re: Is it true that no animal can outrun a human over a long distance?

I believe so. I think humans are the only species thats sweats allowing us to cool our bodies as we run. other species have to stop. Its one of the main advantages our ancestors used to be able to hunt and run down food. That, and when they learned to communicate and hunt in groups.

ETA...it was discussed in the book Born to Run (stolen from wiki but)

Alongside his research into the Tarahumara, McDougall delves into why the human species, unique among primates, has developed traits for endurance running. He promotes the endurance running hypothesis, arguing that humans left the forests and moved to the savannas by developing the ability to run long distances in order to literally run down prey.