The funny thing about training for a marathon is that these health benefits, while certainly there, are almost secondary - they aren’t the sole reason I work out, more of a nice byproduct. And exercise is one of, if not the, best things all of us can do for our body, brain and mental health. It’s a powerful tool that can help manage Parkinson’s disease (PD) and even, potentially, prevent or delay its onset.
The NYC Marathon team is on track to raise $750K for Parkinson’s research.)Īs a movement disorders neurologist and lifestyle medicine physician, I’m always eager to talk about exercise. Fast forward three-and-a-half years and too-many-to-count races later, and I’m taking on the 2023 New York City Marathon with The Michael J. Without access to the gym or a treadmill, I had to choose between running outside or not at all. I fell in love with running outdoors during the pandemic. There’s something here that will, hopefully, speak to you, whether you live with Parkinson’s or care about someone who does. So, even if seeing the words “marathon” and “running” make you want to run and hide, read on. This is not about running.” Similarly, this blog post is about running, but it’s not about running. Coach Bennet, Nike Running Global Head Coach, whom I’ve listened to on many a training run, has a mantra: “This is about running.
