Ultramarathons may damage red blood cells and accelerate aging

Running extreme distances may do more than exhaust muscles. A study published in the American Society of Hematology's journal Blood Red Cells & Iron reports that ultra-endurance events can injure red blood cells in ways that may interfere with how they function. Researchers do not yet know how long the damage lasts or what it means for long-term health, but the findings add to growing evidence that very intense exercise may sometimes strain the body rather than strengt...