You’ve just lost age as an excuse for not running a marathon.  Research from the University of Manitoba found that the cardiac abnormalities that generally occur in marathon runners immediately after a race are no different in runners older than 50 from those found in 18- to 40-year-old runners. 

Those doing the study compiled the results of blood tests, echocardiography, CT and MRI scans of healthy volunteers who participated in the 2010 and 2011 Manitoba Full Marathons. 

Researchers observed that any negative cardiac effects of running the marathon – such as temporary swelling and weakness of the right side of the heart – disappeared within a week after the race for both younger and older runners.  Runners in the ‘over-50’ age group did not see any permanent or lasting damage from repeated marathon running either.