Thread: Marathon running a cardiac risk factor.

Originally Posted by bandaidwoman

New study cites link between marathon running and some heart-attack factors | Active.com

Just goes to show, too much of a good thing, may be bad.

No surprise, and I have always treated cardiac risks as aggressively in long distance athletes as non long distance athletes ( ie high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.) even those these patients resist since they are "marathon runners".

What's considered a long distance athlete in your view (i.e. someone that logs in 70 miles a week in running)?

Originally Posted by Bilal123

What's considered a long distance athlete in your view (i.e. someone that logs in 70 miles a week in running)?

what's interesting is that this study specifically looked at the adverse biochemical profile (increased fibrinolytic activity etc) the "cocking gun" that occurs witht he 26 mile run. So, what it the theshold for "diminishing returns" on long distance training. I don't think we know. Is running 10miles seven days a week under that threshold of producing bad oxidative damage or is it running 20 miles three days a week? I think it is up to the individual. If running 70 miles week doesn't cause "overtraining syndrome" in one individual but does for the other ( so our immune system and correcitive mechanisms can heal our bodies) the latter will probably get into trouble. I leave those studies to excericse physiologists. For my part, I have to remember that marathon runners are not "exempt" from cardiac events.