RUNNING STRONG

Sudden deaths during half-maraathons and marathons make big headlines, which may make you think racing is risky. But a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine reveals that heart issues and deaths during races are rare. Only one out 184,000 participants experienced cardiac arrest, and one in 259,000 died, a death rate lower than that associated with other vigorous physical activities.

Still, new runners should talk with their doctors before starting an intensive training program, according to study author Aaron Baggish, M.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. And the more people who are certified in CPR, the better-many fallen runners who survived were resuscitated by spectators.