The Truth about Marathons

October 12, 2009

Running marathons seems like a healthy thing to do. However, as the Wall Street Journal reports, marathons running isn't always the healthiest sport.

Notably, it's better to run a few miles every day than 26.2 miles once a year. And it's better to stay in shape over the course of a lifetime than to prepare for a marathon, run the marathon, and then stop exercising. Like cramming for an exam, running a marathon may result in few lasting benefits.

Not surprisingly, the rigors of marathon running can lead to injuries. The extreme difficulty of marathon running can also discourage people from participating in such a difficult sport in the future-many marathon runners do not return for a second race.

And strangely enough, marathon running can lead to weight gain. Think about this: runners need to consume a lot of calories. Once the marathon is over, some runners continue to eat as much as they did when they were training. If they keep the new diet but lose the exercise, they are likely to gain weight.

Of course, marathon running can be a positive experience. And it can have significant health benefits for participants that continue to exercise regularly throughout their lives. But that's the key: exercise should be a regular part of your life.

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