Marathon Running Affecting Height

Running a marathon can take a toll on the body. After running a marathon, decreased immune functioning and limited blood vessel functioning in the feet may be experienced. During a single marathon, the feet hit the ground approximately 50,000 times, according to Eastern Illinois University. The physical stress of long-distance running ultimately may affect the skeletal structure and height of a runner's body.

Height

Long-distance runners possess average to below-average heights and carry low body weights on slender frames. Sprinters are taller and carry more muscle mass than long-distance runners. According to the "British Journal of Sports Medicine," endurance runners, defined as participants competing in the 3,000-meter or marathon events, are 6 cm shorter than their sprinting counterparts calculated among female Olympic finalists.

Racing

A marathoner is projected to lose 1 cm of height during a race, according to Eastern Illinois University. This loss in height is a result of the back muscles tensing under strenuous conditions. The spines of long-distance runners examined before and after a one-hour run discovered disc height significantly decreased over the course of the run, according to a 2011 study published in the "Journal of International Medical Research."

Nutritional Deficiencies

Marathon running requires prolonged endurance. Emphasis is placed on low body weight to enhance a runner's performance. Calories often are restricted during times of substantial energy expenditure. Amenorrhea, an absence of menstruation, and nutritional deficiencies are present among female long-distance runners. Long-distance runners with amenorrhea possess decreased bone-mass density in the back. While a long-distance runner's height appears average, the bone structure may be compromised because of the demands of running.

Natural Selection

A long-distance runner's height may function as a variable of natural selection. A marathon runner must carry his body weight for 26.2 miles. A taller individual may have more weight to carry. Conversely, a significantly shorter individual may have difficulty producing strides long enough to compete with average-height competitors. Individuals with a lean physique and average to slightly below average height may achieve success in long-distance running more readily than those of differing heights.

References

• Eastern Illinois University: Marathon Running
• "British Journal of Sports Medicine"; Age, Height, and Weight of Female Olympic Finalists in Running Events; T. Khosla; December 1985
• "Journal of International Medical Research"; Intervertebral Disc Changes after 1 h of Running: A Study on Athletes; A. T. Dimitriadis, et al.; 2011
• BBC Sport Academy: Are You Born An Athlete?
• "British Journal of Sports Medicine"; Intensive Training in Elite Young Female Athletes; A. Baxter-Jones, et al.; 2002
• "Calcified Tissue International"; Low Bone Mass Density at Multiple Skeletal Sites, Including the Appendicular Skeleton in Amenorrheic Runners; U. Pettersson, et al.; July 1998.