Question: I was going to ask this in wilderness but I’m pretty sure we’ll need some math to find out the real answer.

They say you can’t out run a grizzly bear because [they run about 35 mph](https://www.treehugger.com/how-fast-can-a-bear-run-5113356#:%7E:text=Armed%20with%20astonishingly%20powerful%20forelegs,species%2C%20the%20American%20black%20bear.). While the average human runs [6-18 mph](https://www.thecoldwire.com/how-fast-does-an-average-person-run/).

I’m assuming we are simple steaks running in a straight line race.

But seeing that the weight of the grizzly is between [700-1700lb](https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Grizzly-Bear), and the average weight of a human is [136-178](https://www.livescience.com/36470-human-population-weight.html#:%7E:text=The%20average%20body%20mass%2C%20globally,178%20pounds%20(80.7%20kg).), couldn’t we attempt to out maneuver them with zigzags and/or a on-the-dime 180 turn?

Or is the 20mph speed difference to much and our only hope is to lay down and hope it isn’t our day?

Could we identify the optimal pathing which uses their bear disadvantages against them?

Note - References aren’t anything special. I just wanted to give the math people some numbers to consider.

Answer: 
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> Could we identify the optimal pathing?
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To what end? If you can't outrun you are never getting away.

The bear also has a number of advantages to make up for the square cube law between it's mass and muscle cross section:

* It's *way* more fit than you are.
* It has four legs to run with which effectively halves the load compared to a human
* Four legs probably provides more maneuverability at speed than two. Definitely more stability in terrain like a forest. The bear isn't going to trip.

And your ability to turn on a dime doesn't mean anything if your goal is to run away since you don't want to be standing still. You could theoretically take advantage of this maneuverability trying to bull-fight, but zig-zagging is pointless because running away is something you do not want to do in bull-fighting. And good luck with bull-fighting with no training against something that has other ways to attack than just charging and isn't attracted to waving objects.
You can identify optimal pathing. Survival experts have done so.

However, to your specific solution of zig zagging, a fundamental issue that arises is that you have to run further than the bear. Bears have something like a 2 meter reach from side to side. So every time you zig zag, you have to travel 2 meters further than they do.

If you watch prey animals, they tend to run rather straight forward until a moment where they think turning really gives them an advantage. Then they give that turn their all. Zig zagging is slow, but zigging may be the key.