I’m not a very fit person, to say the least. But I do like to run a lot since it gives me an adrenaline boost. It also makes me feel like I have lost an enormous amount of weight.

According to the wisdom-du-jour, any form of cardio—like long slow distance and running—is destructive to the body. Some books also accuse slow long-distance running of causing debilitating joint pain.

An article from the New York Times also suggests that humans are more suited with running long distances. Here’s what it says:

* Marathon participation is up 20% from the beginning of the decade, with over 425,000 people in the US crossing finish lines.

* Much of the criticism of marathon running is valid from an injury perspective, however as 90% of those who take on the training suffer from some form of injury.

* In his book “Born to Run,” Christopher McDougall explores the world of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, a tribe known for running extraordinary distances in nothing but thin-soled sandals.

* McDougall makes a case that running isn’t inherently risky but rather the commercialization of urban marathons that encourages overzealous training.

* He also argues that the promotion of high-tech shoes has lead to poor running form and subsequent injury.

* Scientific anthropological evidence suggests that humans are well-equipped for going the distance. A 2007 Sports Journal paper makes a case that several characteristics unique to humans suggested endurance running played an important role in our evolution.

* In a short distance, our four-legged counterparts for the most part school us. But humans can outrun almost any animal. Because we cool by sweating rather than panting, we can stay cool at speeds and distances that would overheat other animals.

Of course, running (long or short distance) largely depends on how healthy and fit you are. Studies that say otherwise might have basis, but I’m sure that they will agree with me when I say that health also plays a major role in finishing a marathon.

However, in order to avoid injuries when running, here are some few tips: cross train, get proper footwear, run on a forgiving surface and train with weights.