Good for you, bad for you

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Sure, running is a great way to stay in shape, but is there a point when it becomes too excessive? How about running or training the 26 miles of a marathon?

Training for a marathon or half-marathon is a great way to stay fit and lose weight, but Lance Snyder, orthopedic surgeon at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute in Leawood, says that running marathons is not for everyone.

Photo by Jerry Wang

“There is a reason the first two people who ran the marathon died,” Snyder says. “Marathons are meant for extremely athletic people, not your average Joe.”

Snyder says he has many patients who decide they want to run a marathon and six weeks into their training they are struck with ailments such as Planter Fasciitis, torn ligaments, hip displacement and the list goes on.

The stress of your body constantly hitting the hard pavement is meant for only a select group of athletes. On an average body, the stress can do much more damage than good.

Snyder recommends other ways of staying in shape such as joining a gym or a local intramural group.

Lauren Gray, Leawood senior, is training for her second half-marathon. The half-marathon will be held October 12 in Kansas City, Missouri.

“I like it because as I train, the muscle throughout my body becomes much more toned and I am able to build my endurance,” Gray says. “However, there are times after long runs where I have pain in my knees and hips.”

Gray says that the positive mental gain outweighs the physical pain.

VERDICT: BAD FOR YOU, but a half-marathon in the near future isn’t unrealistic.

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