Human beings are built to run. It's why we're sweaty, almost hairless, and stand upright. Our muscles and tendons have also adapted to our need to chase down prey, and to be able to do so over long distances. Our necks, for example, have a ligament that prevents our heads from bobbing back and forth when we run. Several animals we prey upon, including pigs, don't have this ligament, hence the creation of the ham sandwich.

Men's Health took a close look at how humans run, stating the following four secrets can keep us up and running for most of our lives:

1. Build a Solid Foundation. Use stability exercises to help prevent injury. Toe curls: use your toes to pick up a golf ball for three sets of 10 reps. Alphabet balance: stand on one foot with the other an inch or so off the ground and write the alphabet with it.

2. Slow Down to Speed Up. Add a walking break of 30 to 120 seconds after each mile you run. The author of the book Running Until You're 100 is quoted in the article as claiming that following this fatigue-fighting approach has helped people cut as many as 13 minutes from their marathon time.

3. Hit the Weights. Running breaks down muscles. Lifting weights spurs muscle and tendon regrowth. Two or three 60- to 90-minute strength training sessions per week will offset running damage.

4. Analyze Your Gait. A podiatrist interviewed in the Men's Health article states that gait analysis can help eliminate damaging hitches in running form. Find a local gait analysis facility at runnersworld.com. Making sure you're wearing the right pair of kicks is also important in this regard.