New research by Dr. Murray on birth weight and endurance

May 30, 2026

New research by Dr. Alison Murray and colleagues suggests our endurance limits may be shaped at birth.

This incredibly unique study shows that birth weight influences how the body responds to extreme endurance exercise. Studying ultramarathon runners, Dr. Murray et al., found that kidney stress during ultra‑endurance events was lowest in individuals born around eight pounds, with higher stress at both lower and higher birth weights.

The findings challenge the idea that endurance is shaped by training alone, showing that early‑life biology can place real constraints on adult performance—even in elite athletes. It’s a powerful reminder that our evolutionary adaptations for endurance still have limits.

Read the whole article published last month in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

Read UVic's news release here.