I got to thinking about my post #245, the one that suggested people who run fast every day don't get the benefit from exercise that slower and less frequent runners do. Maybe there's more to it than just the wear and tear of frequent, full out exercise.
Perhaps there is something different about the person who runs every day, rain or shine. Maybe the person who carries a stop watch and times themselves, always hoping to go faster than they did yesterday, has more going on in their head.
Competing is stressful, even when you have only yourself to race against. The type A person can turn a Sunday afternoon stroll into the Bataan Death March. You can take away their stop watch and they will drive the route and memorize each quarter mile increment. Establishing a daily exercise routine is a good idea but if you can't miss running to attend your best friend's funeral, maybe, that's not so good.
So, the self imposed demands of a high energy, high stress existence may take their cumulative toll on the health of a person. Stress seems to be the wild card in predicting the future health of someone. And harder to control than diet or exercise. This study is a good example of the narrow interpretation of statistical data. Sometimes there is more to the story than just the obvious conclusion.
Perhaps there is something different about the person who runs every day, rain or shine. Maybe the person who carries a stop watch and times themselves, always hoping to go faster than they did yesterday, has more going on in their head.
Competing is stressful, even when you have only yourself to race against. The type A person can turn a Sunday afternoon stroll into the Bataan Death March. You can take away their stop watch and they will drive the route and memorize each quarter mile increment. Establishing a daily exercise routine is a good idea but if you can't miss running to attend your best friend's funeral, maybe, that's not so good.
So, the self imposed demands of a high energy, high stress existence may take their cumulative toll on the health of a person. Stress seems to be the wild card in predicting the future health of someone. And harder to control than diet or exercise. This study is a good example of the narrow interpretation of statistical data. Sometimes there is more to the story than just the obvious conclusion.
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