Dogs, cats, and big-wave surfers: Healthy heart lessons from animals and athletes

For over 30 years, a researcher has been studying exercise physiology in animals: African lions and wild dogs, dolphins and whales, coyotes and mountain lions, as well as a few human athletes. She has put mountain lions on treadmills and strapped heart-rate monitors onto big-wave surfers at Mavericks. These studies have given Williams a unique perspective on exercise and health.