The increasing evidence that long-distance running is not healthy has been a frequent topic on this blog, and this Lou Schuler/Men’s Health article surveying the most recent research and expert opinions comes to the same conclusion:

[No expert] today believes that endurance training confers immunity to anything, whether it’s sudden death from heart disease or the heartbreak of psoriasis. Every time you lace up your running shoes, there’s a chance your final kick will involve a bucket, and every expert knows this. [. . .]
The highest death rate is among the men who exercise long and hard, and is much higher than that of the men who exercise short and hard.

Schuler concludes that frequent, short exercise sessions that balance strength-training with moderate aerobic exercise is probably the healthiest approach. Read the entire article.