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?

Support the podcast! Visit lauranorrisrunning.com and runtothefinish.com for thousands of free articles on all things running. 

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: 

• PMID: 34541607
• PMID: 23705863
• PMID: 39094181
• PMID: 3169192
• PMID: 31045685