Is Marathon Bad for Your Health?

As I write about running, I get asked the question, “Is Marathoning Bad for Your Health?” This is a good question. Let me try to explain the pros and cons of marathoning as I understand it.

Table of Contents

Psychological & Physical Limits

To start with, marathon running is hard work. It would help if you pushed yourself beyond your psychological and physical limits to succeed. To reach your goal, you must be committed to training and pacing yourself daily for at least four weeks before race day. If you are not saved, you will likely get discouraged when you begin seeing results, possibly giving up before the race starts.

Another pro is the mental workout that marathon training brings. Runners often find themselves reliving their winning moments over again in their minds. I find this incredibly soothing, and the longer I can run a mile, the more I can think about my victory. The more you can think about your win, the better equipped you will mentally conquer your next Marathon.

Blood Pumping

I would argue that Marathon is good for your health because it gets your blood pumping. Blood pumping through your system helps to remove lactic acid from the muscles. Lactic acid is what causes those nagging muscle cramps after a long run. Also, Marathon creates large amounts of uric acid by dissolving it in the blood during your workout.

Very Intense Efforts

Finally, the Marathon is a great physical challenge. Unlike other sports, where you might be doing warm-ups and stretches, running the last leg of the Marathon requires you to exert very intense efforts. You will have to push yourself over and above your usual comfort level. Therefore, it is good for you physically.

Good Physical Benefits

Of course, all of this comes at a price. If you want to enjoy it, you should be willing to pay for the benefits. That means paying for a good trainer, paying for the best shoes, etc. However, once you are on track, you will realize that the cost is nothing compared to the benefits.

So, is Marathon bad for your health? The answer to that question will ultimately depend on how you look at it. If you can separate the positives from the negatives, you will have no problem answering the question, “Is a marathon bad for your health?” I know that when I hear that I will be able to push myself past my limits and that I am getting some good physical benefits, it makes me happy.

What Are Your Strengths?

For most of us, though, we don’t have that luxury. And, we don’t have the money to spend on a coach or get the best shoes. So, is Marathon bad for your health? I don’t think so. I think, if anything, it makes me more of a picky person. But that’s just me.

You may be the same way. That’s why I’m going to show you some things you can do to improve your time. But first, I want to go over what you should be doing before the race starts. In other words, You should be in great shape before the race.

Heavy Weight Lifter

That means eating right and getting the proper amount of sleep. If you are a heavy weight lifter, don’t run. If you’re a skinny person who doesn’t like to run, then do it! If you’re a smoker, quit.

The problem is that most of us don’t pay attention to our habits until we are facing an upcoming competition. So, how to tell if you’re fit enough to run? Easy, just run on the treadmill for a few miles one day. If you feel fine afterwards, you’re probably fit. If not, you’ll need to find a doctor who can run a couple of miles with you to make sure that everything is ok.