Cheetahs are built for speed, with long, slender bodies, powerful muscles, and large lungs and hearts. They have a unique stride that allows them to take very long steps, and their claws act like cleats to grip the ground. However, all of this comes at a cost. Cheetahs are very inefficient runners, and they use up a lot of energy when they run fast. This is why they can only sprint for short distances.