The New York City Marathon is over now, but many people are still in training for future races such as the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon (Nov. 16), the Philadelphia Marathon, (Nov. 23), and the Atlanta Marathon (Nov. 27). 
There's just something about conquering the distance of 26.2 miles that inspires so many people. Training for a marathon is a healthy aspiration, but if running this distance is on your to-do list, you should know there are some risks involved.
Running extreme distances is not exactly good for your health. As you run, you experience changes in your immune system and kidney function. The consistent stress signals your body to go into emergency-repair response mode. Your adrenal glands and brain produce the stress hormones cortisol and vasopressin. Also, your damaged muscles churn out proteins called cytokines, which trigger the liver to start producing C-reactive protein. The result is inflammation, and all your muscles feel the brunt, including your heart. In extreme cases, death by cardiac arrest has been associated with running this historic distance.
To find out if it's possible to avoid these risks, read more.
How you train plays a huge role in how your body will react on race day. Averaging at least 45 miles a week while training will significantly lower your risk of heart injury. Even though your body suffers damage on your training runs, it also repairs itself and becomes stronger. So on race day, your body is better equipped to handle the struggle. What's also good to know is that for most runners, if they do end up suffering some heart damage, it isn't permanent. Within a month, the heart is functioning normally again.
With all this in mind, some health officials suggest doing all the training for the marathon, but skipping out on the actual race. The thing is, though, most people train for the sole purpose to be able to cross the finish line. It's an amazing sense of accomplishment, and the difficulty of the race and the risks involved add to its appeal. If it wasn't so hard, no one would want to do it.
Fit's Tip: If running a marathon is on your mind, first have your heart checked by a doctor to make sure you're not at risk for heart problems. Then be sure to train long and well (at least four months in advance). Rack up miles and miles so that come race day, your body will be ready.
Zac Posen
Radley
7 For All Mankind
Why in the hell would you go through the trouble of training for a marathon and then skip the freakin' race?! It defeats the purpose!
I know that there are risks involved, but I have to ignore them at least a little bit or I'd be terrified to actually go for a marathon. I don't mean ignoring my health, just being smart and not letting the risks outweigh that goal.
1some of my friends and i talk about putting our names in to run the marathon here in NYC since not everyone can do it - and i always get scared at the last minute. i've never run 26 miles before in one 'go' - i can do like 12 - but i think that i'd have to start training NOW to be able to do it. also, i broke my knee about 2 years ago, so now i'm even more apprehensive about trying to run that far. i can understand why people do want to participate and i think that it's an amazing achievement though.
2I want to participate in the next NYC marathon. A ton of my friends and patients run in it, and I feel like I'm almost ready. I'm just concerned that two people died after this year's race, and two fell ill during the race and had to go to the hospital.
3I will be running my third marathon this Sunday and I agree with tlsgirl above. I have been training for 4 months and have racked up almost 400 miles training for it and there is absoltely no way I would do all that training and not run the actual marathon!
You actually have a higher chance of getting injured throuought the training than you do running the marathon though. If you put in the miles, understand what the nutritional needs are and take care of yourself you have a very high chance of success.
Recently there has been more talk concerning the dangers of running a marathon because of the extremely unfortunate deaths of some runners, but that should be put into prespective. According to Runners World magazine, you have a 1 in every 50,000 or 1 in 75,000 (depending on the study) chance of dying in a marathon. Of those who do die, many have an underlying and undetected heart condition that could have effected them walking up a flight of stairs but happened to occur during a marathon.
It is always safe to get checked before taking on a marathon but if you are healthy, you shouldnt be scared to do it. Crossing that finish line is an amazing feeling.
4kclulu - Good luck on Sunday!
I'm running my first marathon in Vegas on December 7th - and though my training has been challenging (both because of the effort and getting hit with bronchitis in the middle) - I'm so looking forward to going home and completing such an accomplishment with my friends on The Strip!
5As a hard core marathon runner, I hate the way these articles frame distance running as a "dangerous" activity.
Yes, as with ANY exercise program, you should not just jump in with both feet and go from couch potato to marathoner without adequate training. Duh. As with ANY exercise program, if you aren't feeling well during the training, you should see your doctor. And no training program and no exercise program can replace the value of good preventative medicine and regular physicals.
However, the FAR MORE risky proposition is to not set goals, not dream big and end up doing what the vast majority of Americans do...say "I'd like to run a marathon some day." And then return to eating take out and exercising at most, once a week (those are the "good" ones).
6Just do it! When I was 58, I had a stroke. On my next birthday, I ran my first marathon. Then, my first Ironman (which ends with a marathon)! I'm much better now, thanks to the exercise. Low heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol, body-fat, etc! I just signed up for the 2009 Florida Ironman! I'll be 62 for that one! So, just get out there and do it! You'll be glad you did!
In my first marathon after my stroke, I ran with a 70-year-old gentleman recovering from a triple heart surgery. He was also signed up to run another in only two weeks. Go for it, just train for it first! And possibly try Chi Running if you're experiencing any problems! The easy way to go! Good luck!
7A great book on training for a marathon is The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer by David Whitsett. It's based on the marathon class offered every 5 years or so at the University of Northern Iowa. I couldn't get into the class (I live 10 min from there) so I bought the book!!! WONDERFUL!
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