Adverse Effects of Marathon Running

[Neill Smith]

Does anybody have any good links / articles asserting that marathon running is bad for you?

Two coworkers are trying to persuade me to run the Boston Marathon with them. Now, that is definitely not happening, but I'd like to fire back with some evidence that marathon running is detrimental to one's health.

Many thanks,
Neill

[Mike ODonnell]

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/case-against-cardio/

http://www.arthurdevany.com/enduranc...jury_and_risk/

If they still want to train/run distance "consistently" after that....then tell them have fun destroying their bodies, health, immune system, losing muscle, storing more fat and accelerating ageing. "Most" people addicted to endurance sports in general are people not in any kind of shape to be doing so and have no other sports which they are good at....so this is the last hope to be an "athlete". Not to say that it is not fun to go hike for hours, mountain bike for hours or have a nice long run on a trail....it's the "obsessive" crowd that thinks (or is told by mass media and running shoe companies) "more is better" is really doing all the damage. I like my endurance days here and there...but my body appreciates lower volumes...and lets me know when it doesnt!

[William Hunter]

As someone who is running a half next March I'm hopeful that a 5-month divergence from an otherwise paleo-acceptable workout schedule will not cause any long term effects. I think it's the habitual marathoners who eventually destroy themselves.

Hopefully I'll have nothing bad to report back...(gulp)

[Nick Tirkalas]

Mike,

The blog(marks daily apple) was a great article. Exactly what I need to gently convince my endurance junkie friends and family why they shouldn't run marathon's other than ego...IMO

[Patrick Donnelly]

Did anyone see the Nova episode, "Marathon Challenge"? Twelve people trained to run the Boston Marathon... There were a lot of injuries... I didn't see all of it, but what I did see made me want to cry.

You can watch it here now: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/marathon/program.html
(50 minutes long, in 5 chapters)

[William Hunter]

Actually, in all honesty, I've already suffered a running-related injury that all the heart ailments in the world couldn't touch. About 1/2 way through a 7.5 mi trail run the bandaid protecting my left nipple came off. It took a while for me to realize what the burning sensation was (thought I'd protected myself adequately). Nipple burn is a special kind of torture...I'm thinking of having a plastic surgeon remove them.

BTW, Neill - don't you need to qualify for the Boston Marathon by running a relatively fast time in another marathon? Or do you have a special "in"?

[Troy Archie]

I always hated the "Run 10k" CF WOD. I think it was that one that had me put CF on a hiatus...

[Yael Grauer]

William, I agree that it's only habitual marathoners that destroy themselves.

My boyfriend's running his first marathon in December and not only is he incredibly fit with absolutely no running-related injuries and very little fat and a nice dose of muscle, he's also pretty damn healthy. He follows a running schedule but adapts it if his body tells him otherwise. He lifts weights too. He has a pretty decent diet (not perfect, but decent), gets a lot of sleep, has a great attitude (very positive mental outlook), works a relatively low-stress job, spends plenty of time outdoors, has a good support system, etc. He eats a lot of fruits and veggies so is hopefully getting enough antioxidants through that and after reading an article I sent him he wants to get on CLO.