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Some time ago there was an editorial about how running too fast, too far, and for too many years may speed one’s progress toward the finish line of life. The editorial was published in the British Medical Journal and based this opinion on reports presented at medical meetings. Their findings, so they say, show that an older, 50 plus in age, runner is wearing out their heart and could permanently damage the heart with long training miles, speed work and tempo runs. The study also found “high-endurance activities can lead to scarring of the right ventricle, increasing the risk of health complications.” They go on to list reasons for their conclusions, such as identifying the right ventricle as being most susceptible to exercise-induced injury. Balderdash!

I believe all the other opinions I’ve read stating that the findings in the British Medical Journal are far too constrained to make you think that older people should limit how much and how intensely they exercise. There seems to be overwhelming evidence that supports exercise and how it helps prevent and treat obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, strokes and certain cancers AND helps us prolong life. There is more truth in this evidence and is true for me. After my yearly checkup, this summer, I found out that my numbers were perfect, and my health was great. The doctor told me to keep up the good work and to keep running. Studies be damned. I’m listening to my doctor.

Which brings me to the point of this article. We’ve been through this before when tuna was bad, and now it’s ok; coffee was bad and now it’s ok; chocolate wasn’t good for you, and now it is. So, if you don’t like the findings of reports like the one in the British Medical Journal, then just wait a while. A new one will come out and tell you how your exercise is good for you. Like the one just released by USA Today this past July. Their point was that running of any length or speed reduces the risk of death. They reported that researchers found that running, no matter the duration or speed, will reduce mortality risk by about 30%, compared with non-runners. They further report that people who run less than an hour a week have the same health benefits as people who run more, regardless of sex, age, body mass index, or health conditions. Runners had a 30% lower risk of death overall and a 45% lower risk of death from heart disease or stroke than non-runners. And on average, runners lived three years longer than non-runners.

Researchers for this study claim that the perfect amount of exercise a day should be 30 to 40 minutes, but it would still be good if you can only exercise for just five minutes a day. If you want to brush off your run because you don’t have enough time, do your heart some good and just go out for a five minute jog. Or, jump rope for five minutes. Or, play tag with your children for five minutes. The important thing is to keep moving, even if for five minutes.

Read all the studies you want to obtain all the information you can, but what I think we have to keep in mind is how our body reacts to what we are doing. As for me, I’m not going to stop how I train or exercise in the near future. I love going on a run, whether it’s a long run, speed session, tempo run or just a slow, easy jog on the beach. That’s where I get my ideas for these articles. If I didn’t run, what would I write about?

Have I told you about my grandchildren?