So what exactly happens when a body builds up endurance?

[TallBill]

If someone keeps running and running, why do they get better? Do their lungs get "stronger"? If so, what does that even mean? Is it partly just mental?

 

[GoingUp]

you build new blood vessels and more muscle to keep you going longer

 

[TallBill]

So new blood vessels just appear? Does this just move more oxygen through teh body?

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: TallBill
So new blood vessels just appear? Does this just move more oxygen through teh body?

Yes. Once you build up "endurance", you've got more muscle and consequently more blood vessels to provide more oxygen to those muscles that you built up.

 

[Rakkis]

they dont just appear. the blood vessels you already have start producing more branches.

this helps carry oxygen and waste to and away from your tissues faster

 

[TallBill]

Cool, thanks guys.. i was just wondering this while i was running today.

 

[jst0ney]

As you train your body you train the body's ability to carry oxygen. each heme molecule (found obviously in blood) CAN carry up to four O2 molecules. Increasing the O2 demand by training will enable heme to travel throughout the body with O2 molecules attached. When we are sedentary for long periods of time the body does not need O2 so heme does not carry it's full load. It's also important to get your daily allowed iron because that's the ion that changes the heme carrier state. Sorry I if I didn't make that very clear I've been up studying way too long. I responed and make it more clear if needed.

 

[TheNinja]

I thought it also makes your heart stronger since it is a muscle, and like all muscles the more you use them and push them to their limits, the larger/stronger/more effecient they become.

 

[QueHuong]

It's also that your body was conditioned to do more with less. Long distance runners are at risk of dehydration because they've trained their body to ignore warning signs.