83: What Happens to Your Body After a Marathon & A Marathon Recovery Guide

Did you know that you can finish a marathon up to half of an inch shorter than when you started? Or that there’s a reason it feels so hard to climb up and down stairs after a marathon? It may surprise you all that happens to your body after a marathon!

First, we answer a listener’s question about time on feet for easy-paced long runs. Then, we dives into the nuances around a popular topic on social media: how much time should you take off running after a marathon? We take a step back first to understand what exactly happens to your body when you run a marathon - and then provide a marathon recovery guide based on that.

Discussion points include:

• What running a marathon does to your musculoskeletal system
• Lung and diaphragm fatigue after a marathon
• Why you may feel emotional or confused after a marathon
• Why you may feel nauseous or have poor appetite after a marathon
• A deep dive into changes of biomarkers of systemic inflammation and muscle damage after a marathon
• Why you can’t rely on muscle soreness as a sign you are ready to start running again
• Are you more likely to get an upper respiratory illness after a marathon?
• How many days should you take off of running after a marathon?

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This episode is sponsored by Skratch Labs! Skratch makes some of our favorite hydration mixes, sports chews, and more. Use code AMANDARUN20 for 20% off your order at https://www.skratchlabs.com/AMANDARUN20

References:

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