Is Running Marathon Bad for Your Health?

One of the premises of why I run is because it is good for me.  Often I would tell others that I run for the health of it.

However, I recently came across a couple of articles seemed to suggest otherwise (at least for some).  Both articles talk about the effect of marathon and potential cause of heart attack.

First article describes the body’s reaction to stress induced by marathon running and resulting “an inflammatory storm” which could lead to heart attack.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/27460551/ns/health-fitness/t/are-you-running-yourself-death/#.UKArheRORp4

The second article describes a 2012 Mayo Clinic study on long-term endurance training associated with “coronary artery calcification, diastolic dysfunction, and large-artery wall stiffening”  [and] sometimes permanent scarring or ventricle damage.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/running-may-be-harmful-your-heart#.ULoAGgWyyRo.email

My take away from these articles is that in pushing the envelop, there are always risks.  And the mitigation to these risks is proper training.  So as long as I can properly train for a marathon which includes time commitment, general health,  and family support, I will continue to push this envelop as long as I can.