Can You Exercise Too Much?

My husband’s cousin became an Ultramarathoner last week. He completed the Mohican 50 mile race. Yes, that is not a typo, 50 miles. This is an amazing accomplishment and I offer him the highest congratulations. However I could not help but wonder if that much running is even considered healthy or safe for the human body? That is why I was so excited today to come across the top story on Wired, “Why You (Probably) Can’t Exercise Too Much.”

A study published in International Journal of Sports Medicine last month looked at 834 athletes who competed in the Tour de France from somewhere between 1930-1964 and were born between 1892-1942. The study selected Tour de France athletes because the Tour is one of the most intense sporting events requiring great endurance and training. When the lifespans of these athletes were compared against non-athletes born during those same years, the results were pretty surprising. The study found that not only did the extreme athletes NOT have a heightened risk of early death, but on average, the athletes actually lived 17% longer than the non-athlete group.

It is important to note the study does not explain why the athletes live longer. There are many possible contributing factors to the longer lives. However, the key takeaway, according to the study is that the findings, “underpin the importance of exercising without the fear that becoming exhausted might be bad for one's health.” While every person is different, it is an interesting study with good results. Ref. Pub Med.gov, wired.com