Three metro area doctors are undertaking a cardiac evaluation of repetitive marathon runners. They are planning to study the heart muscle and blood vessels in female marathon runners who have completed at least one marathon per year for ten years or more. They hope to study up to 100 marathoners.
According to a press release, the study aims to determine the value or potential health risk of training for and running numerous marathons. While many physicians and physiologists believe that persistent long distance running is cardio protective and life enhancing, a minority of cardiologists have suggested that chronic marathoning may accelerate the development of coronary disease.
The three doctors who are conducting the study each have a unique interest in cardiovascular research and distance running. William Roberts, MD, has been the Medical Director of Twin Cities Marathon since 1985. Robert Schwartz, MD, is Medical Director of the Minnesota Cardiovascular Research Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Stephen Oesterle, MD, is a senior vice president at Medtronic, the title sponsor of Twin Cities Marathon, and is a veteran marathoner.
The details of the study will be fully disclosed to participants. There is no cost to take part in the study, which will help determine the health risks and benefits of distance running and assess the personal cardiovascular health of participants.
Athletes who fit the criteria and would like more information should contact:
Denise Windenburg at denise.c.windenburg@allina.com (612-863-3816) or William Roberts at rober037@umn.edu (651-793-5603).
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