How Running Too Much Can Hurt You: Marathoner’s Health Concerns
When we think of a marathon, images of tough men and women immediately come to mind, which leads many of us to believe that this sport is all about keeping the body fit and healthy. Unfortunately, there is a darker side to this sport that many of us are not aware of.
Running more than 26 miles is a supreme test of your endurance, as it places extreme strain and pressure on every joint and muscle in your body. By subjecting your body to excessive stress, your health can be compromised.
Recently a number of athletes have yielded to injuries and even death during marathons. Jim Fixx, for instance, died in 1982 of arteriosclerosis, while 27 year old Ryan Shay made his final run during the 2007 US Olympic marathon. It is this growing concern that has spurred many researchers to study the different health concerns that every marathon runner should be aware of.
1. Enlarged Heart
While it is fairly obvious that running can take its toll on your cardiovascular system, a number of marathon runners also suffer from an enlarged heart. As the body scrambles to compensate for its needs by pumping more blood, the heart has a tendency to expand. At this stage, athletes can easily fall into arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), which can eventually trigger a fatal heart failure.
2. Hyponatremia
Marathon runners are known to gulp gallons of water during a race to keep their body hydrated. But what many may not know is that water can strip away sodium from your body, much as in sweating, which can lead to cardiac arrest. To prevent hyponatremia from ruining your game, it’s best to limit your water intake to roughly 13 to 27 ounces on a per hour basis.
3. Hyperthermia
Apart from supplying the body with oxygenated blood, the heart is responsible for controlling the body’s temperature. During a rigorous marathon race, the humidity and dehydration pushes your internal temperature to skyrocket, which can lead to disorientation, muscle strains, and loss of consciousness.
4. Bodily Injuries
As if pounding on hard concrete were not enough, participating in a marathon gives your musculoskeletal system a terrible thrashing. Finishing that 26.2 mile journey takes anywhere from 30,000 – 50,000 steps, and each time your foot pounds on the ground, your muscles are placed under unbelievable stress. Under this constant strain, a runner’s body can suffer from tendinitis, shin splints, heel spurs, and fatigue, and over time, the body will succumb to muscular damage, ligament tears, and inflammation that can render any runner incapacitated.
Running a marathon takes more than just commitment, it requires that you keep your body safe and intact at the end of a very long run.
When not training for the marathons, Jimmy is a fitness writer for IdealFeet.com where he primarily focuses on the benefits of custom orthotics for foot pain and educating athletes on the causes for common heel injuries.
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