A limit to how fast a human will be able to run?

For the sake of argument, let's say the current world record for the 100 yard dash is 9.5 seconds. Let's also say that next year someone runs 100 yards in 9.4 seconds. Then let's say that every 25 years (pick any number you want), someone knocks one tenth of a second off the previous record.

Where does this end? If a human can run 100 yards in 8.8 seconds, how can we say it's impossible that no one will *ever* run it in 8.7 seconds? And then 8.6 seconds 50 years later, and so on.

If this premise is accepted, can we assume that at some point far in the future a subset of "super humans" (because surely not everyone will keep up with the speed records, just like today not everyone can run 100 yards in 9.5 seconds) will be able to "think" themselves (and anything they are wearing or holding) from one point to another? Would distance matter at that point, since you could just as easily "think" yourself 100 miles as 100 yards? What would this do to our concept of time?

Thanks.

Which concept of time were you referring? I myself have only a limited concept...it goes by FAST if I am focussed....and drags by slowly if I am bored...

And NOBODY can break the 4 minute mile!!!!
Interesting question.

I've also found it very interesting for quite a long time. I guess I'm a little surprised it hasn't gathered more interest here yet. I have quite a bit more on this subject regarding other questions it leads to and possible implications for philosophy, biology, physiology, evolution, etc..., but didn't want to go into too much yet and distract from the main question.

Is there a line of argument or facts that I may not be aware of (I am not a scientist by any means) that basically discounts or discredits my main premise: that given enough time, mankind will continually be able to run faster, and if followed to its logical conclusion, will some day be able to "think" themselves from one place to another. I also believe that the continued evolution of the human brain may make this even more likely, and it won't depend on only a physical evolution of the human body.

There are many offshoots to this idea, but again for now I would be interested in thoughts on just the main premise.

That's funny, i've often thought of the same question too : )
If someone runs a certain distance in 10 seconds how can it be totally impossible for someone else to run that distance in .0001 seconds faster, then so on and on and on and on. How can you ever draw a line?
I think an important factor to consider is that the chances of someone being born that is able to run faster than the record time probably decrease with each new record.
There may be a time held for 20 years until that person is born with that just bit more speed, longer legs, better stamina etc. Then they have to actually have the interest in running in the first place.
I just hope sports in the future do not allow modification of the human body in order to enhance performance. I hope better shoes and better swimsuits are the limit as to how far they go in modifications! I'm not even sure how much i agree with those in the first place. They should be standardised.
But good question anyway, i've often thought about that.
Note: If humans are still evolving, in which way will we evolve? Stronger/faster or weaker with better brains? Perhaps our sports performance will increase as time goes on by natural means : ) THOUGH it's obvious we are getting further away from our caveman days and strength is being needed less and less so maybe it will get harder for us to beat record times in the future. ( Assuming a few different theories of evolution are true here )

c?

I would think that at a certain point the human body would not be able to run any faster. Something-air resistance, g force, something-would tear it apart. Sure would be nice to think myself someplace tho. I'd go on vacations every day....

Technology certainly helps.
I bought a new pair of HI-TEC trainers and was clocked doing 38mph in a 30mph zone. I was fined £35.

Do you mean kph, or what is that product exactly?

I don't think that there's a problem with human's being able to run faster and faster, but I have a problem with the idea that this will eventually lead to people being able to think themselves from one place to another. The problem is that running faster and faster is a physical progression, while the thought-transportation is a mental evolution. While in this case both are concerned with motion, that would seem to be the end of their similarities. So, no, I don't think this progression of faster running times will lead to mental teleportation. I also think there is a limit on the 100 yard dash, and that we are close to it. It doesn't make sense that times would continue to improve to the point where, say, someone can run 100 yards in a second.

Hi all,

There are no "magic powers" here. This is not the Justice League or X-Men. Humans will adapt to changing challenges. Computers are used to select sports people for obvious advantage. It stands to reason this will lead to continued improvements. Certain types of skills will depend on the human frame. Long legs and a big strong heart will probably always win over the most determined shorter legged lower stamina bodies in sports that favor these traits... etc. Some high performance athletes exhibiting many of these traits are involved in their own little "eugenics" programs to have children that will be world beaters by "breeding with their own kind". I question these kind of "adaptations" since humans are more than just wild beasts that can run fast or jump higher... in fact we are lesser creatures and for good reason... we can beat all animals using our minds and our technology.

I am sure that for battlefields, wars and under certain conditions... if you want "highly aggressive performance enhanced soldiers" then you can get your short term "athletes" using existing performance enhancing drugs... we all know that this is already the case. I am of the opinion that we should not go this way. What kind of future do you want for your children anyway?

Just observe how much the sports world already depends on sports enhancing drugs already. It is a war of finding the "stealthiest" drug and not being caught.

"Oh brave new world that has such people in it".

Cheers

The fallacy in this type of reasoning was actually realized a loonnggg time ago (around 500B.C.) It's called the "bearded man" argument.
It goes that if a man has a beard, then if you pull out one hair, then he must obviously still have a beard, if you take out one more, he still has a beard...and so on and so on. After a while one would be convinced that a man with only ONE hair on his chin has a beard, which is obviously wrong.

It can be used to argue pretty much anything. EG. If a man can be 6ft, then obviously a man can be 6ft 1" and so on and so on. Pretty soon your convinced that a person can be 100 ft tall.

As far as moving through thought is concerned, that isn't really related to running, more to teleporting, the only similarity is that they are both forms of movement, however a fast physical movement can't in any way lead to a fast mental movement.

A much more interesting question is "how fast can a human, unaltered by acticve drugs, hormones or surgury, propel him/herself (without using stored energy outside his body) across level ground with no wind?" -- Right now, speed skaters and cyclists are more efficient than runners.

The classic physics solution starts with equating human with a sphere of a certain cross-section and solve for the speed where the air resistance power equals the estimated peak power of the legs.

I am no genius, but there are alot of factors that are really obvious.

Firstly, we have not seen the fastest humans yet. I am sure there is are thousands of people who are considerably faster then the fastest athletes of today.

Many of them don't care to show their true speed, have never really tried. Or have never taken their gift seriously enough to find their full potential (like star athletes).

Anyway, I do think that 8 seconds will be about the max a "real human" will perform. This human will be the freak accident, that guy with the perfect build, that finds himself in the perfect situation, with the right "documenting equipment". And just really goes for broke. But I won't be surprised when it happens. I would be surprised if it happened twice in 1,000 years. But then again, I really can't say what better nutrition, air, and exercise can do for humans in the next 200 years (Which is why I think 8 seconds is pretty possible possible.)

But basically the factors are as follows.

The guy is gonna reach a point where his leg weighs x amount. And for his muscle to move his leg 100 meters in 8 seconds, it will require that his muscle fibers, bones, and tendon's be exceedingly stronger and well constructed. Because they will have to move an ever increasing amount of x. There comes a point where no matter how strong and fit his muscles are, they need to be bigger to move faster, at which point they are too big to move 100 meters in 8 seconds.

It will also require that his nerves are capable of sending information to his brain just a little faster then average. And that his lungs absorb more oxygen, while his body makes more efficient use of it.

He will have to have good weather conditions, the right mind set, good balance, the perfect placement of his feet and alot of explosiveness.

At the end of the day, it just comes down to when a guy with the right combination of these (and more) qualities decides to kick it up a notch and show the world what he is made of. (Or she, but a woman running that fast may not qualify as female?)

Anyways after that guy finishes, he will probobly leave the race with pretty torn up muscles and have a hard time walking for a few days. Much faster and people will start tearing muscles off their bones.

I dunno what the limits would be with performance enhancing drugs, genetic manipulation, implants. Honestly, within a couple hundred years we will achieve alot. And if you take the time to research some of the amazing qualities that other lifeforms here on earth take for granted.

Look at the cat or rabit you tried to chase or how fast a humming bird beats it wings.

Size makes the big differance, but in 200 years, I think technology will exist that allows humans to have super light, super strong bio-mechanical leg implants.

Look at cheetas? ;p

I am done yappin now ;p

I am no genius, but there are alot of factors that are really obvious.

Firstly, we have not seen the fastest humans yet. I am sure there is are thousands of people who are considerably faster then the fastest athletes of today.

Many of them don't care to show their true speed, have never really tried. Or have never taken their gift seriously enough to find their full potential (like star athletes).

Anyway, I do think that 8 seconds will be about the max a "real human" will perform. This human will be the freak accident, that guy with the perfect build, that finds himself in the perfect situation, with the right "documenting equipment". And just really goes for broke. But I won't be surprised when it happens. I would be surprised if it happened twice in 1,000 years. But then again, I really can't say what better nutrition, air, and exercise can do for humans in the next 200 years (Which is why I think 8 seconds is pretty possible.)

But basically the factors are as follows.

The guy is gonna reach a point where his leg weighs x amount. And for his muscle to move his leg 100 meters in 8 seconds, it will require that his muscle fibers, bones, and tendon's be exceedingly stronger and well constructed. Because they will have to move an ever increasing amount of x. There comes a point where no matter how strong and fit his muscles are, they need to be bigger to move faster, at which point they are too big to move 100 meters in 8 seconds.

It will also require that his nerves are capable of sending information to his brain just a little faster then average. And that his lungs absorb more oxygen, while his body makes more efficient use of it.

He will have to have good weather conditions, the right mind set, good balance, the perfect placement of his feet and alot of explosiveness.

At the end of the day, it just comes down to when a guy with the right combination of these (and more) qualities decides to kick it up a notch and show the world what he is made of. (Or she, but a woman running that fast may not qualify as female?)

Anyways after that guy finishes, he will probobly leave the race with pretty torn up muscles and have a hard time walking for a few days. Much faster and people will start tearing muscles off their bones.

I dunno what the limits would be with performance enhancing drugs, genetic manipulation, implants. Honestly, within a couple hundred years we will achieve alot. And if you take the time to research some of the amazing qualities that other lifeforms here on earth take for granted.

Look at the cat or rabit you tried to chase or how fast a humming bird beats it wings.

Size makes the big differance, but in 200 years, I think technology will exist that allows humans to have super light, super strong bio-mechanical leg implants.

Look at cheetas? ;p

I am done yappin now ;p