MANKATO, Minn. — Everyone has heard the saying "No pain, no gain," and, if you're training for a long-distance race, chances are that you've felt some pain.
"General muscle soreness and mild discomfort is common among runners, and it often is the sign of a successful training program," says Paul Osterman, a licensed athletic trainer in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System. "When training for a long-distance race, it's important to gradually progress your training and not overstress your body. Overtraining can result when you push your training too quickly, and the workload exceeds your body's normal ability to adapt to the stress placed on it without appropriate rest or recovery time."
When putting your body through the rigorous training required for a marathon, how much pain is too much? When should you power through, and when should you take it easy and get checked out?
