Take a Baby Asprin Before Running

Marathons take a huge toll on the body, according to health experts. I came across an interesting article that gave some tips for those thinking about running a marathon.

Here are the highlights:

** Runners should take one baby aspirin (81 mg) the morning of the race unless they have a medical reason not to.

** Runners should drink no more than one cup of coffee before the race.

** Runners should consume salt in drinks, gels, or food during the race.

** Runners should take a break to recover after the race. This means taking a rest from strenuous running for a week or two.

** Running for long distances creates “microtears’’ in the muscles. And past about 20 miles, all the energy from glycogen stored in muscle has been converted. If the glycogen has not been replenished by high-carb feeds along the way, muscles will shut down!

For even more tips and information, go to the article originally published in the Boston Globe: 26.2 Miles Takes A Toll On The Body