Science Vs Running: Will It Wreck Your Body?
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Apr 16, 2026 They dig into why runners get injured and which body parts are most at risk. They explain a safe ramp-up rule and how glute strength cuts injury risk. They examine whether small amounts of running add years to your life and whether extreme mileage can harm the heart. They explore runner’s high and the brain chemicals that might create it.
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Runners Face Higher Injury Rates Than Other Sports
- Runners get injured more often than cyclists or swimmers, with about half of runners sustaining an injurious episode each year.
- A review of 42 studies found ~30% of running injuries are knee-related, ~20% lower-leg, and ~13% ankle injuries, concentrated knee-down.
How A Last Place Finish Sparked A Research Career
- Rasmus Østergaard Nielsen got into running after finishing second-last in a local race, which launched his running career.
- That humble start led him to study running and publish large-scale research on injury patterns.
Ramp Up Mileage Extremely Gradually
- Increase weekly running volume by no more than about 5% to avoid a big jump in injury risk.
- Rasmus Østergaard Nielsen found a 60% higher injury risk when runners increased distance 10–30% above their previous longest week.