Some people are naturally faster runners than others even without any visible physical advantages. When I ran on our high school cross-country running team, the top runner was a 4′10″ 9th grader who crushed the competition – besides long legs compared to her height, she would not have been first pick for continuing on to run professionally.

In my eyes, some runners are able to run faster than others because of a combination of genetic, physical, and mental factors.

• Genetics: Some people are born with genes that make them better runners. These genes can affect things like muscle fiber composition, VO2 max, and running economy.
• Muscle fiber composition: Muscles are made up of two types of fibers: slow-twitch and fast-twitch. Slow-twitch fibers are better for endurance running, while fast-twitch fibers are better for sprinting. People with a higher proportion of slow-twitch fibers are usually better long-distance runners.
• VO2 max: VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise. People with a higher VO2 max can run faster and longer because they can deliver more oxygen to their muscles.
• Running economy: Running economy is how efficiently your body uses oxygen at a given pace. People with better running economy can run faster with less effort.
• Biomechanics: The way you run can also affect your speed. People with good biomechanics use less energy when they run, which allows them to run faster.
• Training: Training can also help you become a faster runner. Consistent training can improve your endurance, strength, and speed.
• Mental factors: Mental factors like toughness, focus, and motivation can also affect your running speed. People who are mentally tough can push through pain and fatigue to run faster.
• Experience: Experience can also help you become a faster runner. Experienced runners know how to pace themselves, race tactics, and how to stay focused during a race.
• Nutrition and recovery: Eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep are important for recovery and performance.
• Environment: The environment can also affect your running speed. Running at high altitudes or in hot weather can make it harder to run fast.

There are many factors that can affect your running speed. Some of these factors are genetic, while others can be improved with training and lifestyle changes. If you want to become a faster runner, it’s important to consider all of these factors and develop a training plan that is tailored to your individual needs.

Hope this helps and Happy Running! If you are looking for an app to help you run faster and be more aware of your technique and endurance, please consider signing up for the Tread Fitness App waitlist at https://treadfitnessapp.com