What is the limit of “human potential”?
This was the question that I asked some years ago to a group of elite Kenyan athletes, all 2.04/05 marathon runners. They looked at me quizzically, and then replied…”Sir, there is no limit to what the human can achieve!
A wonderful answer, and I believe the right one…but, my question was based around a chapter that I had written in a book some years ago, asking that same question. Will there become a time when it becomes physically impossible. What then are the defining factors?
The limit of human potential in endurance athletes is influenced by a combination of physiological, psychological, environmental, and technological factors. While there may be no clear-cut answer, recent advances in science and world performances provide insights into where human limits currently stand and how much further they could be pushed.
Physiological Limits
VO2 Max: This is the maximum rate at which the body can consume oxygen during exercise, a key factor of endurance capacity. Elite endurance athletes, have some of the highest VO2 max levels recorded, around 80-90 ml/kg/min. While genetic potential and training improve this metric, there’s a theoretical upper boundary based on cardiovascular and pulmonary capacity.
Lactate Threshold: This refers to the point at which lactate begins to accumulate in the bloodstream. Training helps athletes increase their lactate threshold, enabling them to sustain higher intensities without fatigue.
Efficiency of Movement: Mechanical efficiency is crucial. Elite athletes move with exceptional efficiency, reducing wasted energy and improving endurance. While this can be improved through training, biomechanics also place limits on how efficient a person can become.
Muscle Endurance & Fatigue Resistance: Mitochondrial density, capillary growth, and muscle fiber composition determine how resistant muscles are to fatigue. There is a finite limit to how much oxygen can be delivered to and used by muscles.
Cardiovascular Capacity: The heart and lungs can only supply so much oxygen, and though training can push this capacity, factors like heart size and stroke volume place natural limits on endurance performance.
All of the above then suggests that there is a ceiling.
Psychological Limits
Mental Resilience: Endurance running is as much about mental strength as about physical ability. Psychological endurance, including pain tolerance and self motivation, significantly influences performance. Athletes who can push beyond discomfort or pain can often exceed perceived physical limits. We already know much about the power of the mind.
Cognitive Fatigue Management: Managing cognitive fatigue and maintaining focus over long durations can push athletes further. Many endurance athletes use mental techniques to distance themselves from pain or fatigue, allowing them to continue for longer. Studies are already taking place in The States, about ways to delay the signals from the body to the brain to say to the athlete “this is hurting”!
Environmental Factors
Nutrition & Hydration: Fueling strategies have dramatically improved, allowing athletes to push the boundaries of endurance. Advances in carbohydrate intake, electrolyte balance, and hydration have extended how long athletes can perform at high intensities.
Altitude and Climate: Training and competing at high altitudes or in extreme climates (heat, cold, humidity) will naturally influence performance, but elite endurance athletes train in optimal environments to maximize adaptations, like increased red blood cell production at altitude.
Recovery & Injury Prevention: The ability to recover from strenuous efforts and prevent injuries is a key factor. Modern recovery methods (nutrition, sleep optimisation, cryotherapy, etc.) help athletes extend their training potential.
Technological & Equipment Advancements
Shoes & Kit: Technological advancements, like the modern carbon plate shoes, have contributed to record-breaking performances, particularly in marathon running.
Monitoring & Data Analysis: Data analytics allow athletes to train smarter, optimizing intensity and recovery to squeeze out every possible improvement.
Notable Achievements
Eliud Kipchoge's Sub-2-Hour Marathon: In 2019, Kipchoge ran a marathon in 1:59:40 under controlled conditions. Though this performance wasn’t an official world record due to pacers and other assisted measures, it highlighted the possibility of breaking the 2-hour barrier, a feat previously thought impossible. Think back to 1954 and Sir Roger Bannister with the first sub 4mile!
Ultra-Endurance Events: Athletes who complete ultra-endurance events (like the Ironman triathlon or ultramarathons) showcase human limits in terms of endurance, often going beyond 100 miles or 24 hours of continuous activity. The human body has shown an incredible capacity for long-duration endurance when trained correctly and with the right fuel.
Reflect on the recent Olympics and the records broken. One record still standing the test of time is the mile record set by Hicham El Guerrouj. 3.43 and set in 1999.
Genetic Potential
Some individuals have genetic traits that make them more suited to endurance running. Certain genes related to oxygen utilisation, muscle fiber composition, and cardiovascular fitness allow these athletes to push further than others. While genetic engineering or selection isn’t part of mainstream sports, future advancements could extend human potential further. Could we produce an athlete?
In Conclusion!
Some researchers believe that there is an upper ceiling to endurance performance based on metabolic constraints, environmental factors, and human physiology. However, defining these limits is difficult, as advancements in training, technology, and nutrition continue to push the boundaries…I detail much of this above.
Endurance performance will likely continue to improve through a combination of better training methods, technological enhancements, nutrition, and recovery strategies. However, fundamental physiological constraints suggest that there will be absolute limits to how far and how fast humans can go.
So back to my question…”what is the limit of human potential”…over to you!