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Multiple Choice
Why do people who participate in marathons tend to have smaller muscles compared to strength athletes?
A
Marathon training increases the number of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are larger but less efficient.
B
Long-distance running causes the breakdown of all muscle tissue, regardless of training.
C
Marathon runners avoid protein in their diets, leading to muscle atrophy.
D
Endurance training promotes the development of slow-twitch muscle fibers, which are smaller and more efficient for prolonged activity.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the difference between fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers: Fast-twitch fibers are larger, generate more force, and are used for short bursts of power, while slow-twitch fibers are smaller, more efficient, and specialized for endurance activities like long-distance running.
Recognize that marathon training focuses on endurance, which promotes the development of slow-twitch muscle fibers. These fibers are better suited for prolonged activity because they are more efficient at using oxygen to generate energy.
Acknowledge that slow-twitch fibers are smaller in size compared to fast-twitch fibers. This is why endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, tend to have smaller muscles compared to strength athletes who rely on fast-twitch fibers.
Eliminate the incorrect options: Marathon training does not increase fast-twitch fibers (it increases slow-twitch fibers), does not cause the breakdown of all muscle tissue, and does not involve avoiding protein in the diet.
Conclude that the correct explanation is that endurance training promotes the development of slow-twitch muscle fibers, which are smaller and more efficient for prolonged activity, aligning with the physiological demands of marathon running.