Running a marathon is one of the toughest challenges the human body can take on. Every step puts stress on your bones and muscles.
As you run, tiny bits of damage occur in your legs, and your muscles work so hard they break down on a microscopic level.
But here’s the amazing part: during rest, your body repairs and rebuilds, making your bones and muscles stronger than before.
Shane Davis, a sports doctor and professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, explains that a marathon runner’s body is constantly adapting.
With the right training, runners become more efficient. Their hearts pump better, lungs expand, immune systems get stronger, and even kidney and blood sugar health improves.
But reaching race day without getting injured is a real challenge. Runners must slowly increase their mileage and intensity without overdoing it.
Too much, too soon, can lead to common injuries like tendon pain or stress fractures.
These injuries happen when your body doesn’t get enough time to recover from all the pounding.
Davis says one of the biggest issues he sees is overuse—repeating the same motion thousands of times puts stress on the same parts of the body again and again.
To stay healthy, runners need more than just running in their routine. Davis recommends adding strength training, swimming, or cycling to mix things up. These activities build muscles and bones without overloading the same spots.
He also points out that while marathon runners don’t often get muscle tears, they do have very tight hamstrings. Stretching regularly helps loosen muscles and prevents pain.
Marathon running offers long-term health benefits, especially for the heart and metabolism. But race day itself can be risky if a runner isn’t well-prepared. Running 26.2 miles puts stress on every organ in the body.
Those with pre-existing health conditions or poor training are more at risk. That’s why proper training is not just about performance—it’s about safety.
Davis, who has worked in medical tents at major races like the Boston Marathon and Ironman, says most medical issues on race day depend on the weather.
On hot days, runners may suffer from heat exhaustion or dehydration.
On cold, rainy days, hypothermia is a concern. He often sees nausea, cramping, and confusion caused by dehydration or low electrolytes.
Still, Davis finds the race day experience incredibly inspiring. With doctors, nurses, and volunteers ready to help, it’s a powerful example of community coming together for a once-in-a-lifetime event.
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For more health information, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
Source: Tufts University.
