Marathon Medicals

Having a medical certificate is essential for big events such as marathons. This way, you can make sure that you are physically fit to join the event. Aside from getting a marathon certificate, you also need to stay hydrated during a marathon. According to studies, it’s best to drink just enough fluids to satisfy your thirst to maximize your performance but to avoid over-hydration. You should also monitor your health.

Do not participate in a marathon if you are feeling unwell: particularly if you have had a bad cold or recent viral infection. If you are unsure of your ability to join a marathon, you should consult your doctor and ask for advice. It's okay to continue taking supplements or special drinks on the day of the marathon. However, you should not take anything new on the day of the event that your body isn't used to at all.

Marathon Certificate

You will be issued a marathon certificate after taking a marathon medical. The clinic can also conduct a blood test to check your oxygen saturation level and your oxygen carrying ability and a head-to-toe physical exam before the day of the event. You can also contact the clinic to get help with inflammation and pain relief, a physiotherapist referral and/or general medical advice for existing conditions.

How to Prepare for a Marathon

There are some tips that you need to consider when participating in a marathon. One of these is to get a running buddy. The accountability that comes with having a running buddy helps maximize your efforts and motivate you. It is also important to give yourself enough time to prepare for the event. The best time-frame to prepare for a debut marathon depends on your competition or training history.

Twenty weeks of programmed preparation will give enough time for sufficiently long runs, progressive build-ups, and adequate recovery. If you do not have any prior running experience or background, the preparation time needed may be as long as 36 to 52 weeks or 9 to 12 months. Here are other tips on how to prepare for a marathon.

• Rest. If you do not rest, you will injure yourself at some point. You can rest during a recovery session or take a complete rest day. If you want to get the right training-to-rest ratio for your event preparation and training. We strongly advise you work with an experienced marathon runner or competent running coach.
• Don't ignore pain or niggles. If you feel a low level of pain that persists for more than 14 days and is not going away on its own seek medical assistance. Go to a physiotherapist who works with runners as he/she can diagnose, manage, and treat your condition. Your physiotherapist may also help to minimize training downtime.

If the pain is higher than a three out of ten for two successive runs, we advise you visit a health professional directly. Do not wait to see what happens because it may persist and the problem worsen. If you unable to do six single leg hops that are pain-free on each leg, it is highly possible that you have a running overuse injury. This test tends to replicate pain of commonly injured and affected lower limb structures like the shins, hip joint, bones of the feet and Achilles tendon. If you felt pain after doing this test, you should seek help from a health professional as soon as possible for a diagnosis and rehabilitation/treatment plan.