List of former elite runners who died of heart attacks

A fellow Runner wrote:

I am trying to put together a list of elite (sub 2:20?) guys from the boom/1970s and 1980s who have suffered from heart problems.

Basically I'm trying to find out why this is happening to so many of them and how we can better help the younger generations.

Could we get some help from some greats of that era to help? Hodge? Malmo?

Thank you

Let's say a top marathoner was 25 in 1970, that would make him 67 now. I think you need to look at the age at which the heart condition occurred. You also need to factor in family history and what they did after they stopped running (for those who did).

First, let me start off by saying i love running. That said, certain things cause heart disease. Some of these things cannot be changed by running...genetics for example. While exercise is scientifically beneficial for reducing incidence of heart disease, there can be too much. For one, running causes oxidative stress on the body and can create inflammation, both of which increase risk of heart disease. I certainly see the benefits of running but understand that too much can be detrimental. If you aren't racing or making a living at it, i fail to see a reason to run close to 100 miles a week.

I read an article from a famous Chinese Doctor who stated that your heart only has so many beats in it.... So obviously to do high amounts of aerobic work - uses those beats up pretty quick don't you think? Makes sense.... So I do short strength training type circuit work - keeps joints/muscles strong - keeps metabolism up so that you do not need to do a lot of aerobic to stay fit and of course a clean diet. I believe this type of training will out live an aerobic monster any day.

No, that makes no sense and is wrong.

Non Aerobic Guy wrote:

I do short strength training type circuit work

Your body might have only a limited amount of circuits in it.

Non Aerobic Guy wrote:

I read an article from a famous Chinese Doctor who stated that your heart only has so many beats in it....

And the evidence base for this was ?

Jim Shettler, top age group and masters runner if the SF Bay area in the 1960's and 70's.

Non Aerobic Guy wrote:

I read an article from a famous Chinese Doctor who stated that your heart only has so many beats in it...

I just realized that my body may only have so many posts on LRC in it. I'd better switch to an every other day posting regimen.

Tom y knowledge, BB committed suicide. He had issues with depression and/or mental health.

Kicker wrote:

Jim Shettler, top age group and masters runner if the SF Bay area in the 1960's and 70's.

Shettler had a high total cholesterol, and blockage of his coronary arteries.

Jim Fixx had a terrible diet, and extremely high total cholesterol.

Non Aerobic Guy wrote:

I read an article from a famous Chinese Doctor who stated that your heart only has so many beats in it.... So obviously to do high amounts of aerobic work - uses those beats up pretty quick don't you think? Makes sense.... So I do short strength training type circuit work - keeps joints/muscles strong - keeps metabolism up so that you do not need to do a lot of aerobic to stay fit and of course a clean diet. I believe this type of training will out live an aerobic monster any day.

Even if this had any validity an "aerobic monster" would still live longer than this lunk head training program you mentioned. Here is the proof:

Someone who is cardiovascularly fit(60bpm) has a heart rate of 5bpm less than the average human being (65bpm). This is for an average person as well. Elite runners heart rates are likely to be 20-30 bpm less than the average human being. So let's do some math:

5bpm x 60 min = 300 beats per hour less

300bph x 24 = 7200 beats per day less

7200bpd x 365 = about 2.6 million beats per year less

No lets factor out some extra heart beats for exercise. An average HR for someone performing aerobic exercise might be 160. This person exercises for an hour a day. Lets do more math:

160-60 = 100 extra beats per minute.

60 x 100 = 6000 extra beats while exercising.

7200-6000 = 1200 less beats per day than the non aerobic

For kicks and gigs 1200 x 365 = 438,000 less beats per year.

Game, set, match!

And for Elite athletes these numbers would be exponentially greater with lower normal and exercising heart rates.

My guess is that guy is not really Chinese. It's probably an American trying to justify being fat and lazy and used a Chinese name to sound intelligent since we know the Chinese are smarter than Americans.

I think he killed himself after he had defrauded some business partners.

The benchmark for extreme training is Gerry Lindgren, now well into his 60's. Ron Hill has a lot of miles on the odometer as well.

let's bump this one.

Alberto Salazar, but technically only for 14 minutes.

Real estate--location, location, location. Coronary arterial disease--genes, genes, genes.

I used to run track with Bruce Ellis at Lawrence High School in Lawrence Ma. He had an older brother Steve who also ran track. I would be interested in any info about either one of them. I know its been a long time since high school (1968) but I would like to hear from anyone that knew them.

Montesquieu wrote:

Real estate--location, location, location. Coronary arterial disease--genes, genes, genes.

I disagree, ALL disease is mostly caused by STRESS (IMO)! A high heart rate is caused by STRESS. You can have weak genes and live till 90 if you live a low stress life. You can have great genes and die at 30. Exercise will lengthen life if you keep it low stress. The trick with exercise (and really ALL mental and physical activity) is NEVER go over 80% effort! Go over 80% and you burn out and suffer from stress. It is not exercise that does you in it is stressful exercise. Going under 80% effort can cause stress also. 80% is the ONLY sustainable number!

STRESS even being in a hurry all the time is not good for the heart. Hurry up go go go it's not a good attitude but it's our society. Everyone is stressing and I'm like a sponge and soak it up and it sucks. Like one poster said I like to now go to the gym and work out.

Honestly I'm happy to be alive. I was a successful runner growing up but am ashamed I pushed myself a little too hard.