It is no secret that running a marathon provides a ton of health benefits. However, recent research points to the idea that it can reverse damage to your arteries.
Running a marathon is a common goal for many people around the world. To be able to commit yourself to being able to run 26.2 miles requires a huge level of dedication and determination. Moreover it is a great display of physical conditioning, which is able to be achieved at any age.
As a result, it is expected that people who can run a marathon have received a ton of health benefits from their training. From weight loss to overall fitness, there are several positive things that can be conferred from this practice. However, a recent study seems to suggest some big changes that can occur, which was not previously understood.
According to a report from Science Daily, running a marathon seems to slow down the aging process. In particular, it has been seen to help with blood pressure, especially in older athletes. They conducted a study, involving first-time runners using a Beginner’s Guide, and were able to measure some big changes.
This is what Senior Writer Charlotte H. Manisty M.D. had to say, regarding the results of the study:
“Our study highlights the importance of lifestyle modifications to slow the risks associated with aging, especially as it appears to never be too late as evidenced by our older, slower runners.
“Our study shows it is possible to reverse the consequences of aging on our blood vessels with real-world exercise in just six months,” she continued. “These benefits were observed in overall healthy individuals across a broad age range and their marathon times are suggestive of achievable exercise training in novice participants.”
To sum it up, research shows that training for a marathon helps with your current fitness. Not only that, but it can even reverse certain damage. These athletes who had never ran before, trained for six months, and saw lower blood pressure. Moreover, there was also a reversal of aging in their blood vessels. It seems impossible, but the research is backing it up.
This is great news, especially for older athletes looking to make a change. Training for a marathon is hard, but the benefits could be literally life-changing.
