The genetic variation that occurs naturally in a population represents a unique resource for

studying the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity between individuals. Like most phenotypic traits,
running speed is multifactorial and influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The marathon
is one of the most challenging endurance competitions and allows to follow the running speed
over a long distance.
In this context, we focused on a small population of runners in order to determine the genetic basis
of running speed. For this purpose, we analysed the results of a relay team of 6 runners and an
idiot who wanted to run the 42.195 km by himself.
Genetic basis of the running speed of a freaky population:
the haplo team 2013
C. Bleykasten, C. Brion, J. de Montigny, K. Freel, A. Friedrich, J. Hou,
J. Peter, D. Pflieger, C. Reisser, J. Schacherer, A. Sigwalt, D. Stuber
Department of Molecular Genetics, Genomics and Microbiology
University of Strasbourg and CNRS, UMR7156, Strasbourg, France
Conclusion
Our study is the first to our knowledge to analyse the exhaustiveness of a freaky population of ekiden and marathon finishers speed. Our data suggest that running a marathon could be painful when
youre alone, and fun when youre in a relay. It showed the importance of team spirit. To get an unbiased view of running speed in this freaky population, the haplo team is going to come back again
next year and a co-twin control study method might be applied. Stay tuned!
The Eurodistrict Strasbourg-Ortenau race
55-86_1
NCYC 543
62- 1041
77- 1003
CBS 3082b
CBS 3082a
62- 196
CBS 6545
CBS 6546
CBS 6547
CBS 6626
NRBC 1892
CBS 10367
CBS 10368
CBS 4104
68917- 2
DBVPG 4002
67- 588
NRBC 1811
NRBC 10572
NRBC 10955
NRBC 101999
CBS 10369
CBS 5828
dd281a
CBS 2861
DBVPG 3452
DBVPG 3108
CBS 4568
Geographical origin
North America
Europe
Asia
5 km
10 km
5 km
10 km
7.195 km
Running speed diversity within this freaky population
Genetic basis of the phenotypic diversity
Data of the race
The haplo team as a whole population: runners and not runners
Here is the trajectory map for the Eurodistrict Strasbourg-Ortenau race, overlapped by a neighbor-joining tree
based on SNP data of 28 L. kluyveri isolates (which makes absolutely no sense what so ever). The name of the
six relayers are highlighted on the tree. Disconnected lines represent the distance ran by each relayer, although
the real trajectory has nothing to do with what was shown. To minimize observational error, the relayers and the
crazy marathonian took the exact same trajectory and the races have taken place at the same day.

The results clearly show that running the 42.195 km alone is faster but probably more exhausting. In addition,
some discomforting side-effects were only appeared with the marathonian but not with any of the relayers,
including temporary unconsciousness, memory loss and strong craving for bananas.
Based on the data of the race, we analysed the distribution of the running speed within the population
(left-plot) and the overall variation of the running speed across the whole 42.195 km course comparing the
relayers to the marathonian (right-plot). More than half of the population studied have a running speed ~11.5
km/h. In addition, we can clearly see that the relayers represent a mixed population of fast-runners and
slow-runners.
Anne
Jacky
Cyr i el l e
Chr i st i an
Cl audi ne
Kel l e
5 km
Individual Distance (km) Time Speed (km/h)

Anne 5 00:27:30 11.11
Jacky 10 00:52:48 11.36
Cyrielle 5 00:26:31 11.36
Christian 10 00:42:35 14.08
Claudine 5 00:33:08 9.09
Kelle 7.195 00:32:25 13.32
Total 42.195 03:34:57 11.78

Joseph 42.195 03:30:08 12.06
Speed (km/h)
F
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y
0
1
2
3
4
8
10
12
14
Distance (km)
S
p
e
e
d
(
k
m
/h
)
ekiden
marathon
1 10 20 30 40
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
To map the genetic basis underlying the
running speed diversity, we performed an
association study using the fast and slow
populations. This strategy allowed us to
identify two loci that are statistically significant
(p-value < 4.8 x 10 ): the snail-sonic and the
banana-turbo loci explaning the slow and
fast phenotypes, respectively.
We also tried to understand the molecular
basis of WRWMS or the Want to Run a
Whole Marathon Syndrome. No significant
loci were mapped. Nevertheless, evidences
suggest that WRWMS is of complicate origins
and the banana-turbo locus identified in the
fast-running phenotype may also be important
during the onset of WRWMS.
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