How Long Can You Run?
Created by Ruochen Li, Gavin Wu, Shawn Cheng, and Alexander Kuo
Have you ever wondered how long you should run for? This project brings to life the data behind a large-scale treadmill exercise study. Using physiological records from nearly 1,000 participants, we invite you to explore how different body types and environments affect endurance—and simulate what your own cardiopulmonary system might experience under maximal effort.
Child
Here's what a typical child's traits might look like. They have a small frame and are generally shorter and lighter than the average adult. Scroll down to see how body size affects endurance potential.
Adult
Adults are normally taller and heavier than children and have more understanding of how to run. See how these settings shift your position in the histogram.
Senior
Older individuals have similar height but lower weight than adults. On the other hand, they have less energy and more potential injuries, resulting in shorter run times.
Pick Your Own
Now it's your turn. Set the sliders freely and observe how your traits compare with other subjects. Feel free to experiment with different builds and options to see the difference.
The distribution of the top 100 longest lasting runners' height vs. your selected height.
Traits
75 kg
175 cm
Each runner’s ability to endure intense exercise is influenced by a combination of age, body size, sex, and environmental conditions. In this interactive section, you can fine-tune those characteristics and observe how they shape key physiological responses: Heart Rate (HR), Breathing Rate (RR), Ventilation (VE), VO₂, and VCO₂.
👉 Younger, lighter runners tend to have more efficient cardiopulmonary responses and
may maintain lower heart and breathing rates for the same level of exertion.
👉 Hotter, more humid environments demand greater respiratory effort and cardiac output,
placing extra stress on the lungs and heart.
For example, an older runner in a hot climate may reach peak ventilation levels much earlier than a younger individual in a cooler setting. These differences reflect real-world variability in how humans adapt to stress and physical load.
This simulation lets you explore how small changes in personal traits or environmental conditions can shift the body's performance during endurance training. Watch as the animations update in real time, helping you visualize the inner workings of the human cardiopulmonary system.
Runner Setup
Please press "Create Runner!" to see your stats.
Left chart: How heart and lung activity respond during the run
Right chart: How your body consumes oxygen (VO₂) and releases carbon dioxide (VCO₂)
Animation: Brings your internal response to life—see your runner's heartbeat and breath in real-time