Is Running Actually Good for us??????????

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SLU MD

Senior member
Aug 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Originally posted by: Cawchy87
Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Running burns away muscle, not just fat, which is why I don't use it as a form of exercise.

Source? Study?

I currently run for my cardio workouts, so I am curious.

Text

I've also heard it from various trainers, and gymrats.

this article is completely irrelivant to the topic. It applies to elite athletes only, people who work out to stay in shape (jogging 10-40 miles per week) will not have effects like this article.

Also, where are the references? nowhere.

slu MD
 

miniMUNCH

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
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Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: SLU MD
Originally posted by: Cawchy87
Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Running burns away muscle, not just fat, which is why I don't use it as a form of exercise.

Source? Study?

I currently run for my cardio workouts, so I am curious.

This is completely made up. Total lie. You will gain muscle mass by running unless you starve yourself and run 100+ miles a week.

slu MD

Oh come on, not damaging your ligaments and stuff is a complete lie also. Yes it does kill your knees. If you run your 5 miles a day, you won't be runnign once you're 40.

Running is great, but there are many other ways to do cardiovascular work.

You don't know what your talking about either... are people just coming out of wood work and voicing their cuninformed opinions, or what?

My uncle runs marathon's and he's 57...he been running 5-10 miles per day since high school. He's 5'11" and about 175 lbs (not even light for a runner) and excellent muscular build for a man his age. Actually, he's in way better shape than I am.

My dad ran track for years and years, my grandpa has run his whole life...he still jogs and plays tennis and he's 87.
 

ggnl

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
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Originally posted by: redgtxdi

Problem is, as a fan of running......I don't know that an elliptical would "get it" for me.

For what it's worth, I have no problem at all keeping my heart rate at 170+ bpm on the elliptical. So you will definitely get the workout you want. The question is whether you can stand being stationary in a gym or your house as opposed seeing the sights while out running.
 

miniMUNCH

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
4,159
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If you want start running you should take it slow to begin with (especially if you are overweight), read up and become knowledgable about your body so you'll heed warning signs (pain, stiffness). Try to find a soft surface, but not too soft, to run on (HS track, grass field, dirt walking paths in a park, etc.) to begin with. Wear proper shoes and don't skimp on cheap running shoes unless you know you can handle it...I like new balance and asics...but that is me. Make sure to eat healthy and drink lots of fluids...dehyrated jpoint tissues are more prone to damage.

Over time, the muscles, ligaments/tendonds, joint tissues, and bones in your feet, ankles, and legs will respond to runnning stress and grow stronger.

Supplements for runners:

1. protein
2. chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine - building block chemicals for joint and ligament tissues
3. vitamins
4. essential fatty acids
 

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
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Originally posted by: suse920
swimming ftw

I've been a swimmer for 16 years or so now, and I recently came across the ERG :D That rowing machine is intense man, I was on it for ~45 minutes and I was done, couldn't go any more. Now granted, when I swim I normally take rest between sets, but still rowing is craaaazy.
 

iwantanewcomputer

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2004
5,045
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Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
If you want start running you should take it slow to begin with (especially if you are overweight), read up and become knowledgable about your body so you'll heed warning signs (pain, stiffness). Try to find a soft surface, but not too soft, to run on (HS track, grass field, dirt walking paths in a park, etc.) to begin with. Wear proper shoes and don't skimp on cheap running shoes unless you know you can handle it...I like new balance and asics...but that is me. Make sure to eat healthy and drink lots of fluids...dehyrated jpoint tissues are more prone to damage.

Over time, the muscles, ligaments/tendonds, joint tissues, and bones in your feet, ankles, and legs will respond to runnning stress and grow stronger.

Supplements for runners:

1. protein
2. chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine - building block chemicals for joint and ligament tissues
3. vitamins
4. essential fatty acids

QFT. If your muscles and tendons are strong, flexible, and not imbalanced, you can run a lot. I used to get injured easily running <0 miles a week and then started working out different muscles in my legs(not just leg press and curl, look up injury prevention exercies if you need help) and stretching and ran >60 miles a week for a few months
 

iwantanewcomputer

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2004
5,045
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Originally posted by: ggnl
Originally posted by: redgtxdi

Problem is, as a fan of running......I don't know that an elliptical would "get it" for me.

For what it's worth, I have no problem at all keeping my heart rate at 170+ bpm on the elliptical. So you will definitely get the workout you want. The question is whether you can stand being stationary in a gym or your house as opposed seeing the sights while out running.

elliptical is better cardio than running(ie easier to keep high heart rate) I have that problem though, I just mentally have a tough time doing cardio on a machine, even though I can tire myself out very well running
 

miniMUNCH

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
4,159
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The best way to run if you want to get ripped, ala football players or so forth, is to do sprints. I used to have a work out that went like this:

stretch
jog a lap
stretch
run a 6:30 minute mile (fast jog)
stretch some more...gotta get those hamstrings and groin lose.

then:

8-100m dashes - sprint the straights fast walk the curves

4 x 200m - 1 minute rest in between

2 x 400 m - 1 minute rest in between

1 x 800 m - 4 minutes rest after

1 x 400 m - 1 minute rest between

2 x 200 m - 1 minute rest in between

4 x 100 m - sprint the straights and fast walk the the curves

If you run hard on the all the sets -- this will absolutely kick your ass and build up your leg and hip muscles like crazy. I actually could never quite finish... by like the 2nd of the last 100m I was so wiped out that I couldn't do it. If you can't keep your form then just stop running is my rule.

Now...I don't think I could make through the first set of 2 x 400's.
 

dawnbug

Golden Member
Oct 29, 2002
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Originally posted by: spaceghost21
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Originally posted by: yowolabi
Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Cardio-vascular........great!


Hips
Knees
Ankles
Feet
Cartilage
Ligaments
Tendons

all = bad???

Everything in moderation. Those negative effects only come when you're doing things like training for marathons. Otherwise you can have the benefits without doing yourself harm.

:thumbsup: Although I also think that over the long haul running will hurt your knees, I've never heard of it really damaging tendons, or ligaments. If your legs are working properly, running really shouldn't have an adverse effect on anything, unless you are doing a marathon. Also, avoid running on hard surfaces (like pavement) and you're pretty much golden.


I think this is actually wrong. I talked to my doctor, and though I can't remember the specifics, people who ran OVER 10 or 15 miles a week, are less likely to have knee problems. Though, this could just be that because people who run regularly tend to be healthier in general.

As previously stated, if you maintain a balanced running form, and stay off the hard stuff, you'll be fine.

I can see how that would be true. There was a unit on exercise in my nutritional science class last semester, and the professor talked about the importance of having some stress put on the bones (the kind of stress that running will give you that swimming or biking won't) to help build stronger bones. It's supposed to be especially important in older people.
 
Dec 27, 2001
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The key to running wihtout injury is

#1 GET FITTED FOR SHOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do not go to Footlocker or order some off Amazon. Go to a store like Fleet Feet where they will examine your stride and arches and recommend a specfic type of running shoe for you. Having your feet properly supported will take a huge burden off the rest of your body. When your shoes are right for your feet, your knees will need to compensate and then your hips will need to compensate for your knees and your back for your hips.

#2 Work out your legs. The more developed the muscles around your joints are, then less stress on the ligaments there is. Running alone will not develop all the muscles you need to strengthen no matter how much you run.

#3 Rest. Don't run every day. 3-4 times a week is good.

#4 Start off slowly. Even if you're in shape, don't start out at 2 miles.

#5 Lastly, whenever possible, run on grass or dirt or even asphalt....anything but concrete.
 

The Godfather

Platinum Member
Jan 13, 2005
2,158
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I was so damn sexy when i swam.. then i came to America and now i have to lose pounds. And i have no car to officialy go somewhere to practice swimming, and my manager in the neighborhood won't build a damn pool. Plus i'm too ashamed to go to the pool so it doesnt work either way.
 

Gunbuster

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,852
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Get the right shoes.

Nike Shox and the rest at the mall are for fashion. Go to a real running shop and have them hook you up.
 

jdlugo

Member
Jun 10, 2004
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I believe running to be extremely beneficial! I just ran my first marathon in Arizona (January) and with proper dieting the lactic acid was out of my muscles within 1.5 weeks.

The benefits of running are remarkable. Not only does it give me more enery throughout the day but it helps me sleep through the night.

I do agree that running is painful at first but this is the same for any type of excercise. Your muscles, tendonds, ligaments, etc. need to adapt to the stress of running--and why wouldn't they if you hadn't run in a while.

As far as the "muscle mass" decrease from cardio I would agree that catabolisis occurs after long periods of time without the consumption of fuel mid-run. However, I just don't see the merit in not running to avoid muscle loss.

Also, as a sidenote, cardio should be performed AFTER weightlifting if they are done on the same day because you body has depleted some its glycogen stores and will affect the amount of weight that can lifted.

Just my thoughts, thanks.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,674
6,247
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Running in a city can be very bad for your health, especially alongside a busy street. Also, swimming in Indoor pools canalso be very bad, the incidence of asthma amongst cometitive swimmers is much higher than the norm.
 

Sentinel

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2000
3,714
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Originally posted by: Mik3y
of course running's good for us. the question is: is sitting on our asses eating burgers all day good for us? truth is, if americans learned to run a couple miles a week, this country would weigh tens of billions of pounds less.

No sh!t.
 

redgtxdi

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2004
5,464
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Originally posted by: Sentinel
Originally posted by: Mik3y
of course running's good for us. the question is: is sitting on our asses eating burgers all day good for us? truth is, if americans learned to run a couple miles a week, this country would weigh tens of billions of pounds less.

No sh!t.

Well, obviously this wasn't the point of the post. It was in specific regards to joint ailments, gravitational consequences....(hemorrhoids? Google it if you don't believe it).......ingrown toenails, bunions, shin splints, etc. etc. etc.

Not to mention my original commens about ACL, PCL, MCL. There ain't a whole lotta cushion between the Fem/Tib anyway, then pound the crap outta' those ligaments for runs and wonder why people like OJ Simpson have arthritis of the knees at age 40???
 

ub3rnewb

Member
Nov 2, 2005
170
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Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Well, as I've come to learn ACL, PCL and MCL can suffer some serious punishment over the years with running used as exercise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_cruciate_ligament

Problem is, as a fan of running......I don't know that an elliptical would "get it" for me.

The joints and adjoining ligaments, tendons, etc can be "conditioned" to endure such pounding, but even on terrain like dirt, grass, gravel, there is still an exponentially higher amount of impact put on those points than when.....for example......walking.

Is walking the answer??


Is being a bi-ped simply a damage in itself?? LOL!!!


On top of that, after my recent recover from a hemorrhoid flare up, my doc suggested that running was also the cause of THAT particular encounter too. And that while running can "help" the situation through increased circulation in the entire pelvic girdle, it includes also.......all of the other problems listed above AS WELL AS being a trigger for such aforementioned hemorrhoids.

So, now what?? (Sorry........no access to pool)

My dog tore her ACL the other day. :(
 

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,346
106
106
Alright, so how do you lose fat without losing muscle when doing very intensive cardio? Exactly what sorts of food do I need to intake?

I do long distance biking (2+ hr, ~30 mile on a mountain bike) for my cardio. Do I want to be drinking water when I'm biking, or do I want to drink a sugary drink? Also, should I take a protein shake before starting the cardio?

I guess I just don't want to be eating so much damn food trying to avoid muscle loss that I don't lose any fat.
 

biostud

Lifer
Feb 27, 2003
19,709
6,784
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Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Cardio-vascular........great!


Hips
Knees
Ankles
Feet
Cartilage
Ligaments
Tendons

all = bad???

AFAIK all the bad only happens if you overdo running or if you have seroius obesity problems.