A new study launched by two college medical professors analyzes the physical consequences and benefits of ultra-marathoning, or the sport of racing distances over 26.2 miles, FOX reported. Intended as a longitudinal study, the only current results are those from the 1,200 or so ultra runners who responded to the professors' questionnaire. As expected, participants reported above average health and a high frequency of knee injuries. The only surprising development was a higher-than-average rate of allergies, most likely due to the many hours they spend in nature.
The true findings won't be known for some time (not for twenty years, according to the authors). As a former college runner and someone who once traveled 3,000 miles to see a running physical therapist, I'm extremely interested in their findings regarding injuries.
Of knee injuries, Dr, Hoffman, one of the study's co-authors, said, "Knee pain is a major concern...ligament problems, tendon problems," We hope to see over time how many are serious and how many are soft tissue injuries."
To a runner, as Hoffman is, this finding should be obvious. More mileage typically means more injuries. Yet, as my California running physical therapist demonstrated through our sessions together and subsequent email exchanges/phone calls, there is a confounding variable that makes this correlation as misleading as the popular example, "As ice cream sales go up, so does crime." (Really, it is hot weather spurring both crime and ice cream sales.)
What I'm trying to say is that the miles themselves aren't causing the injury, but poor form. The longer improper technique persists, the more likely the injury. Thus, ultra runners should be even more prone to injury than regular distance runners (who are quite prone themselves). Jeff, my physical therapist, might provide an even deeper case against ultra-runners. He believes we're most prone to injury when running slow because it leads to bad habits. Some of the best ultra-athletes don't even break 7:00/mile.
Jeff is also a firm believer that with proper form (and proper maintenance of it) we should be able to run long distances and injury free until the day we die. This is where Dr. Hoffman's study could prove most interesting. If he finds that ultra runners experience less injuries than more typical runners (but of the same competitive level), it could mean that those who enter the sport of extreme distances naturally select themselves to be less prone to injury (and thus either naturlly have more sustainable form or emphasize it more) even as the odds are stacked against them. Perhaps these extreme athletes could then be an example for less extreme runners rather than whatever place they currently hold now. If they are more prone to injury, then it just extends the battle between running, form, and miles. Still, either finding will be useful. Look for the update in 2034!
