Marathon or half marathon: new heart scans from the 2023 Silesia Marathon suggest both distances cause only small, short-lived dips in heart performance for most recreational runners, with readings returning to normal within two weeks.
A new study suggests that running a marathon may not be significantly harder on the heart than running a half marathon, at least for most recreational runners.
Researchers analyzed 105 runners who took part in the 2023 Silesia Marathon.
The participants were divided into two groups: 49 runners who completed the half marathon and 56 who ran either the full marathon or an ultramarathon.
To understand how racing affects the heart, scientists performed heart ultrasounds and advanced imaging tests at three different times: several days before the race, immediately after finishing, and again two weeks later.
The results showed small changes in heart function right after the race in both groups.
The heart’s main pumping chamber, known as the left ventricle, showed a slight drop in performance after runners crossed the finish line. However, the values remained within the normal range and returned to baseline during the two-week follow-up.
The pattern of cardiac fatigue looked similar for both half marathon and longer-distance runners.
Importantly, most of the changes were mild and temporary. Within two weeks, heart function had returned to normal for nearly all participants.
Researchers say the findings reinforce an important message for endurance athletes: long races can temporarily stress the heart, but for healthy runners this response appears to be part of normal recovery rather than lasting damage.
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