{"id":4058,"date":"2019-01-30T12:47:45","date_gmt":"2019-01-30T18:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runproject.org\/?p=4058"},"modified":"2019-01-30T12:47:52","modified_gmt":"2019-01-30T18:47:52","slug":"do-beards-make-you-run-faster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runproject.org\/blog\/training-tips\/do-beards-make-you-run-faster","title":{"rendered":"Do Beards Make You Run Faster?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Matthew Kingore<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man.\u201d<\/p>William Shakespeare,\u00a0Much Ado About Nothing<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Rob Krar twice won the Western States Endurance Run 100 Miler, was named ultramarathoner of the year in 2014 and 2015, and named one of \u201cThe 50 Most Influential People in Running\u201d by Runner\u2019s World<\/em>. Anton Krupicka won the Leadville 100 in back-to-back years, including the first time he ran it. Hal Koerner has more than 90 ultramarathon podium finishes, the Fastest Know Time on the Colorado Trail (489 miles) and John Muir Trail (221 miles), and is the author of Field Guide to Ultrarunning<\/a><\/em>.<\/a> What do these top runners have in common aside from racing distances beyond the reach of mere mortals in the most treacherous terrain? Thick, luxurious beards.
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It begs the question: why do the best runners in arguably the sport\u2019s most arduous events have beards? Do they run so much there just isn\u2019t time to shave? Is it a defense against harsh natural elements encountered on long training runs?
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Or is there special power in the facial hair follicle like biblical Samson\u2019s flowing locks?
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Okay \u2026 maybe a beard won\u2019t actually make you run faster. Yet fitness and beard growth do go hand-in-hand. Exercise boosts testosterone levels, and testosterone plays a key role in hair follicle production. Simply put: more running, more hair. But even more than this biological link, there\u2019s a transcendent connection between beards and running. A runner\u2019s beard is the physical manifestation of his (or her?<\/em>) wild nature that refuses to conform and instead seeks out the road less travelled. I, for one, look forward to seeing the tradition of long, full beards now common in trail and ultrarunning take hold at more local 5Ks and road marathons. Imagine the cheers from spectators when they see your finely groomed whiskers racing down Main Street. And you won\u2019t be alone. The beard\u2014once a staple of Victorian masculinity\u2014is back.
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Only you can decide if a beard is ultimately right for you and your running. But if you do decide to grow an epic run-beard, you\u2019ll find that running and beards often have a common purpose. Growing a beard is a commitment not unlike registering for a new race.
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