In 2017, a reported 60 million Americans actively participated in regular, run-focused activities. With the exception of a few social and migratory animals, this seems to be a uniquely human pastime. Why is that? The answer to this question may reside in our evolutionary history. 

We’ve all heard that we should aim to walk at least 10,000 steps each day. While the number 10,000 originated from a 1965 Japanese marketing campaign, it is not far from the 7,500 steps per day that provide the majority of the reduction in mortality. The simple act of walking may seem trivial, but it is one of the most valuable steps we can take for our health (pun intended).