Competitions in running on short distances are more useful than long marathons. They help to strengthen health and reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, scientists found under the leadership of Duncan Banchana from the University of Western Scotland.

The experts specially conducted a study with teenage participants and concluded that short, intensive exercises are more useful for the heart and blood circulation than equivalent in loading, but longer-lasting workouts, writes The Telegraph.

This provision was tested in an experiment with a group of schoolchildren (47 boys and 10 girls).

The students were divided into two subgroups - "sprinters" and "marathon runners". The physical exercises of the first group were a series of 20 meter races. This distance had to be overcome in 30 seconds.

The second group ran for 20 minutes at a steady speed. Trainings are held three times a week for seven weeks. The results showed that in both groups cardiovascular risk factors decreased, but the marathoners spent more time and calories on it.

News. Gradusnik. En.