{
  "id": 17249065,
  "title": "Is Running a Marathon Good for Your Heart?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/is-running-a-marathon-good-for-your-heart",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-30T15:30:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Time",
    "slug": "time",
    "url": "https://time.com/article/2026/10/30/is-running-a-marathon-good-for-your-heart/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Marathon runners occasionally collapse and die during or shortly after the race, but these incidents are extremely rare. A 2025 study documented 176 cardiac arrests out of 29 million finishers in U.S. long-distance running events. Experts agree that regular moderate-intensity exercise, like marathon training, improves cardiovascular health and reduces mortality. However, the intense physical stress of marathon training causes temporary muscle and heart damage markers. Most runners die due to undiagnosed genetic heart problems in younger people or untreated coronary artery disease in middle-aged men. Pre-participation cardiac screening, including a 12-lead ECG and questionnaire, can identify risks. Older runners should consult their GP, get a 12-lead ECG, blood test, cholesterol check, blood pressure reading, and possibly an exercise stress test or CT coronary angiogram to assess heart health before training.",
  "summary": "The stress on the heart might raise questions, but the science is clear.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}