Recovering and Healing may be difficult for some after a Marathon

It’s already been a couple months since the Chevron Houston Marathon, but if you ran the full 26.2, and you still haven’t fully recovered from your endeavor, don’t worry.

You’re not alone!

With the possible exception of a small handful of extreme ultramarathoners, just about everybody who runs that distance in a day will need plenty of time for both physical and mental recovery—even people who are in great condition.

The good news is that, although recovery takes time, most are able to manage it fine on their own. That said, if you don’t listen to your body, you could be looking at chronic pain and soreness that seems to last forever.

Then, we’ll need to get involved—fortunately, we actually have a lot of high-tech treatment options to help you. More on that in a bit.

People ask Dr. Sherman Nagler what a Marathon Does to a Body??

In the long term, of course, conditioning yourself to successfully run a marathon can be a very positive thing for your health. You’ll be stronger, fitter, faster, and reduce your risk of systemic diseases.

In the short term, though?

We’ve heard running a marathon compared to being in a car wreck for your body, and honestly it’s not that far off.

• Inflammation, tearing, and other damage to muscle fibers significantly reduces your short-term muscle power and durability—not to mention leads to cramping and fatigue. Running 26.2 miles will also create some cellular damage that needs time to heal, and can even stress internal organs (such as kidneys).
• The exertion of a marathon temporarily compromises and suppresses your immune system, making you more likely to contract infectious diseases (colds, flu, etc.).
• Blisters, bleeding under the toenails, cramping, and other injuries and problems can develop on your feet—especially if you aren’t wearing a good pair of running shoes appropriate for your gait style.

In short?

Your body really goes through wringer when you run long distances. And while, ideally, you’ll come out ahead in the end, taking enough time to recover and heal is extremely important. Make an appointment with Houston’s Foot Doc Sherman Nagler before and after your Marathon.
Otherwise, instead of realizing those gains, you’ll be in pain and struggling just to get back to your old level of performance.