What will happen to your body if you run a marathon?

CAMILLA FOSTER explains exactly what you can expect in the long run

- CAMILLA FOSTER

THE longer, brighter days may have encouraged you out of winter hibernation, and onto the trails and pavements for some refreshing springtime runs.

As well as the blue skies and milder weather, the upcoming London Marathon (April 26) will inspire many of us to lace up our running shoes and get moving.

While the thought of posing with a shiny finisher's medal might be enough to tempt you to enter next year’s ballot, have you ever thought about what actually happens to the body during a marathon?

We spoke to Francesca Bagshaw, a performance physiologist at Nuffield Health MIHP, to find out...

Breathing and heart rates increase

Both our breathing and heart rate pick up in pace during a run.

Francesca says: "For us to make and produce enough energy to run and exercise, our muscles require more oxygen. Therefore, during a marathon we tend to naturally breathe more to get more air into the lungs, and then the heart will beat more to transport that oxygen from the lungs into the muscles, so it can be used to make energy."

"The volume of blood that leaves the heart per beat will also increase to help us meet the demands of running," adds Francesca.

Some marathon runners will also experience a 'cardiac drift'.