Runners are always looking for ways to get faster. An easy way to waste a lot of time and make the entire running experience easier is to improve your running form. Culture has a big impact on running form; from African to Mexican tribal runners, to the marketing of strange alternatives to traditional footwear, culture impacts every one of us. The lower body plays an obvious role in running, with particular attention to the calves, quadriceps and hamstrings. The upper body also plays a key role in running, although its purpose is not always agreed upon. Together, these three areas combine to make or break each runner's form. Culture has a big impact on running form. Sometimes the effects are positive as in the case of Africa and Mexico, but sometimes these cultural innovations are just marketing gimmicks without any significant contribution to the world of running (Wings n. pag.). African athletes run differently than Western and European athletes. This is partly because African runners have higher red blood cell counts due to regular training at high altitude, but there is also overwhelming evidence of genetic superiority in explosive sports in West African athletes. West African sprinters had significantly higher percentages of fast-twitch, or white, muscle fibers. According to Chris Lyons of Endless Running Potential, West African people have a perfect build for running with narrow hips but powerful thighs. They also have a muscle fiber alignment that supports rapid contraction, allowing for a fast cadence and long stride. A study conducted by the University of Glasgow and the University of the West Indies analyzed genetic data and found that 70% of West Africans, particularly those found in Jamaica, have… half the paper… " Livestrong Livestrong, May 31, 2011. Web. December 4, 2011. Lyons, Chris, ed. “African Running Phenomenon.” Infinite Personal Evolution, n.d. Web. November 25, 2011. McDougall, Christopher, Superathletes and the Greatest Race That the world has never seen First Edition New York: Random House Digital, Inc., 2009. Print.Morris, Rick “Running Form for Distance Runners Running Planet Web.” November 26, 2011. “Quad and IT Band Unlock.” the anatomy of your body. Trigger Point Performance Therapy, November 27, 2011. Romanov, Nicholas “Quad Muscles in Running,” September 29, 2009. Web. November 25, 2011. “Tarahumara, D., perf.” Discovery Channel: Television.Wings, Justin "Top 10 Trickiest Shoes." Birthday Shoes, Jan. 22, 2010. Web. Dec. 9 2011.