Myth or Fact? Training for marathons is healthy
Finishing a marathon will earn you many things: a medal, increased cardiovascular stamina, and blisters the size of Australia. While we respect marathoners and admire their passion, dedication, and athleticism, we can't endorse the training it takes to complete a 26.2 mile race. The constant pounding your joints take with every step increases the likelihood that you'll suffer from joint problems and osteoarthritis down the road. And once you exceed more than 18 to 20 miles, you are likely to be consuming your own muscle proteins to provide energy. Sure, we'd love to see you cross the finish line, but we'd also like to see you live your whole life in the best -- and youngest -- shape possible. To live long and young, you need to be physically active. But too much activity can actually put the accelerator on aging, instead of the brakes.