In endurance sports, certain countries consistently dominate the podium. While many theories attempt to explain this, the most overlooked—and perhaps the most relevant—is culture. The influence of your social group and peers plays a huge role in shaping your choices and potential, yet we often assume that health and fitness are driven by gadgets, apps, or elite trainers. In reality, human connection, support, and a sense of adventure may be the biggest performance enhancers. This week’s podcast explores high-performance endurance athletics through the lens of anthropology.

Listen and learn:

• How training in Ethiopia differs from the rest of the world
• The power of fun, play, and variety in training
• Why community and social support might be the missing ingredient

Link

durham.ac.uk

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Michael Crawley is an anthropologist, writer, and accomplished runner. He is an Assistant Professor of Social Anthropology at Durham University and author of Out of Thin Air (2020) and To the Limit (2024).

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