders to build muscle mass...
metabolism, though at the cost of inferior efficiency over longer periods of firing. The average human has an almost-equal ratio of fast-twitch to slow-twitch fibers, but top sprinters may have as much as 80% fast-twitch fibers, while top long-distance runners
Long-distance track event
Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...
may have only 20%. This ratio is believed to have genetic origins, though some assert that it can be adjusted by muscle training.[Dead link] "Speed camps", which purport to provide fractional increases in maximum footspeed, are popular among budding professional athletes, and some sources estimate that 17% to 19% of speed can be trained.[Dead link]
Though good running form is useful in increasing speed, fast and slow runners have been shown to move their legs at nearly the same rate – it is the force
Force
In physics, a force is any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in shape. In other words, a force is that which can cause an object with mass to change its velocity , i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object to deform...
exerted by the leg on the ground that separates fast sprinters from slow. Top short-distance runners exert as much as four times their body weight
Body weight
The term body weight is used in daily English speech as well as in the contexts of biological and medical sciences to describe the mass of an organism's body. Body weight is measured in kilograms throughout the world, although in some countries it is still measured in pounds or stones and pounds...
in pressure
Pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of an object. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to the local atmospheric or ambient pressure.- Definition :...
on the running surface. For this reason, muscle mass in the legs
Human leg
The human leg is the entire lower extremity or limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh and even the hip or gluteal region; however, the precise definition in human anatomy refers only to the section of the lower limb extending from the knee to the ankle.Legs are used for standing,...
, relative to total body weight, is a key factor in maximizing footspeed.
Limits of speed
The fastest human footspeed on record is 44.72 km/h (27.79 mph), seen during a 100 metres100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
sprint (average speed between the 60th and the 80th meter) by Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt
The Honourable Usain St. Leo Bolt, OJ, C.D. , is a Jamaican sprinter and a five-time World and three-time Olympic gold medalist. He is the world record and Olympic record holder in the 100 metres, the 200 metres and the 4×100 metres relay...
. Humans cannot run any faster than around 30 mph.
Maximum human sprint speed is strikingly slower than that of many animals. Compared to other land animals, humans are exceptionally capable of endurance
Endurance
Endurance is the ability for a human or animal to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue. In humans, it is usually used in aerobic or anaerobic exercise...
, but exceptionally incapable of great speed. For example, cheetah
Cheetah
The cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...
s can attain short bursts of speed well over 100 km/h (62 mph), the American quarter horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
has topped 88 km/h (55 mph), greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
s can reach 70 km/h (43 mph), and the Mongolian Wild Ass
Mongolian Wild Ass
The Mongolian Wild Ass is a subspecies of the Onager. It may be synonymous with the Gobi Kulan, Chigetai or Dziggetai...
has been measured at 64 km/h (40 mph). Even the domestic cat may reach 48 km/h (30 mph).