Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

npr.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 151 posts

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#71

Post by neilsharma »

I've been running (well, fast jogging) 10-20 miles/week for over 10 years. I've had so many feet and knee problems over the years and ended up getting $250 custom-molded graphite orthotics. Those essentially acted as crutches as my arches, which made my feet very weak. Walking around barefoot caused my feet to collapse inwards, causing more pain.

Tried biking instead, but indoor biking is the most mind-numbing activity ever, and outdoor biking proved to be equally damaging (lots of falls) and far scarier (going downhill on a road with cars).

Basically I want an outdoor elliptical machine that moves at a reasonable 5-8mph.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#72

Post by rzzzt »

brownbat wrote: post #63
loeg wrote: post #52

Tl;dr > The health benefits of running short or long distances are so overwhelmingly positive that they swamp potential dangers.

An addendum to Bettridge's law: When headlines can't be answered "no," the most boring possible answer is correct.

Betteridge and De Morgan's joint law:

A headline posed as a question with an OR operator can be rewritten as a statement with an AND operator.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#73

Post by miranda_rights »

neilsharma wrote: post #71

I've been running (well, fast jogging) 10-20 miles/week for over 10 years. I've had so many feet and knee problems over the years and ended up getting $250 custom-molded graphite orthotics. Those essentially acted as crutches as my arches, which made my feet very weak. Walking around barefoot caused my feet to collapse inwards, causing more pain. Tried biking instead, but indoor biking is the most mind-numbing activi…

I've seen a few around my city actually. I looked them up and I guess they're called Elliptigoes [1].

[1] http://www.elliptigo.com/

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#74

Post by neilsharma »

miranda_rights wrote: post #73
neilsharma wrote: post #71

I've been running (well, fast jogging) 10-20 miles/week for over 10 years. I've had so many feet and knee problems over the years and ended up getting $250 custom-molded graphite orthotics. Those essentially acted as crutches as my arches, which made my feet very weak. Walking around barefoot caused my feet to collapse inwards, causing more pain. Tried biking instead, but indoor biking is the most mind-numbing activi…

I've seen a few around my city actually. I looked them up and I guess they're called Elliptigoes [1]. [1] http://www.elliptigo.com/

This is awesome! Thanks a bunch for the link. I will do research and see if its worth the investment.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#75

Post by greenspot »

nbschulze wrote: post #15

I ran 80-90 miles per week while in college and continued running 20-30 per week for a couple of years after until my knee stopped cooperating (I'm really looking forward to knee surgery in October). I have experienced some of the described symptoms (irregular heartbeat and etc), but wouldn't have done much differently. Honestly, this article basically boils down to 'do what your body can handle'. People are differen…

You write...

> Some people can handle 120 miles per week

after you...

> ran 80-90 miles per week [...] I'm really looking forward to knee surgery in October)

Apologies for being a bit harsh but the cause-effect-relationship is crystal clear. Extensive running puts a tremendous strain on our knees. You don't need to be a doctor, scientist or professional runner to know this. And just 20-30 miles/week over a long period is already way too much for the majority. Most will write, 'nah that works great for me, I run that amount for many years and my knees are in perfect shape'. Just wait till you're older and then it's pay back time.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#76

Post by geezerjay »

Taek wrote: post #61
mgarfias wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Running was clearly bad for my health: at 17 I f’d up both of mine. “Oh its just shin splints, run through it.” Yeah, until I couldn’t run through the pain any more. Quit running track, bloated up like Pacheco’s pig. Found out later that I wore grooves through the cartiledge and into my bones. Also, discovered that if I ran on my toes instead of heel strikes I can run now without pain. Its juts ingrained to hate it n…

Seems like you discovered it already, but shin splints, knee problems, back problems, etc. are usually based in either bad shoes or bad form. There are also strengthening exercises you can do for each to make you less susceptible to them. Often times the body's limitations are caused by problems that can be fixed or worked around, allowing you to push yourself farther and harder without hurting your health.

> Seems like you discovered it already, but shin splints, knee problems, back problems, etc. are usually based in either bad shoes or bad form.

The way you're moving the goal post surely counts as exercise as well.

Running does improve health in some aspects, but it also causes significant health problems as well. Running isn't the only form of exercise.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#77

Post by geezerjay »

loeg wrote: post #52

Tl;dr > The health benefits of running short or long distances are so overwhelmingly positive that they swamp potential dangers.

There is also the fact that running isn't the only form of exercise. Therefore, no one needs to be subjected to all the health problems caused by running just to try to improve their health.

Its disingenuous to claim that running is awesome because someone is willing to trade some major cardiovascular problems with other health problems. Running still triggers major health concerns that aren't associated with other forms of exercise.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#78

Post by cup »

greenspot wrote: post #75
nbschulze wrote: post #15

I ran 80-90 miles per week while in college and continued running 20-30 per week for a couple of years after until my knee stopped cooperating (I'm really looking forward to knee surgery in October). I have experienced some of the described symptoms (irregular heartbeat and etc), but wouldn't have done much differently. Honestly, this article basically boils down to 'do what your body can handle'. People are differen…

You write... > Some people can handle 120 miles per week after you... > ran 80-90 miles per week [...] I'm really looking forward to knee surgery in October) Apologies for being a bit harsh but the cause-effect-relationship is crystal clear. Extensive running puts a tremendous strain on our knees. You don't need to be a doctor, scientist or professional runner to know this. And just 20-30 miles/week over a long perio…

Actually there is some evidence that running is good for your knees.

Either way I think the health benefits of running clearly outweight any damage they do to your knees.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#79

Post by xarope »

Running is a tool. There are plenty of fitness tools available, some better for the individual than others. Choose the right tool (!).

More importantly, fitness also helps the mental side of things. Kung fu and physical yoga (apocryphal or otherwise) helped monks/yogis to get fit enough so they could concentrate on the mental/spiritual side of their pursuits, and not to forget the various greek philosphers (I'm sure others will chime in with more examples).

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#80

Post by mpol »

nicobn wrote: post #68
Taek wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like you discovered it already, but shin splints, knee problems, back problems, etc. are usually based in either bad shoes or bad form. There are also strengthening exercises you can do for each to make you less susceptible to them. Often times the body's limitations are caused by problems that can be fixed or worked around, allowing you to push yourself farther and harder without hurting your health.

Genuinely curious here. Can you point me to some of these strengthening exercises ?

Not a direct answer to your question, but I see many people running past my house and balkony, since there is a nice walkway next to my house. I see them do it in many different ways, some of which are good, some of which are really bad.

Many people seem to bounce up and down on every step, putting shocks of weight on their knees at every step. That will hurt you in the long term, probably even in the short term. You should have a certain flow in running, where your upper body just remains at the same height, and your legs are the only moving parts. Like your upper body is just sliding forward, that is the effect you want.

And you might think you do it right, but chances are you don't. I do not run myself, but I can imagine there are running trainers who specialize in ergonomics and health. You might want to have someone like that take a look at how you are running.

Post reply on HN