Risk Factors for Injury While it's easy to establish new targets, it can be difficult to create a postmarathon plan that avoids injury. To better understand how to avoid injury after running Boston, let's first look at the potential risk factors. Downhill Running Aside from the climbing from mile 16 to 21, the Boston course is downhill. Particularly after Heartbreak Hill, the race takes a rather abrupt downhill route to Cleveland Circle. Distance Face it, even if you log your prerequisite long runs before the race, 26.2 miles is still a long way to run.
Some runners are better prepared for the distance than others.
For those marginally prepared for the distance, racing 26.2 miles can be an additional risk factor for postrace injuries. The muscle fatigue resulting from running farther than you are accustomed can linger for days, weeks, or even months. During this postrace fatigued state, you may be at risk for many of the overuse injuries that can befall a runner. Intensity A well-prepared runner out to enjoy the Boston Marathon experience while cruising well within his or her capacity will nevertheless stress his or her system to some degree. However, the cumulative lower extremity stresses absorbed by runners really pressing their limits can be exponentially greater.