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Why humans are better athletes than we thought...
By Hendrik Marais
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The long and firmly held belief that humans are the animal world’s biggest wimps may not be true!
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The startling evidence is that we may be terrible athletes in terms of power and speed, but we’re phenomenal at slow and steady - the animal world’s best distance runners - according to Harvard Anthropology Professor Daniel Lieberman
Most animals we consider excellent runners — antelopes and cheetahs, for example — are built for speed, not endurance. The best animal distance runners — such as horses and dogs — will only run far if forced to.
Proto humans like Mrs Ples's immediate descendants began eating more meat around 2.6 million years ago as they also started to use elemental tools. We don't know which was cause and which effect but the physical changes that made humans better endurance runners soon followed. Evidence the hunted became hunters.
Specifically, we became taller, got longer legs with springy tendons, and highly specialised feet storing energy and releasing it with each running stride, reducing the amount of energy it takes to take another step. Other adaptations such as the way we counterbalance each step with an arm swing help to keep our bodies stable as we run. Our large butt muscles hold our upper bodies upright, and an elastic ligament in our neck keep our head steady.
Once humans run, it only takes a bit more energy for us to run faster. Other animals expend a lot more energy as they speed up, particularly when they switch from a trot to a gallop, which few animals can maintain over long distances.
Longer legs and special feet made us better runners: but to be able to run in the heat is what may have made us successful hunters
Adaptations that help us dump the enormous amounts of heat generated by running include our hairlessness, our ability to sweat and to breathe through our mouths when we run, allowing us to take bigger breaths - and dump more heat.
“We can run in conditions that no other animal can run in. While animals get rid of excess heat by panting, they can’t pant when they gallop," Lieberman said. To run a prey animal into the ground, ancient humans didn’t have to run further than the animal could trot or faster than the animal could gallop, they only had to run faster, for longer periods of time, than the slowest speed at which the animal started to gallop.
All together, these adaptations allowed them to relentlessly pursue a game animal during the heat of the day, making it run faster than it could maintain, until it literally overheated and collapsed of hyperthermia — heat stroke in humans — after 10 to 15 kilometres. With their crude tools they could then overcome much stronger and dangerous prey. Aboriginal humans still practice persistence hunting today with a high success rate, yielding a lot of meat. It is only fitting that the marathon is the signature event at the Olympics – running on the savannah in search of fresh meat we changed from the clumsy bi-peds with long arms and short legs that left the receding rain forests into the superb, long legged athletes in Beijing we have been admiring for the last few weeks.
A date at roots
Wine tasting with Cederberg Estate
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Wednesday:
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3 September 2008
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Time:
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19:00
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Dinner:
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R350pp (6 course gourmet dinner with 6 wine teasers)
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The Cederberg wine cellar has leaped into prominence on the South African wine scene with an impressive repertoire of awards, including 2 coveted Veritas Double Gold medals - making it one of five wineries that stole the spotlight at the 2006 Veritas Awards.
Secretaries day lunch
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Wednesday:
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3 September 2008
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Time:
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from 12:00
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Lunch:
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R150pp (4 course lunch)
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Spanish Inspired lunch
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Sunday:
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14 September 2008
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Time:
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from 12:00
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Lunch:
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R270pp (10 courses)
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roots together with Wanted Magazine is organizing a special lunch at roots restaurant to celebrate spring. Chef Patron Philippe will compose a modern Spanish inspired menu based on innovative tapas, accompanied with the best known traditional products and a selection of Spanish wines. The lunch at roots is bringing to South Africa some of Spain's culinary innovations. Be ready for some interesting surprises!
Heritage day lunch - Public Holiday
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Wednesday:
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24 September 2008
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Time:
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from 12:00
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Lunch:
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R270pp (6 course lunch)
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Wine tasting with Ataraxia Estate
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Wednesday:
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1 October 2008
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Time:
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19:00
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Dinner:
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R350pp (6 course gourmet dinner with 6 wine teasers)
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Kevin Grant is expressing his talent into this newly acquired site's sense of place through four handcrafted wines under his new label, "Ataraxia" - Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot noir and a red blend.
Cuvees Classique Champagne evening
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Friday:
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31 October 2008
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Time:
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19:00
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Dinner:
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R395pp (6 course dinner with 6 champagne teasers)
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Enjoy a delightful evening of food and champagne. Accommodation packages available from R3200 per room including Champagne tasting dinner, accommodation and breakfast for two.
Not to be missed for all food & wine fanaticsBe sure to visit roots at the following festivals
2008 Standard Bank Soweto wine festival
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Date:
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5-6 September 2008
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Venue:
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Soweto Campus, University of Johannesburg, Old Potch Road
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The focal point of the 2008 Soweto Wine Festival is education in wine as a lifestyle. 115 wineries showcasing approximately 850 wines.For more information visit: www.sowetowinefestival.co.za
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Taste of Joburg
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Date:
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9-12 October 2008
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Venue:
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Montecasino outdoor event venue
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Taste of Jo'burg is an amazing four day celebration of fine food and drink, set at the prestigious Montecasino Outdoor Event Venue. This Spring, 16 of Joburg's top restaurants and chefs will be serving a stunning selection of sample sized signature dishes to Taste of Jo'burg visitors. If you love eating out this is an amazing opportunity too good to miss.For more information visit www.tasteofjoburg.com
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PROEtoria Food and Wine Festival
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Date:
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17-19 October 2008
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Venue:
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Cornwall Hill College, Irene
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Contact:
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08...
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This festival will provide the public with the opportunity to taste only the best food & wine South Africa has to offer, while being entertained by a variety of excellent music artists.For more information visit www.PROEtoria.co.za
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Forum Homini Patron,This month we celebrate the stamina of humankind at the Olympics in Beijing. We would like to extend an invitation to our Forum Homini & roots patrons to celebrate food appreciation we have developed over the ages.
Hominid regards,
Juanita Marais
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