Beware the dangers of too much exercise

RUNNING on the road is a favourite past-time of many in this country and a cheap way of avoiding an expensive gym membership.

However, it is also one of the most counter-productive, in terms of wear and tear on the body and is dangerous for some people. We have people who partake in mini-marathons at the spur of the moment, who haven’t exercised in years.

The right kind of exercise and the right amount of exercise is crucial, not a marathon that has emergency people standing by for idiots who are overexerting themselves and should be nowhere near it.

Too much exercise will do you a lot of harm contrary to popular understanding and should be avoided. Disquieting evidence has recently emerged about professional athletes that suggests that athletes are now dying younger because of the constant stress they are putting their bodies under, with punishing and unnatural workout routines.

People die and collapse from heat exhaustion, stroke, and severe dehydration all the time at public running events, though you are not likely to hear about it. There is nothing to be gained from “pushing it”, only a lot of expensive and painful medical trouble. Road running is a mug’s game.

Maurice Fitzgerald

Shanbally

Co Cork