Have you ever wondered if marathon training is actually bad for your body?

I get this question a lot — and just the other day, it came up in conversation before one of my 10WT classes. Now that I’m just days away from running my first-ever marathon, I figured there’s no better time to unpack it.

So today, I’m breaking down what I’ve learned as both a coach and a runner. I’ll share what’s happened during my own training, the injury I’m navigating now, and why the answer to this debate is more nuanced than you might think.

The Debate: Is Running Long Distances Bad for You?

There are two camps here:

Camp 1 says running wrecks your body — knees, feet, hips, you name it.

Camp 2 swears by the health benefits — and there are marathoners out there in their 50s, 60s, and beyond crushing race after race pain-free.

So what gives?

Here’s the truth: there’s evidence on both sides, and that means there’s some truth in both arguments.

But in my opinion, most people who say “running is bad” are either:

1. People who skipped the necessary recovery and prep and got hurt, or

2. People who’ve never even tried and use that myth as a reason not to.

My Personal Experience: From Smooth Sailing to Hip Pain

I followed a 16-week training plan. I did my warm-ups, cool-downs, mobility drills — all of it. And for the first 13 weeks, I felt amazing.

Then week 14 hit. I felt a twinge in my right hip during a run. It got worse over the next couple of workouts. And after a 23-mile long run, I could barely walk.

Right now, I’m a few days out from the marathon. I haven’t run in 2.5 weeks, and race day will mark 3 weeks off running. But I’ve been cross-training, doing everything I can to stay conditioned, and yes — I’m still planning to run.

So… Is It Bad?

Let’s get clear:

🟢 Everyone’s body is different.

🟢 Your feet, joints, and mobility all matter.

🟢 Some people are more prone to pain than others.

BUT — you can absolutely stack the odds in your favor by doing things like:

Finding the right running shoes for your foot type

Replacing shoes every 100–300 miles

Dedicating time to stretching and mobility

Training smart, not just hard

Progressively increasing mileage (no more than ~10% per week)

Most people who get hurt aren’t doing these things consistently. And then they blame the running — not their prep.

It’s Not About Blame — It’s About Ownership

When my hip started hurting, I didn’t blame the training. I asked:

“What didn’t I do? What can I learn and apply next time?”

I just finished reading Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink, and it’s reframed how I view stuff like this. When something goes wrong, I look in the mirror.

Have a growth mindset. Be curious. Learn. Adjust.

That’s how you turn pain into progress.

Is It Still Worth It?

1000% yes.

This marathon journey has already been a success — even if I never cross the finish line. It’s given me:

Confidence in my ability to commit to something hard

Proof I can run farther than ever before

A whole new set of skills around endurance, pacing, and recovery

A better understanding of how to coach other people through it too

And while I still want to hit my 2:57 goal (a 6:45/mi pace!), the race is just the cherry on top. The real win was showing up every day.

Final Takeaway

So is marathon training bad for your body?

It can be… if you go about it the wrong way.

But it can also be one of the most empowering things you ever do if you train smart, prep right, and take ownership.

Want to Learn What YOUR Body Needs?

If you’ve ever wondered how many calories you should eat, whether you're overtraining or under-fueling — I’ve got you covered.

Join me for the Fat Loss Forever Workshop on Monday, May 19th at 6 PM ET / 5 PM CT.

You’ll learn:

How to calculate your own calorie needs

How metabolism really works

Whether you need to eat more or less

And how to make fat loss sustainable

👉 Register FREE at nickcarrier.com/fatloss

Let’s organize the chaos, ditch the guesswork, and build your healthiest body — for life.