Kalenjin People by Simone barrett

The Kalenjin people of Kenya seem to be the home of the best runners in the world, lets find out why!

20 out of the first 25 male runners in the Boston marathon were Kenyan

CULTURAL FACTORS

would steal cows from neighboring townships, more cows stolen the more attractive, the more those same genes would continue

high altitudes

Diet: Simple, maize based

GENETIC

10% advantage over Europeans in squeezing energy from the same oxygen supply

Smaller Calf Muscles

More favorable muscle fibers

Produce more Lactic Acid

Asbel Kiprop's Stride and calf muscles

Kenyan runners are more prone to have more type II muscle fibers which contract more quickly, thus they have thinner legs with faster contracting muscles

The renin-angiotensin system regulates blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. This system creates angiotensin II.

ANGIOTENSIN II Will Cause:

  • Blood vessels will constrict -> blood pressure will increase
  • Cardiovascular control center in the medulla oblongata is stimulated and increased cardiovascular response
  • Adrenal cortex is stimulated and begins making more aldosterone

ADRA2A:

  • creates responses of heart rate and blood pressure
  • regulates neurotransmitter release from sympathetic nerves and from adrenergic neurons in the central nervous system

Haptoglobin and ACTN2 and ACTN3 also are contributing genes that might factor in to how the Kalenjin people have genetic advantages in long distance running

Credits:

Created with images by Stevebidmead - "runners male sport" • GoToVan - "2013 Vancouver Sun Run"

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