Join Professor Dan Gordon as he explores the age-old fable the Tortoise and the Hare through the lens of modern sports science and human physiology. At first glance, the tale promotes the virtues of steady effort over flashy speed—but what does science say about who truly had the physiological edge?
We'll dive into the fundamentals of endurance, examining how the body produces and utilizes energy over time, the role of slow-twitch versus fast-twitch muscle fibers, and how factors like VO₂ max, lactate threshold, and recovery capacity define athletic performance.
The hare, built for speed, represents explosive power and anaerobic capacity—great for short bursts, but not sustainable. The tortoise, on the other hand, embodies the efficient, fatigue-resistant endurance athlete. Using examples from elite sports, long-distance racing, and real-world physiology, this talk will dissect how pacing, metabolic efficiency, and mental resilience determine success in endurance contexts.
Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of why slow and steady may indeed win the race—but only under the right physiological and strategic conditions. The fable gets a modern twist, grounded in science, performance, and the enduring wisdom of balance.
This event is presented as part of the Chelmsford Science Festival
[DR 27.08.25]
