In Recent Years, the popularity of marathons, specifically half marathons has taken the world by storm. As more and more people are running and getting into the larger events like the city half marathons, the questions start to beg: are marathons really good for you? There are deaths at regular intervals each year at marathons. It is the quintessential gauge to measure one's fitness, endurance and on many peoples' "bucket list".
In a recent article in
my province's biggest paper, the article is pointing at the finds ma
de by Laval University professor and cardiologist Dr. Eric Larose
"Those with less training experienced lower blood flow and the segments of the heart — there's 17 in the left ventricle — showed signs of greater irritation, he added.
"Without proper training, marathon running can damage your heart. Fortunately the exercise-induced injury is reversible over time," said Dr. Larose. "But it could take up to three months to completely recover."
So is marathons actually bad for your health? Not if properly trained, with appropriate hydration, fueling and the discipline in rest and recovery.
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| Run Fatboy, Run! |
What have I gleaned from this information is that the marathon distance, even the half marathon distance, is not something to take lightly. It tests your overall health in a way that most people will not and probably should not attempt. That is, without proper preparation. Making it a part of one's "do before I kick the bucket" list raises concern in that some individuals in their hopes to just "get it done" ( watch
RUN, FAT BOY RUN) could be practicing the scenarios in which put people at risk of this heart damage, as well as injury. This movie was an AWEFUL, but most entertaining example of what this research was pointing at. The main character attempts to run a marathon in a few short weeks, trains inconsistently, intensely, and for questionable reasons, then... well, you should watch it to see how it ends.
So, would I discourage people from signing up? Yes! That is if I knew them to not properly prepare and possibly put themselves in a do-or-die setting with little realistic anticipation of what it will require.
If however, this person were already looking at a lifestyle change, was already making the necessary steps to ready themselves, and were able to look at the marathon as a long-term plan for their lives, then I say go for it! With some places to research the right plan, they could move mountains fitness-wise!
