Discussion Board

Would be interested in your thoughts on this article:
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/03/3640410/extreme-exercise-may-carry-cardiac.html

I am not a marathon runner, but I have been a distance cycler for years -- and love it. Wondering if I should worry about this... I found this story very interesting and am curious if this is just an article or if there is science out there supporting this.

Thanks!

Sharon

Hi Sharon,

Interesting article, and it makes one wonder what the comparative risks are for the sedentarists compared to the overactive. Hard to run control groups on that one!

Certainly these extreme distances and sports are not necessary for health and may well post some risks. Based on your current activity level, do YOU think you should be concerned? I don't have near enough information to advise you one way or the other, perhaps more investigations and evaluations on your part are in order.

Lani

I don't think I should be concerned, but then, I have no frame of reference. (Is this where I say "I don't have a problem and can stop any time I want to"???)

During the summer, I typically bike about 100 or so miles a week (sometimes more, sometimes less depending on my work schedule, the weather and life), I walk my 5 miles every day (that is wearing a pedometer all day -- some of it is intentional walking and some is just normal daily activity walking), and hit the gym for weightlifting 2x a week. Throw in a little yoga stretching most days - sun salutations mostly. My goal for this summer is to do at least 1 century ride per month -- that is 100 miles in one day. The May ride is done and the June ride scheduled!

And, I will have about 3 trips this year that will involve 3-4 days of all day bike riding and sightseeing on some rail trails.

During the winter, I walk my 5 miles a day and hit the gym 3x a week for weightlifting and indoor cardio - running and rowing machine mostly -- and bike when the weather permits (I gave up riding in the cold and the snow years ago!). A little yoga most days and throw in a little ice skating, snow shoveling, etc.

This is pretty normal for me, but I don't know that is is "normal-normal" or just "me-normal"?

Sharon

One thing I noticed in the article was this

It may well depend a lot on how hard you push. The LSD approach may not have the same danger (oops, in case like me you are a child of the 60's, that means Long Slow Distance). There is a big difference between 100 miles in 4 hours and doing it in 6 hours or even longer, and of course it also depends on terrain. I really don't know though. Exercise does generate free radicals of course...

There was a story on CNN today about this study, too. That story said that the higher risk came with competitive distance athletes - I don't race. My work life has enough competition in it, I avoid competition in my leisure life! I was born in the early 60's (but missed out on the fun stuff!) -- but, I am into LSD, in that I don't do 3 hour centuries. My first century this year was about 7 hours -- as I get more fit, I expect to get that time down to about 6 hours on a relatively flat, easy route.

It seems to me that we humans are designed to be moderately active most of the time - the recent studies that show that being sedentary is a huge risk of early death. My goal is to keep moving throughout the day - easier on the weekends, more challenging on work days.

Sharon

Sharon, sounds perfect. If you have read the book "Blue Zones", pretty much every one of those pockets of long lived people engage in slow, steady exercise every day, gardening, herding sheep, something. They aren't sitting on their kiesters in front of computers

I have not read that book, but maybe it should be on my list! I had an "aha" moment a few years ago when I realized that pretty much all the people in my life when I was growing up would take a break from work by sitting down. So, I have made it my lifestyle to take a break from work by standing up and moving around! In my office, the offices are all around the perimeter of the building and the elevators and restrooms are in the center -- makes for a nice loop "track" --- I find it clears my mind and clarifies my thinking to get up and take a 10 minute break by walking some laps mid-morning and mid-afternoon. It makes me a more productive thinker and that is what I get paid to do!

Sharon

I do the same. There's a long catwalk between the building housing the R&D lab where I work and the company offices. Once an hour I walk between the 2 buildings to clear my head and get my body moving. I always wear a pedometer to work, and make sure I get half of my daily steps before I go home for my evening exercise.

Kate

I do the same. There's a long catwalk between the building housing the R&D lab where I work and the company offices. Once an hour I walk between the 2 buildings to clear my head and get my body moving. I always wear a pedometer to work, and make sure I get half of my daily steps before I go home for my evening exercise.

Kate[/quote]

Kate, huge star on the chart for sneaking in those active bursts during the day! This article may interest you:

http://www.lanimuelrath.com/weight-loss ... -workouts/

Wearing a pedometer sounds like a great way to give yourself another angle on motivation. Do you have a fave brand you recommend?

Lani

Interesting. All those studies were talking about marathons, ultramarathons, pushing hard for long periods of time, or extreme endurance.

I found "Blue Zones" to be fascinating.

Have any of you hear of this?

http://www.treadmill-desk.com/
This is for walking slowly, 1 mph or less, for fairly long periods of time. Makes working on your computer more like herding sheep or working in the garden. Almost not "exercise" but rather just keeping it moving.

Right. I meant the increased death rate was for the ultra, extreme types.

Kate, huge star on the chart for sneaking in those active bursts during the day! This article may interest you:

http://www.lanimuelrath.com/weight-loss ... -workouts/

Wearing a pedometer sounds like a great way to give yourself another angle on motivation. Do you have a fave brand you recommend?

Lani[/quote]

No, I'm really hard on pedometers so I usually buy what's cheap. I wear a lot of dresses to work, so I sometimes clip it to my undies - where it evetually falls off onto the floor. I'm thinking of getting an iPod Nano with a built in pedometer that can be worn as a wristwatch. I could have bought one for all the $20 here and there I've spent on pedometers .

Kate

I love my Omron pedometer. It measures steps not just by the bounce of your hip, but also has an accelerometer in it so it measures acceleration -- works way better for me than the old fashioned kind. It cost about $35 and has a "leash" to clip onto your clothes so it is harder to lose it. I frequently wear it in my bra and it works well. You can also carry it in your pocket (but, so many of my work clothes have no pockets).

I wore a GoWearFit for about a year and that was very interesting data, but I got tired of paying the monthly fee. I did love the charts and graphs, though!

I would love to have a treadmill desk, but I work for the state and well, am lucky to have a desk.... : ) I have considered those cheap pedalers to keep under my desk to give my feet something to do, but haven't found one cheap enough yet to try!

Sharon