What does marathon training do to your body? A reporter becomes the test subject

NPR | By Elissa Nadworny ,

Janet W. Lee, Matt Ozug, Henry Larson

Published October 4, 2026 at 5:57 PM EDT

Before running the New York City Marathon, NPR's Elissa Nadworny gets a bone scan, blood work and a treadmill test to settle a question from Mom: Is this bad for my body?

Elissa Nadworny

Elissa Nadworny is an NPR Correspondent covering higher education. She previously covered reproductive rights and abortion.

See stories by Elissa Nadworny

Janet W. Lee

Matt Ozug

See stories by Matt Ozug

Henry Larson

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