A couple of days ago I posted a video of James O'Keefe talking about the potential dangers of running too much. His research and presentation has got a fair bit of coverage - e.g. in the Wall Street Journal.
His position and presentation are quite compelling, but perhaps are not the whole story.
Alex Hutchinson points out some of the concerns about the research :
I think possibly we are all on the same side here, just misunderstanding each other a bit.
His position and presentation are quite compelling, but perhaps are not the whole story.
Alex Hutchinson points out some of the concerns about the research :
The Too-Much-Running Myth Rises Again
The Sock Doc also has just written a post closely examining O'Keefe's argument and the way in which it has been popularised. Definitely worth reading:
Remember: Always health first, fitness second. So train smart and train hard when you can and you’re ready to do so. Training hard is good for you, but do not do such extreme training too often. I love training hard, but I am intentional about it and only when my health is optimal and my movement is efficient
I think possibly we are all on the same side here, just misunderstanding each other a bit.
Comments
What do I mean? These studies are interesting.....and as much as they do make sense, I also have my own life observations.
I've know several old runners (82, 73, 67 respectively) and they are the most wonderful people, full of piss and vinegar and in great GREAT shape compared to most others their age. Trust me when I tell you that research presented does not apply to them in the least bit.
Like nutrition, the principles are straightforward but there are just so many variables.
I.e: life long runners might suffer some injuries or even life long nagging injuries , but the flip side is that they are committed, focused , disciplined and happy people through their running hobby...........again flip side .....some are obsessive and ornery........so many variables.
Marc
I honestly never thought I would live long enough to see the pendulum swing this far in the opposite direction. I probably have led the charge and to some extent was "ahead of my time".
However, the same argument can be made for those in the HIT and Crossfit crowds who love this sort of stuff. We ALL must remember exercise is a hormetic stimulus. Apply too much and it is no longer hormetic. Health always requires a balance between anabolic and catabolic forces regardless of the modality involved.
thanks for the comment.You have indeed lead the movement in many ways, with other HIT folk, focusing on the need to recover and rebuild to baseline.
I think the balance is that normal activity is also important - there are enough studies now about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle. Too much running or too much of anything will be bad, but the answer is not inactivity, but maybe more of the power law distribution that Art DeVany used to talk about - a few hard sessions and lots of each low intensity movement. Clarence Bass has called this has Barbell strategy - weighted at each end - the hard and the easy.