The article by Bramble and Lieberman explores the evolution of endurance running in humans, a behavior that has been overlooked compared to walking. Despite being poor sprinters, humans excel at endurance running (ER), defined as running long distances over extended periods using aerobic metabolism. The authors review the physiological and anatomical adaptations that enable humans to perform well in ER, including a diverse array of features such as long legs, a compliant limb system, and specialized muscles and tendons. These adaptations suggest that ER is a derived capability of the genus Homo, originating around 2 million years ago, and may have played a crucial role in the evolution of the human body form. The article also discusses the fossil evidence for these adaptations and hypothesizes that ER may have been important for hunting, scavenging, and exploiting protein-rich resources, contributing to the unique combination of large bodies, small guts, big brains, and small teeth in humans.The article by Bramble and Lieberman explores the evolution of endurance running in humans, a behavior that has been overlooked compared to walking. Despite being poor sprinters, humans excel at endurance running (ER), defined as running long distances over extended periods using aerobic metabolism. The authors review the physiological and anatomical adaptations that enable humans to perform well in ER, including a diverse array of features such as long legs, a compliant limb system, and specialized muscles and tendons. These adaptations suggest that ER is a derived capability of the genus Homo, originating around 2 million years ago, and may have played a crucial role in the evolution of the human body form. The article also discusses the fossil evidence for these adaptations and hypothesizes that ER may have been important for hunting, scavenging, and exploiting protein-rich resources, contributing to the unique combination of large bodies, small guts, big brains, and small teeth in humans.