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There is a pizza restaurant 300 metres down the road from my house. Does it take more energy for me to skip to it or run to it?
Simon Dales
Oxford, UK
Running is much more efficient than skipping, which is why top athletes run. We could skip our way around the track, but the runners would beat us. Have a go.
Our ancestors evolved to be efficient at moving long distances. The best way to use as little energy as possible over a long distance is to walk. But running only costs a bit more energy.
Each gait has…
