Feeling awful after Marathon - normal?!

[whiteteeth04]

I ran a marathon on Sunday (Manchester, pb of over 25 mins in 3:58). It's not my first and last year was back at work feeling a better sore but generally ok.

This year I've taken some time off work and I feel awful. I'm starving, I'm lightheaded and have an upset stomach. Also so sorry everywhere I can hardly walk. And I'm completely exhausted - currently struggling to get out of bed.

Is this normal? I lose my appetite after long runs so didn't really eat on Sunday at all. But can't remember feeling so rubbish after last Marathon!

That's quite a big pb. Congratulations.

It sounds like you have pushed your body harder this year to get it.

I would listen to your body. Sleep, eat to replenish your depleted stores and gentle walking to stretch your muscles.

You need to rest and possibly if not getting better, see a GP.

Marathon are extremely hard on the body and can seriously damage the heart. You also probably have high levels of free radicals still circulating in your body from the oxidative damage and high levels of inflammation as well.

You might also have kidney overload so this will take some dys.

Bottom line, marathons are catastrophic for the health and lower your immune system for a certain amount of time. So you feeling crap is quite normal and take into consideration the accumulative effect of scarring on the heart and decide if this is really something you want to keep doing.

I think catastrophic is a bit strong, and the evidence of heart scarring I'm not sure about; there is conflicting evidence in that score. OP either the extra effort to get that PB (congratulations!) has taken it out of you or you could be coincidentally coming down with an infection of some kind. At the moment I would say rest, make sure you get plenty of fluids and healthy food and see how it goes. If you are improving, great, if you feel worse or are just not improving it might be a good idea to see your GP.

If running a marathon impacts the body on a multi-organs level, affecting the immense system in the weeks after the event (so getting a cold or similar is quite typical) ,

Death during or after a marathon is far from unheard of, so for those who died, the marathon had a catastrophic consequence.

The OP run a marathon on Sunday and 48 hours later is feeling extremely unwell . I feel awful. I'm starving, I'm lightheaded and have an upset stomach. Also so sorry everywhere I can hardly walk. And I'm completely exhausted - currently struggling to get out of bed.

Was is worth it?

Check for rhabdo?

It's something crossfitters can get, but I assume any max effort might cause it? Goes off to google...

Deaths during or after a marathon are often in people with undiagnosed heart conditions. On this occasion the OP is feeling unwell. It is now yet clear exactly why she is feeling unwell, it may be nothing to do with the marathon or everything to do with it. She has previously run marathons without this happening. Many many people run marathons regularly without any issues at all.
Yes, you can get rhabdo, rare but possible. OP are you passing urine normally and is it a normal colour? I hope you are feeling better today but if not do go and get seen by your GP.

I ran my first marathon last year and felt similar for a week or so afterwards OP, so much so that it put me off wanting to ever run another, moreso than the toughness of the marathon itself!

If you don't bounce back over the next day or so I think it might be worth asking your GP for blood tests to rule out things like anaemia and vitamin deficiencies. Marathon running and marathon training takes so much out you.

Congrats on your pb!!

Are you ok?

You say you are starving. Are you eating properly?

Have you tried lucozade OP? I had daily hypo's after my one and only long run, was not nice.

Ok it's taken me a few days but I'm feeling almost normal now, although still starving. Could be an issue with food/fuel, I don't eat loads and especially not after a big run. Have forced myself to snack a lot which seems to be working.

Glad you're feeling better! If you decide to do another one it might be an idea to review your pre race food & drink, as well as what you had during it and find something you can stomach after. A lot of people seem to swear by chocolate milk after, can't stand it myself!

I was the same after my HM but without the hungry bit. I had to cancel some work as I was unable to stay awake. It was a bit scary. It didn't feel like I was pushing too hard at the time.

I’m a very keen runner. 10-12k fast paced.

Why why why do people put themselves through marathons. Our bodies aren’t cut out for it.

When I ran the London Marathon apart from being a bit stiff I felt fine the next day

When I ran the Edinburgh Marathon a month later I felt ill for almost a week.

The biggest differences were the weather (Edinburgh was HOT) and Edinburgh seemed to have fewer water stations. I'm convinced it was dehydration and a bit of heat stroke.