[Quempel]

Well if Tolkien didn't have any knowledge about running, then it can be said he had even less knowledge of horse running, because no horse could do what Shadowfax did. And since we are applying the same standards to dwarves as we do real humans, it is only fair to apply the real horse standards to Shadowfax.


And I highly doubt Tolkien knew nothing of running, being he was in the armed forces during WWI, I would imagine that he actually did have to run while in the armed forces, since it's a pretty standard requirement for a standard soldier.