Does a marathoner really get an inch shorter during the course of a marathon race? What else happens to the body when you run 26.2 miles? Why is the marathon distance even 26.2 miles in the first place?
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BBC News articles referenced:
What happens to a runner's body? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4259766.stm
The body's marathon effort http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/4326947.stm
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