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Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

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Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#21

Post by matwood »

dilap wrote: post #14
elchief wrote: post #10

Look at a male Olympian long distance runner's physique. Is that what you want to look like? You probably won't get there, but is that a worthwhile goal? Whereas a short or mid distance runner looks more normal and healthy. This tells me that I probably want to run shorter distances. In fact, I never run more than a mile, but do it quickly.

interesting comment. i wonder though -- how much of this is cause vs effect (e.g., people with bodies naturally suited to shorter vs longer distances), and how much of "do i want to look like that" is your particular, perhaps arbitrary cultural associations of "this is good"?

Sprints/HIIT have been to shown to be more effective at what many people are trying to get out of running - in better shape and body composition changes.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#22

Post by nbschulze »

elchief wrote: post #10

Look at a male Olympian long distance runner's physique. Is that what you want to look like? You probably won't get there, but is that a worthwhile goal? Whereas a short or mid distance runner looks more normal and healthy. This tells me that I probably want to run shorter distances. In fact, I never run more than a mile, but do it quickly.

This is pretty far off. I'm 6'4" and weighed 165 when I ran cross country competitively. I didn't look like the type of runner you're describing, neither did 90% of my teammates. Running more than a mile at a time won't turn you into a stick thin marathoner. Olympians are hardly what people should be comparing themselves to if they're looking to get into running.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#23

Post by elchief »

trentnix wrote: post #18
elchief wrote: post #10

Look at a male Olympian long distance runner's physique. Is that what you want to look like? You probably won't get there, but is that a worthwhile goal? Whereas a short or mid distance runner looks more normal and healthy. This tells me that I probably want to run shorter distances. In fact, I never run more than a mile, but do it quickly.

That's not at all how it works. One doesn't get that body type from running long distances, one runs long distances well because they are predisposed to that body type. Consider, for example, a swim meet. If you look at the competitors in prelims, you'll see a variety of body types. By the semifinals, you'll see a smaller variety, and by the finals, you'll likely see a field of competitors with similar builds. Most l…

Distance running has no effect on ones weight...are you really saying that?

Exercise can change your physique dramatically. I've been a state-level bicycle racer (170 lb and skinny), master swimmer (195 lb brick shithouse), triathlete, road runner for decades.

Different distances lead to leaner or stockier builds.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#24

Post by doggoneit »

dilap wrote: post #16
doggoneit wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

.

there's a lot of recent (& to many:) convincing arguments that saturated fats have been demonized w/o cause, for social dynamics reasons. arguably "good calories, bad calories" was the book that started this modern reexamining of nutritional orthodoxy, but see also many other recent articles and studies.

.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#25

Post by usaphp »

elchief wrote: post #10

Look at a male Olympian long distance runner's physique. Is that what you want to look like? You probably won't get there, but is that a worthwhile goal? Whereas a short or mid distance runner looks more normal and healthy. This tells me that I probably want to run shorter distances. In fact, I never run more than a mile, but do it quickly.

Short and mid distance runners spend equal amount of time in a gym doing squads and upper body exercises as they do running, and the diet is completely different between two of them, that is why they have a more muscular look compared to their long distance runners.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#26

Post by esolyt »

DiabloD3 wrote: post #2

The usual rule is "if a headline asks a question the answer is no." This is not a yes or no question, thus I believe the answer is unequivocally "yes."

Yes and this is known as Betteridge's law of headlines:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headline...

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#27

Post by brooklyndavs »

samayshamdasani wrote: post #4

I'm a cross-country runner averaging 30+ miles a week. I don't see any harm. It's had a great impact on me. I feel healthier and more fit. Some articles just don't make sense.

Genetics has a huge role to play. Alberto Salazar had a heart attack at 48. Now, maybe running gave him a few years before his first incident as it sounds like he was already taking medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

The point being once you get into serious mileage like the 30+ miles per week, doing 15-20 mile training runs and racing 1/2 and full marathons its best to view them as personal performance goals vs health goals.

Also, as someone who has run long distance for about 10 years now, take it from me that rest is as important as the miles. Making sure you have rest build into your training plan and after your goal race. This will help you avoid burnout and injuries. Remember, all training really does is takes your body to a stressing point. Its the rest portion that allows your body to respond and adapt to the stress which in turn allows your body to perform at a higher level of performance.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#29

Post by WalterBright »

nadezhda18 wrote: post #3

it's good - as long as your leg joints do not tell you the opposite nd it's too bad when they do :(

I switched from "heel strike" to "ball of foot strike" when running. (Just tilt the front of your foot down.) It took a couple weeks to adjust. After a couple months, my chronic knee pain faded away, to be replaced by chronic pain in the knuckles of my big toes.

Doing the ball strike puts an immediately noticeably less of an impact load on your knees/hips.

Re: Is Running Good or Bad for Your Health?

#30

Post by chongli »

elchief wrote: post #23
trentnix wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not at all how it works. One doesn't get that body type from running long distances, one runs long distances well because they are predisposed to that body type. Consider, for example, a swim meet. If you look at the competitors in prelims, you'll see a variety of body types. By the semifinals, you'll see a smaller variety, and by the finals, you'll likely see a field of competitors with similar builds. Most l…

Distance running has no effect on ones weight...are you really saying that? Exercise can change your physique dramatically. I've been a state-level bicycle racer (170 lb and skinny), master swimmer (195 lb brick shithouse), triathlete, road runner for decades. Different distances lead to leaner or stockier builds.

The vast majority of the top runners in the Olympic and other world-class marathons are well under 6 feet tall, with most closer to 5 feet tall. Sprinters, on the other hand, are well over 6 feet. Are you suggesting distance running makes people shorter?
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