Media mention: Professor shares tips to manage pain while running a marathon
Patrick O’Connor, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology, recently shared some tips to manage pain while running a marathon with Runner’s World, a monthly magazine for runners of all skills sets.
New research suggests 99.8% of people experience some level of pain during a marathon, with 80% experiencing an intense level. This may be due to injuries, hilly training routes, or high-intensity efforts during training. To mitigate pain during a marathon, embrace low-intensity, steady-state running and recovery during training and don’t be afraid to slow down or stop to stretch during the race itself.
“Essentially, everyone experiences some pain while running a marathon,” said O’Connor. “The pain tends to be worse among those who have run fewer than two marathons or whose effort during the marathon is rated as ‘hard’ or greater.”