Conquering Endurance Running: Minimizing the Risks and Running Injury-Free Endurance running is a rewarding experience that tests your courage, perseverance and determination of an athlete. It's wonderful how the human body, with the right conditioning and mental focus, can achieve such a challenging running distance. Elite runners complete the marathon course in just over 2 hours, while the average runner completes it in about 4.5 hours. It's hard to understand how anyone can run, consistently, for 4.5 hours. The actual marathon is simply a formality as the journey begins the day the training begins. The result, on the day of the marathon, depends on how successfully the training program was executed. Long-distance runners are the sport's biggest advocates, always convincing others to jump on the training bandwagon. However, some runners, while refusing to admit it, wonder whether the effects of long-distance running might be causing more harm than good. It's true that long-distance running is potentially dangerous for the heart; However, research suggests that medical examination, as well as correct mechanics and posture during the training phase would ensure an enjoyable journey towards achieving an injury-free endurance goal and would also bring long-term heart benefits. Research suggests that endurance running increases the risk of a heart attack because running such a long distance, consistently over a 4.5-hour period, stresses the heart to greater levels. WRAL News reported the deaths of two marathon runners as they neared the finish line of the Rock 'N' Roll Series marathon (Mims 2014). The unfortunate death of these marathon runners was witnessed by other runners, spectators of the race, and was reported by all the locals......middle of paper......ed. “Exercise for a Healthy Heart.” WebMDs Aug. 25, 2012. Web. May 28, 2014. Hobson, Katherine. “How Much Is Too Much” US News & World Report 142.23 2007: 72-75. Academic research completed. Network. May 6, 2014.Kelly, Jack. “Is long-distance running bad for the heart?” Pittsburgh Post – Gazette, December 5, 2011. ProQuest Web, May 6, 2014. Krumholz, Harlan M. “Do Competitors in Long-Distance Running Races Have an Increased Risk of Cardiac Arrest?” Journal Watch 2014.Mims, Bryan. "Two Die in Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll in Raleigh.". WRALTV.COM Ed. Jodi L. Glusco and Angie Basiony, April 13, 2014. Web. Brien, Carl. “Eight steps to injury-free running.” Irish Times: 13, 25 June 2012. ProQuest Web, 6 May 2014. Smith, Stephen “In the Long Run, Marathoning Can Hurt.” Boston Globe: April 01, 2003. ProQuest. Network. May 14 2014 .