To qualify for the Boston marathon, you need to be fast. The qualifying standards for men and women in the 65-69 year old age group are 4 hrs 10min and 4 hrs 40min, respectively. Anyone who runs knows that’s quick.
However, one past study questions the pace, quantity and frequency of running and its effects on longevity.
The Copenhagen City Heart Study followed 1,098 healthy joggers and 3,950 healthy non-joggers between 2001 to 2003. The study set out to determine if strenuous exercise, such as marathon running, could add years to your life.
What they found may surprise you.
The study reports that (compared with sedentary non-joggers) 1 to 2.4 hrs of jogging per week were associated with the lowest mortality. The optimal frequency of jogging was two to three times per week, and the ideal pace was light or moderate.
What’s more, the study found that strenuous exercise does not, in fact, add years to your life, and that strenuous joggers have a mortality rate not statistically different from that of the sedentary group.
How ironic. Slow and steady may actually win the race.
