Ultras and Arrhythmias: Putting it all in perspective

June has been an interesting month in the North American world of ultras. Earlier this month a study was published by researchers from the Mayo clinic suggesting a correlation between an increased risk of lethal heart arrhythmias and “ultra” endurance sports (including ultramarathons). The study, based on a literature review found that the cardiac damage and inflammation caused by intensive, long duration endurance activities might lead to scarring of the heart, and potentially lethal arrhythmias (irregular beats). As you might expect, the media ran with this one and it created an online fire-storm that lit up the running world blogosphere. Posts such as “Ultra Marathons are bad for my heart? I don’t give a shit! were tempered by more scientific-based posts, such as Amby Burfoot’s rebuttal.

There are many important messages to pull from the research, however, the key ones in my mind are that:

1. The fatality rate in triathlons and marathons is low “and should not deter individuals from participating in vigorous exercise training.”

2. “People who exercise regularly have markedly lower rates of disability and a mean life expectancy that is seven years longer than that of their physical contemporaries.” The concerning point made is that a correlation is forming between long–term “chronic” endurance exercise and arrhythmias, which may be fatal, essentially due to the remodeling of your heart over time.

So, before you make a decision to give up OR begin racing ultras, it’s worth reading up a bit on the risks. Here are a few: You risk having amazing times every single time you hit the trails, you risk making new friends, getting dirty, seeing animals, spraying animals with pepper spray, spraying new friends with pepper spray, eating gels, eating and drinking pretty much anything you want including chocolate and ice cream – even before bed, looking like a maroon in calf sleeves and arm sleeves, having something to look forward to on weekends and evenings, having an excuse to travel to exotic places to challenge yourself or simply explore, and… possibly remodeling your heart in a negative way that could potentially kill you, which is definitely not cool.

So, as an adult, you are faced with choices every day in which you weigh the pros and cons. When the choice is about your life, and every single human body is different, you need to listen to your body, probably see a doctor regularly to monitor your heart health, and ultimately decide what is important to you. If you want to live forever, you’re not going to get there without at least moderate exercise, and if the thought of your heart exploding is too much for you, then as VanessaRuns writes: “Why don’t we all stay inside where it’s nice and safe”, there’s probably something good on TV.

Despite the risks, there will always be those who love the challenge and the rewards that come with beating the crap out of yourself in the mountains for a day or two regardless. Don’t believe me? Just tune in to the 39th annual running of the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run and it’s live web coverage on June 23-24th, as 444 athletes potentially toe-the line for the most sought after belt-buckle in sport. Go Ellie.