Pounding my way through my high school gym class runs was a particular torture that I can still recall in perfect detail, if I wanted to. Which, believe me, I don’t. They’re etched so deeply into my memory not just because my gym teacher used to chase me around the track throwing footballs at my head to keep me moving but also because they were hot, painful, embarrassing and… deathly. I say deathly because first, I lived in a tiny farming town and our high school was downwind from an animal processing plant that smelled literally like death (on hot days the peculiar stench would make us retch). And second because I was absolutely sure that I was going to die. My lungs were nigh to bursting, my heart was clawing its way out of my chest like a horror movie gone awry, my limbs were shaky and at any minute I figured I was going to shuffle off this mortal coil.
You know what makes you unpopular in high school? Acting like a weenie in gym class. You what makes it worse? Quoting Shakespeare while you whine. So unbeknownst to my peers I started running in the mornings before school. I’d run from my house straight into the comforting embrace of the Rocky Mountains (the bonus of living in a tiny mountain farming town) where no one but the predatory mountain lions could hear my asthmatic gasping and watch me try to do a farmer blow and instead just smear snot down my entire shirt. And while I learned to love the peace of watching the sun rise over the summit and the rhythm of exercise, I did not learn to love running. I still hated every second of it. Moreover, I never got any better at it.
After watching the ease with which some of my classmates loped around the track, still with enough breath to gossip about why I was wearing 17 different types of spider jewelry in gym class (Charlotte’s web – get it??), I finally decided that running was genuinely more difficult for me than it was for most people. I figured someday, hopefully not during an autopsy, they’d discover I had a hole in my heart or only one lung or something else that would explain this unfairness. And science did not let me down!
Behold the discovery of the Wuss Gene! (my nomenclature, you’re welcome).
As reported by the New York Times, in a landmark 2010 study scientists looked for a genetic answer to the question of why some people respond to endurance exercise so well and others don’t. “Some lucky men and women take up jogging, for example, and quickly become much more aerobically fit. Others complete the same program and develop little if any additional endurance.” The researchers examined the muscle tissue of “several groups of volunteers who had completed 6 to 20 weeks of endurance training. They found that about 30 variations in how genes were expressed had a significant effect on how fit people became.” Eventually they found certain patterns of genetic material that indicated someone would be a “low responder” to aerobic exercise and – naturally – developed a test so people can find out for sure whether or not they (or their kid) is the next Lance Armstrong.
Dr. James Timmons, one of the researchers and founder of XRGenetics, says, “The idea [of the genetic test] is to help people to understand why they might be progressing more slowly in an exercise program than their training partners are.”
My first thought, upon hearing the news, was regret that it had not been available to show my gym teacher that I really was trying and that I really did just suck. And me being me, I immediately wanted to take the test! While it wouldn’t change anything at least I would know why I’ve been running for years (I’ve learned to enjoy it more now that the pressure of the Presidential! Fitness! Test! is off) and yet could never pull off a feat like my friend M did this past weekend.
[Warning: Random story ahead: The day before the race, one of his neighbors ended up with an extra bib number for the notoriously competitive Twin Cities Marathon and asked M if he wanted it. “Sure,” he said, despite the fact that his longest run ever was “10-12 miles, maybe” months ago. Despite the fact that people train for months (years!) to run a marathon and he didn’t know a tempo run from tempo shorts. Despite the fact that he’d never done a race, ever, except one piddly 5K several years ago. Then he asked me for advice. (I know, that alone is a measure of his boundless optimism.) I gave him a few gels, told him to buy a stick of bodyglide, wear compression shorts and put bandaids over his nipples. (I may not remember to tell you to put your chip timer on your shoe but at least your nips won’t be worn down to ouchie nubbins! Priorities!)
And you know what? Not only did he run the whole darn thing, he finished in just over 3.5 hours with an average pace of 8 min/mile. Fifteen minutes less and he could have qualified for Boston. Ridiculous! Even when I trained for a marathon I never paced that fast. And can you imagine what he could do if he actually trained? (Which he doesn’t want to do because he ran the marathon on a lark and while it was awesome and all, he has other stuff he’d rather do.) Headdesk.]
However, the scientists caution that the test is only reliable for predicting how well people will be able to increase their endurance, as measured by their VO2 max. It can’t tell you how aerobic exercise might lessen your depression, lower your blood pressure, increase your bone density or otherwise make you a happier, healthier human being – and there are way more benefits to regular exercise than just increased endurance. Best case scenario, according to Dr. Timmons, is that “if you are a “low” responder to endurance exercise, you should concentrate on resistance training or otherwise refocus your training.” He adds, “What we hope is that the test and report will encourage people to keep exercising who might otherwise have quit when running or swimming didn’t make them more fit.” Worst case scenario, it’ll make people who test positive give up on exercise all together wondering why they should fight against their genetic destiny. Or, heaven help me, what if the test says my genes are stellar and the only reason I’m not on a podium somewhere is because of an abundance of teenage angst?!
There’s also one more factor to consider: epigenetics. This (seriously exciting) new science is “the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence.” In layman’s terms: genes are kind of like light switches and while you may have the Wuss Gene (sequence) whether or how much it is turned on is up to a host of outside factors – ones that you mainly control. The original paper concluded “that the gene profile they’d uncovered accounted for at least 23 percent of the variation in how people responded to endurance training, which, in genetic terms, is a hefty contribution.” But that leaves a whopping 77% that could be attributed to anything from a healthy diet to adequate sleep to how often you run in smoggy air.
In the end most of us do not have the genetic potential of a Lance Armstrong or Michael Phelps. We know that, test or no test. That’s why super athletes are so special. But we can all do the best with what we have. I’d be willing to bet (Monopoly) money that I’m a “low responder.” Life experience has taught me that. But while my best isn’t a marathon on a whim it’s certainly better than if I’d stayed on the couch and ate jelly beans. Plus the test is $318 and I can figure out I’m a slow runner for the price of a pair of running shoes.
Admit it: Do you want to know what your genes say about your athletic ability? If you were offered the test for free would you take it? If you had to guess, would you say you are a low responder or a high responder to endurance sports? Anyone else feel like this kind of explains their entire fitness experience??
Also: Did you know they used to have “aerobics competitions”?! And you thought that was just what the territorial ladies in your step class did! Seriously though, if you can get past the fact these guys are wearing spandex lederhosen and doing jazz hands, there is some amazing athletic talent!
Haha I want to watch an aerobics comp- sounds entertaining. I would definitely take the test if it was offered for free. Just curious. That said Genetics is very complicated and as you said the presence or absence of one gene is not necessarily a predictor. Very interesting though.
That video is TOO FUNNY! I’m not sure if I would take the test, even if it were free. I think I’m a low responder to endurance sports, and my fitness pursuits have evolved a lot over the past couple of years because I could finally admit that to myself. And now I’m really happy with what I do and what my body can accomplish. I don’t need a test to tell me that I’m not programmed for endurance (or worse – that I AM! What would that mean? That I never reached my full potential?!). I’m curious if you read the book “Spark” by John Ratey? It has a chapter about a high school phys ed program in IL where the students wear heart rate monitors when they run, and the teacher made a comment about how before the monitors, he would have thought some of the kids were slacking on the track, but with the monitors he can see that they’re really trying hard and getting the heart rates up pretty high, even though they aren’t going really fast. (sorry for the run-on sentence). Your anecdote reminded me of that.
I have not read Spark but I just added it to my list! Thanks for the rec! And I wish they’d had that experiment when I was in HS:)
PS. Now that you know aerobics competitions exist you won’t be able to stop watching them. Just warning you now;)
Nope, I wouldn’t take the test. If it said I was a genetic wuss, then I would have an excuse to slack off. If it said I was supposed to be an aerobic studette, then I’d feel bad about being an under-achiever. It’s a lose-lose proposition all around.
Ever see the movie Gattaca? If not, it’s a must see. All about the human spirit trumping genetics.
I did! I used to love that show! I totally forgot about it though. You’re right – very apropos!
A show? You mean they made a series out of it? I was talking about the movie; I didn’t know it was a series!
Just knowing there are genes like this make me feel so much better. No matter how much exercise I do, I seem to still be way behind my husband and he does nothing but walk to and from work. Now that I know there is likely a gene at play I feel better and less resentful.
Yes! Me too! I work out like a maniac, 6 days a week. My husband goes rock climbing once a week. Guess who looks like an athlete, and who looks like a jelly doughnut?!?!
That was kind of my thought too. I wanted to throw my hands up and say FINALLY! See what I’m working with here?!
Fascinating stuff!
Quick answer to ” If you were offered the test for free would you take it?”
Yes, because with my obsessive personality, if I were offered ANY test for free I would take it!
yes to that!
Ah, you know I would too:)
If I were offered the test for free – youbetcha! I think I already know the answer though, running just never gets any easier for me. I want to do it. I have stubbornly tried, again and again, but I just can’t get there. At this point I’d rather go to Zumba. It’s way more fun.
Oh many the running! I’m another one of those people who just can. not. run. I can walk nonstop, I can dance, and twist myself into pretzels, but running is miserable.
The hubs, who was a track star in high school, knows that I am trying to lose weight and get more fit. His solution? “You should just go for a run!” Uh, no. Not unless you want to come rescue me before I even make it all the way around the block.
Yes, people have a tendency to always recommend what works for them without necessarily considering what will work for the person asking. And yay for pretzel twisting – so fun!!
That move around the 40 second mark in the video….just wow.
I would definitely not get the test. I love exercise precisely because I feel like it’s really difficult for me, and I have no athletic ability. I hated gym class, but once I started to exercise on my own terms, I loved the mental boost it gave me…from the endorphins, the time to think by myself, the stress relief, and the feeling of accomplishment. If I had taken a test beforehand, I’m not sure I would have stuck with it. I think I would have felt more fatalistic.
And the last line of the NYT article tells me all I need to know. If genetic variation explains 23%, why bother testing it? Most of my performance is in my control!
I know, right?! And now you know competitive aerobics is a thing you won’t be able to stop watching it! And excellent point about the endorphin rush making it all worth it – I agree!
That’s super interesting. I would totally take a free test because well, free! I’m a sucker for free. On the other hand I don’t think I need a test to tell me what I already know. It takes a really, really long time of working out super consistently for me to see any aerobic benefit. I refuse to run but TurboKick, etc never seem to get any easier. I love ’em but I want to die every single time. Adding in weight-training this exercise go-round has helped a lot though. And it’s okay, it just encourages me to keep pushing.
I would definitely take the test! If I tested better than I thought I would, then I’d be even more motivated to get to the gym, so I could perform at maximum potential! 🙂 And if I tested low, I’d quit beating myself up so much when I couldn’t run a 5k after 4 days of running, lol!
The story about your friend practically made ME do the head-to-desk, too! Gah!!!
I know, right? He’s amazing. That’s all.
If you’re a “low responder” then I’m so far off the chart(in the low side) it isn’t even measurable.
Running is frustrating for me. I have struggled and worked and killed myself and the very best 5k I have ever run is just shy of 28 minutes. Others go from never working out to running an easy sub-25 minute 5k.
Same goes with weight lifting. I never really change my body composition no matter how hard I try. I get really frustrated at the gym when I see women who look WAY more toned/cut/fit than me lifting less than half of what I’m lifting.
I feel you. If it makes you feel better, I’ve never run a sub-25 5k either! And for all my lifting, I still look like your average soccer mom. Although I like to blame it on my lack of tan;)
No interest in that test here, nope. I already know I’m genetically disposed to be great at endurance sports. Running = very easy for me. My body loves it, hoo yeah. Sadly, I’m not the slightest bit interested in that running stuff: I want the big muscles. To which my genes say, ‘Nooooo!’ So there you go. I guess we always want what we’re genetically programmed not to have, or at least to have easy.
This: ” I guess we always want what we’re genetically programmed not to have, or at least to have easy.” is hilariously true. I love that you can hear your genes screaming in protest, lol!
I like the knowledge that even if you have The Wuss Gene, you can still have a big impact on your own performance by what you yourself put in.
Over the past few months I’ve been working out a little differently: I walk the hills near where we live, I swim at a pace that makes it enjoyable (rather than feeling like I’m swimming away from the Titanic), and I do lots of yoga, as well as teaching 1 mat Pilates class per week This is in lieu of teaching 6 classes a week, plus Spinning, plus weights. I’ve lost 12 pounds and my joints are no longer shrieking at me to please-for-the-love-of-everything-good stop!
Confession time: The gym I belonged to in 1995 would show those aerobics competitions on their TV. And I secretly loved them! (Those are some pretty fancy kicks those guys are doing!)
Those guys are freaking amazing. And I’m so glad you’ve toned down your crazy sched – and that your body is responding so positively:) You know I feel you there!
“I was not made for such sportive tricks.” Even at my peak fitness level, I was not/am not a runner. Or even a jogger. 50 push ups? Sure!* Run half a mile? Die. Even as a gymnast in my teens, I was soooo not a runner. Sprints I could do. Puff on and on and on…. die.
*At peak fitness, which is definitely not where I am at the moment
You should check out 23andme.com. You can spit into a tube and have your genetic profile analyzed. The great thing is, they keep updating as more and more research comes out. so every so often I get a little email notification telling me they have some new genetic information for me. Every so often they’ll run a special where you can get the analysis done for $99. My husband and I thought that was worth it just for the fun factor. I really hope that they pick up this research and coordinate so that I can get these results without spending the money. Fingers crossed.
One thing it did tell me is that I have a propensity for short, fast twitch muscles, which I had already figured. I don’t run (hate it, always have), but I do swim, and I’ve always been a sprinter.
Also, I know those guys are really good athletes, but the jazz hands are killing me!
Very interesting! I haven’t heard of that site before but I’ll definitely go take a look. Sounds right up my alley:)
I submitted to genetic testing from 24andme a few months ago. As part of the ongoing research they do with these samples, I did discover some interesting genetic information about my makeup.
I already knew it instinctively, but was great to have it confirmed:
Unlike many females, my muscles tend to have a higher percentage of fast-twitch fibers, making me less suited for endurance sports, and much more successful at power/strength sports.
Me, the 60 year old power lifter! Who’d have guessed!
Okay now I really want to try this!!
I really want to comment on the science post here, but all I can think about is that video. OH MY GOD. I’m dying here.
Genetics. I love it and hate it. And I wrote one chapter of my dissertation on genetics of bird populations, after spending tons of time in the lab doing all these genetic tests you read about, so I do know what I am talking about. (Kind of.)
I love it because you can learn SO MUCH about a person’s traits and what that means for them, the species, the population they come from, their parents, siblings, etc, yadayada. But, I hate it becuase it can become a black box – a place that people think of as a stick something in (DNA) and get something out (information), and that the information is always 100% accurate and indisputable. After the years I’ve spent in the lab, there are so many places that errors can happen, and even if they don’t, interpreting the results of a genetic test is never black and white. It is subjective like anything else.
That wasn’t your question though. Would I do the test if it were free? Absolutely. I’m a slow runner and I don’t build muscle easily. I’m a bean pole. If I could have a genetic excuse, I’d be all over it.
It wasn’t my question but I LOVE your answer! Especially coming from someone as knowledgeable as you! This: “After the years I’ve spent in the lab, there are so many places that errors can happen, and even if they don’t, interpreting the results of a genetic test is never black and white. It is subjective like anything else.” is so good to know!
It doesn’t matter what the test says – I hate running.
I love lifting weights. I love martial arts. If I am strong enough and learn the martial arts, I should not have to run. Ever.
I would totally take the test. For me though, I think my problem with running is that I am not mechanically efficient. I pronate like crazy which makes my hip hurt and I wheeze like a 2 pack a day smoker, even though I run several times a week as part of cross fit.
For me your statement, “It can’t tell you how aerobic exercise might lessen your depression, lower your blood pressure, increase your bone density or otherwise make you a happier, healthier human being – and there are way more benefits to regular exercise than just increased endurance” says it all. While it might suck, a lot, still gotta do it. Know what I mean?
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