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Effects on physical health
There have been many debates regarding the physiological effects of long distance running which have varied from the benefits to the detrimental consequences that such an aerobic activity has on the human body. Ever since the 1970s, long distance running has been considered one of the most viable activities which means that its public perception as a health promoting activity became important in many respects. As obesity rates continued to increase, healthy lifestyle initiatives became a public interest globally. Running as a cardiovascular exercise allows a person to burn an average of 100 calories per each mile. Considering that the average human burns about 2000-2500 calories per day, running 5 miles a day can burn an additional 500 calories which allows significant weight loss. Long distance running has also been proven to help lower blood pressure by maintaining the elasticity of the arteries due to their frequency of expansion and contraction. Frequent runners have been shown to possess unusually low blood pressure. Running is also shown to aid in maximizing the lungs’ potential by utilizing 50% of normally unused capacity during performance. Other health benefits include heart attack prevention and an increase in bone density which can prevent injury as well as osteoporosis.

However the physical strains of running such long distances have been shown to produce physiological stress due to its extreme nature. It is calculated that 37% to 56% of recreational runners who steadily train and participate in a long-distance running events will suffer a running-related injury yearly. Due to the high physical demands over a sustained period of time, marathons have been at the center of debate in regards to the health risks it poses on its participants. The heart’s ability to effectively function has been researched in post marathon runners and results showed mildly impaired heart rates that lasted for one month. During a marathon, production and loss of heat can increase drastically which can be a source of health concern since the heart is unable to pump blood to the area where body heat is lost due to sweat evaporation, potentially causing hyperthermia. It has been suggested that dehydration during marathon running has been overemphasized since low blood-sodium levels (also referred to as hyponatremia) is caused primarily from drinking too much water because of dilution. Injuries in distance running are prevalent because of the impactful nature of the activity. When the foot comes into contact with the ground, three to four times a person’s body weight is absorbed by the ankles, knees, hips, and lower back which are known to cause damage to the muscle's infrastructure. Other factors that increase the likelihood of injuries while running are first time marathoners, participation in other sports, illness during the two weeks prior, consumption of medication, and training mileage. It has been shown that athletes who run under 60 kilometers weekly were more prone to become injured while competing. Higher levels of training have been shown to decrease knee injuries but increase the damage to the quadriceps and hamstrings during a marathon.

Common injuries in running include:
 * Runner's knee: A common injury due to overuse. It is a result of when the kneecap is out of alignment.
 * Stress fracture: A small crack in a bone that causes pain and discomfort. The typically affected regions are in the shin and feet.
 * Shin splint: Pain that occurs in the front or inside of the lower leg along the shin bone.
 * Achilles tendinitis: Inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
 * Muscle pull: This is a small tear in the muscle, commonly referred to as a muscle strain. Often caused by overstretching a muscle.
 * Blisters: Fluid-filled sacks on the surface of the skin. Result from friction between  material from shoes/socks and skin.

Psychological Benefits
Beyond the physiological benefits, several people do not just run for the physical gains enabled by the sport, but also for the psychological benefits as well. During the 1980s it was discovered that endorphin levels increase during exercise which led to an increased interest in the theory that higher levels of endorphin could help explain the mood changes that occur during running commonly referred to as the runner's high, known as a feeling of euphoria. The runner's high describes a hallucinogenic that is sometimes experienced after and during running and is described by a decrease in anxiety levels. Studies have also attempted to show the increase of the activity of circulating beta-endorphins and the correlation with a change of mood after running and have demonstrated a strong relation between beta-endorphin levels and experiences of euphoria. It has been researched that the long term effect of aerobic activities on psychological outcome are beneficial. Reasons include changes in body composition which contribute to enhanced body images as well as the social support involved. The alleviation of anxiety as well as increased release of chemicals have been shown to combat symptoms of clinical depression. Other factors such as the releases of dopamine, in response to pleasure can  result from aerobic exercise which can aid in addiction recovery. In addition to stress relief, running has shown to improve attitude. The decrease in tension, depression, fatigue, and confusion are examples of changes that have been observed in patients after beginning a regular running program.

Nutrition
Nutritional approaches are often implemented in order to increase performance and physiological functions in long distance running. The consumption of carbohydrates are the most common choice of diet in preparation for a long distance running and have become a staple in race preparation events due to the rapid rate at which energy provided to the muscles. The demands for energy production in long distance running are primarily fats and carbohydrates meaning there is an increased reliance on these nutrients as fuel for increased intensity. If the body does not supply sufficient carbohydrates, performances will suffer.