Cardiovascular and Metabolic Recovery of a Marathon Runner

Author Institution: Department of Physiology, Wright State University ; Southern Illinois UniversityPhysiological recovery after a competitive marathon race was studied in a trained 43 year old male. The subject completed a progressive intensity treadmill test to exhaustion 6 days prior to, and 1, 3, 5, and 9 days post-marathon. Postmarathon values of cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate and oxygen uptake during submaximal exercise were similar to pre-marathon values. Maximal blood lactate concentrations were decreased from pre-marathon levels by 50%, 58%, and 26% during the first week of recovery. Maximal blood lactate concentration, however, again achieved the pre-marathon level after 9 days of recovery. This concentration was believed to reflect the reestablishment of muscle glycogen stores comparable to pre-marathon levels. It was concluded that cardiovascular function demonstrated little after effects from the marathon, but at least one week was required for full metabolic recovery