HOUSTON – A cardiologist with the Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute recently completed his 100th marathon in New Zealand -- and he's planning to run another in Switzerland.
Memorial Hermann said Dr. Akira Nishikawa had never even run a half marathon before he was approached in December 2000 by a friend who wanted to run a marathon in Hawaii.
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Nishikawa has run over 100 marathons and 2,700 miles, and he does not plan to retire from long-distance running anytime soon. For him, the marathons are much more than physical exercise: it's a way to travel and connect with new people.
"In a marathon, you can give up at any time," said Nishikawa said in a press release. "But if you push yourself to just keep going, you will make it to the end."
Nishikawa stresses the importance of diet and exercise for heart health. Here are his top three tips: cut down on sweets, cut down on carbohydrates and make time for exercising.