A Chinese robot can now run way faster than us. So what?

Prajwal HegdeTNN
May 2, 2026 | 18:56 IST
A machine like ‘Lightning’ can redefine speed but that is not the essence of running

It is a triumph of science and engineering, but so are cars, scooters and bicycles, all of which can outrun a human with ease. But that was never the point

Every runner has a reason. It may be to live with an illness, grieve, support a cause or simply to chase beta- endorphins and elevate the mood. Motivations vary, but the impulse does not. From survival to solace, running has always had a purpose. However strong that call may be, acting on it is rarely seamless — at least most days.

If it’s a morning run, a formidable obstacle race plays out in the mind even before one rolls out of bed. A glance at the clock stirs a familiar negotiation: to go or not to go. A tight calf, a twinge in the knee, a hint of a wheeze, a sneeze — each sensation enters the debate. The body hesitates, the mind argues, and time ticks, but it only succeeds in delaying that first step. Endurance is the fulcrum of the game.
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