How A Marathon Effects Your Body With The @runningproject

Running the Taupo Ultramarathon with Kirsty Pinder taking the lead.

It's been almost a week since my first ultramarathon, which was a really different experience compared to the marathons I've run. The softer running surface and the slower paces needed to over the terrain and distance, I felt it left me feeling a lot better than what I normally would from a marathon. I say this as I see my girlfriend having a hard time walking down stairs, although she smashed it on the day, was taking a little extra time to recover.

That got me thinking about the effects of these longer types of runs on the body. Specifically a marathon seems to be in a zone where you're pushing at a faster pace than what you normally would for such a long distance. Weather you are running it in just under three hours, or just under five hours, it is a challenge both mentally and physically. It reminds me of a Chiropractor I used to visit who told me that as a chiropractor he was not able to recommend me doing a marathon, but as a runner he completely understood why I was doing it.

We all know the benefits of using running as a form of exercise, but what happens to the body when we do a marathon? The following are some of the good, bad and in between effects your body may experience when running a marathon.

The Good

Your Hearing Will Be Sharper - Both training for and running a marathon will improve circulation to the ear, which was tested in a recent study where scientists were able to show an improvement in hearing sensitivity after a group of male and female runners had competed a long run, which was thought to be a result of improved circulation.

You Should Be Lighter - Not just due to fluid loss but also the body using up carbohydrates and fat should see runners between 2kgs to 5kgs lighter after running a marathon, with the body burning close to 3,000 calories by the end of the race.

It will Improve Your Cognition - Researchers at the University of Illinois found that even small amounts of exercise resulted in up to a 10% improvement in cognition. Your probably aware of the runners high as well, which is due to running improving the levels of positive neurotransmitters like endorphins. It also increased norepinephrine, which helps alertness and serotonin which helps regulate mood.

The Bad

Your Legs Will Hurt - This is probably the most obvious one as it's pretty rare for anyone to be running a full marathon distance as part of training and at the same speed for the marathon distance, Those extra miles on the day cause micro tears in muscles which probably haven’t totally healed from your training. Expect stairs to be tricky the next day.

You Will Be Shorter - Due to fluid losses between the intervertebral discs in the spine, you will lose almost 2cm in height when you complete a marathon. The good news is that when you replace fluid during your recovery, you should be back to normal within 24 hours.

Losing Toenails - Depending on your stride length, you will take between 35,000 and 40,000 steps during a marathon, which will cause a beating on your feet. A lot of runners find the months of training in the lead up to take its toll on toenails, but it could come to the big day that you may be losing a toenail or two.

Damage to Blood Vessels - This same pounding on the feet can cause damage to the blood vessels in the feet resulting in a drop in red blood cell levels.

Things Can Rub - I've been pretty lucky, especially in my racing to not have too many issues but it doesn't mean I haven't had to suffer from chaffing before. When distances in running get longer, there may be situations where your favorite running shirt will rub where it hasn't rubbed before. The good news is, marathons are usually stocked with Vaseline at aid stations if something like this comes up during a race.

The In Between

Runny Nose - A study in the Journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that 56 percent of people get a serious bout of the sniffles while running for long periods outdoors. The reason? They are suffering from runner’s hay fever or exercise-induced rhinitis. Experts say it is probably caused by the increased air-flow that you inhale as your breathing rate quickens, which sends your nose into mucus-producing overdrive. Very cool and dry air can make matters worse.

You May Lose Your Appetite - Not sure if this a good thing or a bad thing, but a 2008 study showed that even a 60 minute run increased the hormone peptide YY in the gut which works to suppress appetite. So even though you don't feel like eating after a marathon, it will still help your recovery to have something to eat.

Now over two years ago, a pic of me running Ironman New Zealand

About the Author
Hey I'm Vince, an Aussie living in New Zealand, trying my best to make the most of the time I have. I work as a Software Engineer but love to run and all aspects of it, including geeking out on the latest science to help get the most out of my body.

For more information about @runningproject please see the latest status report:
https://steemit.com/runningproject/@runningproject/the-steem-running-project-10th-status-report-the-holidays-have-finished-back-to-run

Don't forget to vote for your favorite running post:
https://steemit.com/runneroftheweek/@runningproject/vote-your-running-author-of-the-week-the-steem-running-project-season-2-wk5-by-runningproject

^{Written by @run.vince.run on behalf of the @runningproject}