You’d think marathoners would be in excellent shape. Yet three people, ranging in age from 26 to 65, died last weekend while running the Detroit Marathon. What’s going on?
Perhaps they were decrepit and unfit to participate in such a physically taxing challenge. Yet marathon deaths are not uncommon. Every year at least a few runners lose their lives during or just after the race. And those are just the ones we hear about.
Think about it. In this blog I’m always encouraging you to consider what your ancestors would have done. (I should market a bracelet that says WWCMD – What Would Cro-Magnons Do). The Cro Magnons weren’t running long distances. They were walking long distances, and sprinting for short intervals in order to flee a saber toothed tiger, or to spear a buffalo for lunch. When they were done wit hthis intense burst of energy, they stopped and rested briefly. So our heart and lungs are built for that kind of activity. Repeating the same movement at the same rate over and over again – i.e. distance running – shrinks these organs in order to increase the output. In a 2001 article in The American Journal of Cardiology, Dr. Alan Siegel published five years’ worth of studies on 80 middle-aged male runners. He drew blood samples before and after they ran a marathon. Post-marathon, their blood exhibited signs of cardiac damage: more proof that our bodies just aren’t meant to do this kind of exercise.
Those of you who thought fitness meant triathalons may be rejoicing at this news. It’s true that you don’t have to run for miles and miles to see benefits. In fact, exercise like this can cause problems down the road. But it’s still important to push yourself to the limit at intervals, then back off. You can incorporate this philosophy in any activity you like, such as running, dancing, or swimming. Let me know how it goes once we get the comments section working again 
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