Marathons "too far, too fast"

Friday November 30th, 2012

Marathon addicts are unlikely to be building up their heart health, experts say today.

Running long distances repeatedly may prove to be "too far, too fast," experts say in the journal Heart.

Instead they suggest that vigorous exercise be kept to no more than 50 minutes a day.

Dr James O’Keefe, of Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, says: "If you really want to do a marathon or full distance triathlon, etc, it may be best to do just one or a few and then proceed to safer and healthier exercise patterns.

"A routine of moderate physical activity will add life to your years as well as years to your life. In contrast, running too far, too fast, and for too many years may speed one's progress to towards the finishing line of life."

Dr O'Keefe cites the case of the legendary Micah True who ran up to 100 miles a day with Mexican Indians.

Mr True died at the age of 58 and an autopsy found a massively enlarged heart.

Dr O'Keefe says the evidence points to moderate fitness as achieving the best heart health - meaning 30 to 45 minutes a day of vigorous exercise.

He says walking and gardening are better ways to keep the heart healthy than running and can be done for hours a day.

He writes: "A routine of moderate physical activity will add life to your years, as well as years to your life. In contrast, running too fast, too far, and for too many years may speed one’s progress towards the finish line of life."

Heart November 30 2102; doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2012-302886

Tags: Fitness | Heart Health | North America

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