MARATHON RUNNING PERFORMANCE.

Marathon running performance.

Marathon running performance.

Introduction

Marathon running is a long distance running sporting event that is enjoyed globally. The official distance marathon runners can cover is 42.195 kilometers. Historically, marathon running is perceived as being able to test the limits of human endurance given the long distance, and has become a sport that is embraced by recreational runners in recent times. For the past ten years, marathon running is steadily gaining in popularity, and each year more and more people register to run a major marathon, going the standard distance of 42.195 km. However, lately there have been reports of physiological factors affecting the performance of said runners severely (Joyner, 1993). These factors may range from oxygen depletion, “hitting the wall” as it were, or the seizing of muscles before reaching the finish line. A rapid onset of severe fatigue has been noticed in more than half the runners before they even get to the middle of the track, and leg muscles and liver problems have been reported as being part of the paradox. In this paper, I will be discussing the physiological factors that seem to limit the performance of marathon runners.

Discussion

According to popular daily newspaper USA Today, more than half the marathon runners have dropped out of races before they reached the finish line in the past three years. Previous analysis's of endurance physiology that were conducted would often make coarse approximations in order to come up with reasons for this, and suggested that often the biggest reason for this is human glycogen reserves are not sufficient for these marathon runners. Studies have previously suggested that maximum glycogen loading is needed to ensure a marathon is completed without the depletion of physiologic carbohydrate reserves, but new studies have come to light suggesting that there must be more than only these factors that affect marathon runners' performances. It is observed that even the leanest runners know to store a proper amount of fat for back-to-back marathons, but the depletion of small carbohydrate reserves passes by unnoticed and thus, the runner's performance is catastrophically limited (Scott, 1994). Thus, the trainers must ensure that safe and secure adaptations are made on the training schedules that estimate the runner's capabilities and set a personalized maximum speed on which they can run.

As every human body is unique, there is a definite need to be aware of the limitations one has. For example, some people may have trouble breathing when they run, while others may complain of muscle cramps. Both these types of people may be lean and physically fit, but the body knows its own limits, thus it informs the mind when these limits are being strained. In order for individuals to perform at an optimum level, they must become more aware of their bodies physiological needs, and before running marathons they must ensure the right amount of fat is stored to power them through running 26 miles.

In marathon running, the three physiological determinants of runners that must be checked ...