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Published on: August 16, 2016
Running, heart disease, and the ironic death of Jim Fixx
1Department of Kinesiology at Towson University, Maryland, 21252, USA. dplymire@towson.edu
Insights
Jim Fixx, a running advocate, died of a heart attack at 52. His philosophy encouraged listening to one
Area of Science:
- Exercise physiology
- Cardiovascular health
- History of running movements
Background:
- The 1960s-1980s saw a surge in American running participation.
- Jim Fixx popularized running through his best-selling book.
- Running was promoted as a lifestyle cure for overcivilization-induced heart disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the philosophy behind the running movement popularized by Jim Fixx.
- To understand the advice given by running authors, including listening to one's body over medical professionals.
- To explore the potential link between this philosophy and Fixx's fatal run.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Jim Fixx's running philosophy and writings.
- Review of contemporary running literature and its authors' medical backgrounds.
- Examination of the circumstances surrounding Jim Fixx's death.
Main Results:
- Fixx and peers advocated running as a remedy for heart disease attributed to modern life.
- Running was presented not just as exercise but as a holistic way of life.
- Authors, including physicians, advised prioritizing bodily signals over medical advice.
Conclusions:
- Jim Fixx's adherence to the 'listen to your body' philosophy may explain his decision to run despite chest pain.
- The running movement's emphasis on self-guidance over professional medical advice is highlighted.
- This case study offers insight into the potential risks of extreme adherence to self-directed health philosophies.
Abstract:
Jim Fixx was one of millions ofAmericans who started running in the 1 960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Unlike other runners, however, Fixx wrote a best-selling book about running and, ironically, died of a heart attack at the age of 52 years while running. Fixx and the authors of other running books believed heart disease resulted from overcivilization and recommended running as a cure. Running was not merely a physical exercise, according to those authors, but also a way of life. Moreover, those running authors, who were often doctors themselves, advised their readers to listen to their bodies, instead of their doctors. Fixx's adherence to that philosophy offers an explanationfor his seemingly irrational behavior--running through chest pain and discomfort.
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