“Your fitness is Elantra-level, but push it like a Porsche and it’ll break down” ... Warning against “excessive running” amid the running boom

[Financial News] Amid the ongoing running boom, experts have warned that running at high intensity while ignoring one’s physical fitness can lead to serious, potentially fatal injuries such as sarcopenia and cardiovascular problems.
On the 7th, sports medicine doctor Kim Byeong-gon appeared on YouTube’s “Jangreuman Yeouido” and explained the risks of marathon and high-intensity running culture, as well as proper exercise guidelines.
Dr. Kim pointed out that running is an aerobic exercise that benefits the heart, lungs, blood vessels and brain, but is also a “double-edged sword,” with its risks rising alongside its benefits.
He said, “It’s like having fitness at the level of a Hyundai Elantra but pushing it like a Porsche—the car can’t take it and breaks down.”
He noted that ordinary people in particular can suffer serious accidents by overexerting themselves to run out of an obsession that “if I don’t run, I haven’t exercised,” even when they are already stressed by lack of sleep or work-related fatigue.
Muscle loss and abnormal cardiovascular reactions were also discussed in detail. Dr. Kim warned that if people with a lean build run for excessively long periods, they can lose muscle as well as fat, potentially triggering sarcopenia and distorting their body shape.
He added that if people exceed their physical limits while some of their blood vessels are narrowed, their hearts may not receive an adequate blood supply, and they could suddenly collapse from myocardial ischemia or a lack of oxygen to the brain.
The appropriate amount of exercise Dr. Kim recommended for recreational runners is “two to three times a week, no more than 30 minutes per session.” He advised keeping the intensity at 60–80%, a level at which you can hold a conversation with someone beside you, and stopping immediately if symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness or nausea occur.
He also urged people to adopt habits to prevent injuries during seasonal transitions and in winter. Dr. Kim stressed, “In cold weather, the body’s blood vessels and muscles constrict, sharply increasing the risk of accidents. It’s essential to warm up thoroughly indoors until you work up a slight sweat before heading outside.”

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