[metmom]

Horses can’t out distance a human. Not even close. Even an average specimen human in top health can walk a domestic horse to death.

Reality is, how many average human specimens are in top health?

All this talk about what a human being is theoretically capable of doing is meaningless.

What we have to deal with is what reality is and reality is, that if the human can't endure like that, or out run the bear or tiger in a sprint, then bear or tiger poop it is.

Endurance is meaningless if you can't avoid the short term dangers.

[mamelukesabre]

endurance is everything.

Primitive humans killed tiger and bear all the time. they didn’t need to run away. All it takes is a couple good dogs and 3 strong men with long sharp spears. The only running involved is the chasing of the tiger/bear when it attempts to escape.

The key to survival is in managing and monopolizing the greatest possible territory. That requires endurance. Also teamwork and communication. Next to man, the most fearsome creatures on land are wolves. Intelligence, endurance, teamwork, territorial instincts, and very large territories.

[NicknamedBob]

"... if the human can't endure like that, or out run the bear or tiger in a sprint, then bear or tiger poop it is. Endurance is meaningless if you can't avoid the short term dangers."

Humans are endurance runners and winners, in the chase; in running down the prey. As such, any animal they pick will ultimately fall if they are also skillful trackers.

For humans as prey animals, on the other hand, running is no defense.