Marathon Running
26.2
“You’re all insane”…..”My Dad is faster than your Dad”…. “YOU CAN DO IT”
These were a few of the signs I saw as I competed in the Top Of Utah marathon two weeks ago. “How much further do I have to go?”……”Will I still have toenails when I finish?” ……”How old was that lady that just passed me?” These were the thoughts that ran through my head that morning. It might be hard to convince people hoping to loose a few pounds or get in shape to run a few miles, but very few are willing to entertain the thought of running 26 miles and competing in a marathon.
Running is both a simple and complex sport. Runners come in all shapes and sizes. I have seen 300-pound men and women at the start of a race and in contrast the chiseled muscles of the elite runners. The reasons for running are as various as the runners themselves. Some run for weight lose, mental or physical health, competition, and charity.
There are many physical health benefits for running; “Human bodies burn about 2,000-2,500 calories a day in normal activities. Running 5 miles a day can burn an additional 500 calories.” If this same formula holds true, a person completing a marathon will have burnt close to 2,600 calories.
However, how fast a person doesn’t correspond with how much weight they may loose while running. “For example, a 220-pound person running an eight-minute mile burns 150 calories, while a 120-pound person running at the same pace burns only 82. Every person’s body requires an excess of 3,500 calories in order to gain a pound or a deficit of 3,500 calories in order to lose a pound. Thus, 180-pound person who runs 5 miles each day will lose about 5 pounds a month. However, as his or her weight goes down, he or she will burn fewer calories per mile” according to a study conducted at Vanderbilt University.
According to Runner’s World editor Hal Higgdon. “Running can also have many psychological benefits. Most significantly runners typically report being happier and feeling
“You’re all insane”…..”My Dad is faster than your Dad”…. “YOU CAN DO IT”
These were a few of the signs I saw as I competed in the Top Of Utah marathon two weeks ago. “How much further do I have to go?”……”Will I still have toenails when I finish?” ……”How old was that lady that just passed me?” These were the thoughts that ran through my head that morning. It might be hard to convince people hoping to loose a few pounds or get in shape to run a few miles, but very few are willing to entertain the thought of running 26 miles and competing in a marathon.
Running is both a simple and complex sport. Runners come in all shapes and sizes. I have seen 300-pound men and women at the start of a race and in contrast the chiseled muscles of the elite runners. The reasons for running are as various as the runners themselves. Some run for weight lose, mental or physical health, competition, and charity.
There are many physical health benefits for running; “Human bodies burn about 2,000-2,500 calories a day in normal activities. Running 5 miles a day can burn an additional 500 calories.” If this same formula holds true, a person completing a marathon will have burnt close to 2,600 calories.
However, how fast a person doesn’t correspond with how much weight they may loose while running. “For example, a 220-pound person running an eight-minute mile burns 150 calories, while a 120-pound person running at the same pace burns only 82. Every person’s body requires an excess of 3,500 calories in order to gain a pound or a deficit of 3,500 calories in order to lose a pound. Thus, 180-pound person who runs 5 miles each day will lose about 5 pounds a month. However, as his or her weight goes down, he or she will burn fewer calories per mile” according to a study conducted at Vanderbilt University.
According to Runner’s World editor Hal Higgdon. “Running can also have many psychological benefits. Most significantly runners typically report being happier and feeling