Running speed?

Question

Just how much does your body type effect your running speed?

i mean i know being a midget and stuff like that would slow you down, but like leg ratios and small differences like that. I'm just curious how big of a factor that is to how quick you can get.

like i'm an athletically built guy, with pretty long legs for my height 5'8.

Answer 1

Dave87 is right although you can train your body to have a faster leg turnover rate. Doing a lot of track speed workouts and really focusing on your leg speed can help with this although you probably won't get as fast as a 400 or 800m runners legs.

Answer 2

It has more to do with how many fast twitch muscle you have vs. slow twitch endurance muscle.

That's determined at birth