Is Running Actually Terrible for Your Brain?

Running On Empty: We all look up to runners who are up bright and early, never miss a session, and collect finisher medals left and right. They look like the perfect picture of health. Everything might not be so pretty on the inside, though. New research suggests marathon runners struggle with their mental health.  

The Study: Researchers looked at nearly 600 multi-marathoners who collectively had an average of 146 marathon finishes. The runners responded to survey questions about mental health, and despite 94% saying they thought running was healthy, 25% exhibited significant signs of anxiety and depression. About 8% were categorized as showing severe symptoms. 

The Takeaway: This study connects extreme marathoning with adverse mental health effects, which tells us there might be a dose-response to look out for. Running itself is not considered unhealthy, and has been consistently linked to positive mental health effects. As they say, the dose makes the poison. 

Keep In Mind: Based on this study, it’s impossible to say that extreme marathoning causes anxiety and depression. It could just as likely be the other way around: individuals who suffer from anxiety and depression may become marathoners as a way to cope with their struggles.