Why running slowly may be better for your heart - and protect against colds By Libby Galvin Published: 00:31, 17 September 2024 | Updated: 00:32, 17 September 2024 e-mail View comments Slow and steady wins the race, the old saying goes – and now it also seems to apply to the health benefits from exercise. In fact, the evidence increasingly suggests that regular, slow runs could strengthen your heart, reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and support your immune system and overall fitness far better than running at full tilt. The same goes for other cardiovascular exercise taken at a slower pace, such as swimming, rowing and cycling.
Indeed, running clubs are now being set up just for plodders and joggers. 'Slow running is increasingly popular among recreational exercisers,' says Dan Gordon, an associate professor in cardiorespiratory exercise physiology at Anglia Ruskin University. 'We went through a craze for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) over the past decade or so, and while I'm not disputing the potential benefits of HIIT, one downside is that it's challenging, and so it's difficult to get into if you're not particularly fit.
' Evidence increasingly suggests that regular, slow runs could strengthen your heart. (Stock photo) Professor Gordon says: 'If we're sedentary, we're quite susceptible to illness.' (Stock photo) This means a high dropout rate, he says – whereas with slower, less strenuous exercise, people are less likely to give up.
There are also 'proven p.