Your workouts in Boston could be killing you
Look—I’m just sayin’, you see a headline like that from Hahvahd and your first thought is, “Are they tellin’ me I gotta do *more* stuff?” But this ain’t about doin’ more, it’s about doin’ *different*, and that’s a wicked different kettle of fish, ain’t it? These eggheads tracked over a hundred thousand people for thirty years, thirty goddamn years, to figure out that if you stick to just one type of exercise, you might be cuttin’ your life short. So all you folks who only run the Esplanade, or only lift at the Y, or only walk the Freedom Trail lookin’ at brick sidewalks, yeah, they’re talkin’ to you. Mix it up, they say. Don't just do one thing, or your ticker's gonna get bored.
### What This Means for Boston
Here's the thing: we're creatures of habit here in Boston, right? We got our Dunkin' order, our route to work, our bar stool. And that extends to how we stay active. How many times you seen the same jogger, same time, same path, every single day down by the Charles? Probably a lot. This study, though, is a serious kick in the ass to that routine. It’s sayin’ that varied exercise – combining strength, cardio, and even just walking – is linked to a lower risk of premature death. Not just *doing* it, but *mixing* it.
* **For the Marathon Maniacs:** If your whole life is about training for that one race, maybe throw in some pilates or a swim at the BCYF pools. * **For the Fenway Faithful Who Just Walk:** Your walk from the Red Line to Lansdowne Street is good, but it ain't enough if that's all you're doin'. Get some resistance in there, for Christ's sake. * **For the Weight Room Warriors:** You're strong as an ox, pal, but your lungs might be like deflated footballs. Hit the bike path, or play some pick-up hoops down at the Reggie Lewis.
I'm just sayin', it’s not about ditchin’ your favorite thing, it’s about addin’ to it. We got the parks, the water, the staircases in triple-deckers – no excuses, really. This ain’t some fad diet from the Seaport, this is thirty years of Hahvahd data tellin’ ya to get off your ass and try something new. Wicked early, wicked real — that's how we do it from Dot to the Harbor.
Keith and the crew break this down every morning — catch it live at mornings.live.