"There are 17 American men in history who have run under 2:10 in the marathon," says journalist David Epstein. "There were 32 Kalenjin who did it in October of 2011."
The Kalenjin are a tribe of approximately 5 million in the African country of Kenya. While "Kenya" has become shorthand for distance running greatness, the majority of that country's great runners have come from this tribe.
All of this has led researchers, journalists, and curious onlookers to ask the obvious question: Why? Is it genetics? Climate? Culture? All of the above?
One of my favorite podcasts, Radiolab, looked at all of these questions in their latest episode, "Cut and Run". Give it a listen. And be prepared to wince, because it gets... well... disturbing.
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