Chris Troyanos, one of the organizers of the Boston Marathon finish line medical tent, said that runners are creatures of habit. Their habits running long distances, not building up miles gradually, running too fast, not training or stretching properly, running with an existing injury can get them into trouble. On race day, marathoners don t usually develop new injuries but run into problems with old or recurring injuries. For the most part, Troyanos said the injuries are minor, but can cause some discomfort during the race. Some of the common problems runners encounter are stress-related injuries like stress fractures and tendinitis.
Stress fractures are a result of overuse or excessive activity.
They usually strike the hips, feet, tibia and femur. Troyanos said most runners usually try to run with problems because running is a sport where some pain is actually expected. Runners have the occasion to not listen to what their bodies are telling them. He s been trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon since he ran the Bay State Marathon in 1996. Erickson said each marathon he s run, he s run with an injury.