The Evolutionary Culmination?

According to the latest book by Edward O. Wilson, "The Social Conquest of Earth", a primary reason for the evolutionary survival of homo sapiens is the the species' development of bipedal locomotion.  Our distant ancestors couldn't outsprint their prey but "[a]t some point, humans became long-distance runners.  They needed only to commence a chase and track the prey for mile after mile until it was exhausted and could be overtaken.  The prehuman body, thrusting itself off the ball of the foot with each step and holding a steady pace, evolved a high aerobic capacity."

I can't think of a more apt epitaph for me and Cory.  Barely the speed of an advancing glacier, but holding a slow but steady pace for mile after mile.  All the while, displaying a prehuman body.  Yep, that nails it!  We are the apex of human evolution.

[Actually, to be fair to myself, I should say that I am the apex of human evolution.  Cory, I fear, is not sufficiently evolved to have lost all semblance of some foot speed.  I suspect him of performance enhancement.  Through self-discipline, hard training and a healthy diet.  Well, he may be willing to go that route, but you'll never catch me stooping to such measures.]

We are going to test out our theory of the survival of the fittest this coming Saturday.  (Well, some folks with fancy book-learning would call it Charles Darwin's theory, but I trust that anyone who is still reading this posting doesn't hold with any of that "edumacation" nonsense.)  Anyway, the test of our survival will take place at a 46.8 mile night run in the Arizona desert.  It starts at 5:30 pm, which, when you factor in the time zone differential, is roughly at my normal bedtime.  And it should be around 90 degrees at the start, and low 70's at the finish.  But it's a dry heat.  So it's likely to be perfectly comfortable.  Provided that you're in an air-conditioned car. 

Four weeks after this night run, we are scheduled to be back at the same place for the Javelina Jundred 100-mile footrace.  See, in Spanish, the letter "j" is pronounced like a gutteral "h", so "Jundred" would be pronounced "Hundred."  It's a humorous thing.  Like having people pay to run 100 miles in the Arizona desert.  It's absolutely hilarious!  And you thought distance runners didn't know how to have fun!  I guess you're rethinking that idea now!!

So over the next 5 weeks, Cory--who just turned 65 (aka, the "you really should know better" age) and I will be evidence of whether Edward O. Wilson and Charles Darwin are right:  by which I mean, whether Cory and I are direct descendants of the giant sea tortoises of the Galapagos Islands. 

I think I already know the answer.