Heart disease….couch potato same as mega-runner. Buyer beware…..
Runners of multiple Marathons each year, ultra-marathons, and multiple ironman peeps have something in common with people that live sedentary, non-exerciser lifestyles.
Similar health outcomes that result from their activity or lack thereof.
The bell curve……Your cells, your immune system, your organs don’t do well with –way– too little or –way– too much exercise. People that run lots of marathons and people that used to run lots of marathons are among the most unhealthy people in America.
The take-home message……Don’t be running a marathon every month or every week. Run the Austin Marathon and then spend the rest of the year training for 5k’s and 10k’s to improve your marathon time for the following year.
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terms….
atherosclerotic plaque = stuff clogging your blood vessels
“We measured extracoronary atherosclerotic plaque burden and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and with coronary atherosclerosis in male marathon runners.”
“We studied 100 male presumably healthy runners, aged 50 – 75 years who completed at least five marathons during the preceding 3 years.”
“Ten runners were free from any plaque in the carotid or peripheral arteries.”
“The prevalence of carotid and peripheral atherosclerosis in marathon runners is high and is related to cardiovascular risk factors and the coronary atherosclerotic burden.”
“These data support an increased awareness of atherosclerosis prevalence and cardiovascular risk factors in marathon runners.”
K.Kroger, et al
Carotid and Peripheral Atherosclerosis in Male Marathon Runners.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise…..Volume 43 #7…..July 2011……page 1142 – 1147
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“The purpose of this study was to examine the short- and long-term [up to 1 month] effects of an ultraendurance running event…..”
“Markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in peripheral blood were assessed after a single-stage 233-km (143 miles) running event.”
“Samples were collected from nine men (age = 46.1 +/- 5.3 years…)”
“….blood mononuclear cells were assayed for nonspecific DNA damage and damage to DNA caused specifically by oxidative stress.”
“Ultraendurance exercise causes oxidative stress, which persists for one calendar month depending on the specific biomarker examined. These results suggest that ultraendurance events are associated with a prolonged period of reduced protection against oxidative stress.”
J.E. Turner, et al
Prolonged Depletion of Antioxidant Capacity after Ultraendurance Exercise
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise…….Volume 43 #9……September 2011…..page 1770 – 1776