Hospitalized adults with a record of endurance exercise had ischemic colitis at nearly three times the odds of similar patients, according to research presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 2026 annual meeting in Nashville. The condition occurs when blood flow to part of the colon drops and the tissue is injured.
The finding arrives during fall marathon season, when tens of thousands of runners take part in long races, including the Chicago Marathon's record field of more than 55,000. The research does not suggest that endurance exercise is dangerous for most people.
