FitView: A Runners Heart
By Efren Martinez
Being a runner as well as a Tri-Athlete may sometimes come with an ill side effect of living a healthy lifestyle. Quite often it’s not the actual race that can be detrimental to your heart health but the training that leads up to it. I’ve often read that each one of us has a pre-programmed amount of heartbeats in life. If this is even a little true then the faster our heart races the closer we come to our end of life. Gibberish? Perhaps.
I myself have known many seasoned runners who have had heart issues later in life. I have even known some who have actually passed away from a heart attack on an easy pace run. As I’ve aged this has always been at the back of my mind. So when should I start to slow down? Just like many of the runners out there, I too am addicted to the endorphins and the happiness that runners experience while running. If left up to most runners they would not quit till God decides. Meaning soon after the age of 30 you may start to see a decline in your speed and stamina. Not always, my fastest speeds were in my mid 40’s. Still, nonetheless, now that I’m past that prime for speed I’ve started to consider the heart health implications of taxing my heart several times a week in fitness.
Our hearts are like the engine of a car and just like an engine, it doesn’t last forever. As we age and the faster we go the quicker it wears out. Our bodies are also slower to recover. I myself want to live and I’m sure you do too! This is why I’ve decided to write about this very topic for those who may be training for a race or will be racing sooner than later. Consider your overall health. Sure it’s great to participate in races but always listen to your body. If you feel fast on that day, go for it. If you feel slow on any given race or workout day it’s best to not push yourself. The bottom line is this, having a great race or training isn’t worth a penny if you are not around to enjoy life.
The heart is a muscular organ, the more you work it the larger it can get. If this is all too much that’s the point. Let’s pay more attention to what we so commonly forget and what keeps us alive. Our hearts! Eat, drink and breathe as clean as you can at any age with the inspirational thoughts of great heart health
