Mother was right

I was reading an interesting front-page article this week, on how some people (like me for sure) have a genetic pre-disposition to eating large amounts of chocolate.

Seriously....

As a fan of scientific research, I kept reading, and eating, grabbing handfuls of chocolate-covered almonds to sheer delight!

The article came from the May 14th edition of the Toronto Star, and since the University of Toronto conducted the study, it must be accurate! (it was published in Physiological Genomics for the geek-folks who care).

Turns out 1 in 5 of us have this little gene - named GLUT 2 appropriately enough, and the study group consisted of two groups. The first were older, sedentary and over-weight, the second were younger, fit and lean. If you haven't met me, or know my history, then I fit into the latter category, only 41 years of age could be taken either way. I am very immature for my age, so let me pretend to be "young", for the sake of research!

So it got me thinking....

Could this apply to athletes? Can we also "predict" our potential in some future marathon? Do some of us actually have no hope of ever going to Boston (sorry Steve)...?

Can some of us "be like Ed" (Whitlock) and become World Champions at a later age?

Was my father a secret endurance machine, growing up in small-town Fardella (pop. 1,000, south Italy)? Did my mother's ancestors in Ireland walk miles and miles to tend sheep, and were they hearty and strong people? Do my three sister's who struggle with exercise and fitness routines now have a chance to catch up to their all-round jock brother?

Was there a milkman involved somewhere?

(:

Maybe we now have another excuse at the finish line:

"Hey Dave, great race today, how did you pull that off?"

"I just spent the last week poring over my old family albums and photographs, and realized I have athletically inclined grandparents, so I "willed" myself to a P.B. How was your race?"

"Oh, I had dinner at my parents' last nite and after the 2nd serving of dessert decided to run for fun this morning"

(:

PD

peter@mynextrace.com