Runners are always looking for ways to become faster. A simple way to save a ton of time and make the running experience easier is to improve your running form. Culture has a big impact on running form; From African tribal runners to Mexicans to the marketing of strange alternatives to traditional footwear, culture impacts each and every one of us. The lower body plays an obvious role in running, with emphasis placed on the calves, quads and hamstrings. The upper body also plays a key role in running, although its purpose is not always agreed upon. Together, these three areas come together to make or break every runner's form. Culture has a big impact on running form. Sometimes the effects are positive, as is the case in Africa and Mexico, but sometimes these cultural innovations are just marketing gimmicks without significant contribution to the world of running (Wings n. pag.). African athletes run differently from Western and European athletes. This is partly because African runners have higher red blood cell counts due to regular training at high altitudes, but there is also overwhelming evidence of genetic superiority in explosive sports among Western athletes. -Africans. West African sprinters had significantly higher percentages of fast-twitch, or white, muscle fibers. According to Chris Lyons of Endless Running Potential, West Africans have a perfect running figure with narrow hips but powerful thighs. They also have an alignment of muscle fibers that promotes rapid contraction, allowing for a fast cadence as well as a long stride. A study by the University of Glasgow and the University of the West Indies analyzed genetic data and found that 70 percent of West Africans, particularly those found in Jamaica, have... .. middle of paper..." Livestrong Livestrong, May 31, 2011. Web. December 4, 2011. Lyons, Chris, ed. "African Running Phenomenon." Endless Running Potential, November 25, 2011. McDougall, Christopher Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe., Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Ever Seen. First Edition New York: Random House Digital, Inc., 2009. Morris, Rick. November 26, 2011. “Quads and IT Band.” Unlock Your Body Anatomy. Trigger Point Performance Therapy, 2011. Web November 27, 2011. Romanov, Nicholas “Quad Muscles Training with Dr. Romanov. , September 29, 2009. Web. November 25, 2011. “Tarahumara,” Berardi, D., perf. Weird or What. Birthday Shoes, January 22, 2010. Web. December 9 2011.