Why Are Men Faster Than Women
By gohan2091
@gohan2091 (544)
July 7, 2010 2:03pm CST
Why are men generally faster than women at running? If you watch track and field events, mens times are always a bit faster than womens, whether its short, medium or long distance. Men are generally larger in size and weigh more too so wouldn't this go against a fast running speed?
Could it have something to do with lung capacity? I believe men take in more air than women. But in a 100m sprit lasting approximately 10 seconds, surely lung capacity wouldn't make a difference?
As I said, I am speaking generally, of course, there are some women faster than men so please understand, I am not trying to be sexist.
4 responses
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
8 Jul 10
While there any number of reasons why men are usually faster than women at running I believe the number one reason why is that, pound for pound, men are stronger than women. A friend of mine who was a track star in high school and who eventually got me into running road races after high school and who is also the head athletic trainer at a college here in Tennessee, told me once that there are two different types of muscles related to running: slow-twitch and fast-twitch. He didn't explain it in detail but instead said that sprinters have fast-twitch muscles and long distance runners have slow-twitch muscles. The only way I can explain it is that fast-twitch muscles flex and contract faster than slow-twitch. Perhaps it could be that in men those types of muscles are far more developed than in women. I don't really know. But, I still believe it is mostly due to the fact that men are normally stronger than women.
1 person likes this
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
8 Jul 10
Let me add to this. I'm afraid I didn't explain things the way I'd meant to. When I say that men are typically stronger than women I mean not just muscle strength but cardiovascular as well: heart and lungs. God created the man to be the bread-winner of the family. He was meant to be the supporter of the family and put in many hours of hard, manual labor each day to do that. So, for that reason, the male must be much stronger in more ways than one. Now, I'm not trying to launch into a sermon or anything here I'm just stating the reason I believe man is stronger than woman, normally. If a man and a woman, each a sprinter, in their prime, develops their bodies to the extent of their physical capacities then the man is normally going to be faster, normally. I'm sure there are exceptions, though.
1 person likes this
@gohan2091 (544)
•
8 Jul 10
Yes, that brings me back to what I thought, that mens lungs are more efficient/developed. It certainly interests me and thanks for your comment!
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
7 Jul 10
Besides the fact that men are generally stronger and more muscled than women, it could very well have something to do with the bone structure. Women's hips are designed for giving birth and thus are wider, etc. I think this could very well have an influence on the motion and the speed of their running.
1 person likes this
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
8 Jul 10
Men aren't faster than women. Women just like to hold back so they can watch your butt while you run. Also they don't want to run ahead of you, so you'll be looking at her butt.
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
9 Jul 10
I'm pretty sure I just answered your question. I want to believe you are sober.
@gohan2091 (544)
•
8 Jul 10
Is there any point of commenting here? There is no place for comments like yours in my thread.
@edwardjoy2000 (2387)
• United Arab Emirates
7 Jul 10
This is bcos of the harmones and the physical conditions in women. Women have certain physical features that do not allow to be equal to me...But when it comes to certain things women are far more better.
@gohan2091 (544)
•
7 Jul 10
bodil, that's a really sexist thing to say. Men can cook just as well as women, some of the best chefs in the world are men. Housework is easy to do, it's just repetitive and boring, men can do it just as well as women.
Like I said, I know some women can be faster than men but overal, men are faster. If you compare the running times in various running events of men to women, men always come out faster.
