Newly released data, collected over nearly 40 years, indicate that runners live 5-6 years longer than other people. I like this but also have some doubts.
I began running as a 12 year old, and after a few more months of surgical recovery, hope to resume this life-long habit. I love it. My work as medical staff at marathons and as Medical Director of the Santa Rosa Marathon are the confluence of my interests. Just like this study shows, I am certain that running, and more broadly, being physically active, are crucially important to any person’s health and wellbeing.
Now for the doubts. Five to six years is a huge difference. The study has a number of flaws, unfairly visible with close to two generations of hindsight. Why “unfairly”? Well, any long-term study will have significant problems. There is too much we don’t know, including unknown and then unobserved variables. So, weakness are inevitable. Too much criticism is also unfair, because of course the reason to do research is to learn what we don’t know. We can’t expect researchers to know what no one knew when they began. So, my advice is to take these findings with a grain of salt. Running is great. However, exercise in any form is great and there are excellent reasons, theoretically, scientifically and understood by those with experience, why other forms of exercise are also essential and sometimes preferable.
As my father died of a heart attack at age 47, can I attribute my 10 additional years (SO FAR) to my running? Sure, but only in part. My diet has been excellent, way better than his was, for the last 40 years. That influence, other elements of my exercise regimen and many other factors for sure play their parts.
So, run if you want to run, but exercise, you must. While you are at it, adding in the other good stuff will help you live better, not just longer.