You’ve been putting in the miles.
The early mornings. The long runs. The speed workouts. The strength sessions. Week after week, you’re building toward 26.2 miles on October 11, 2026, at the Chicago Marathon.
But maybe your body has started giving you little signals.
Your knee feels sore after a long run.
Your calf always feels tight.
Your hip starts bothering you toward the end of your run.
Your Achilles feels stiff the next morning.
Or maybe nothing really hurts, but your stride doesn’t feel quite right.
It’s easy to think, “I’ll just keep an eye on it.”
But marathon training is not the time to ignore recurring aches or changes in how you move.
Small Problems Can Become Bigger Problems
Marathon training means thousands of repetitive steps over weeks and months.
A small limitation in mobility, a strength imbalance, an old injury, or a change in your running mechanics may not bother you during a shorter run.
As your mileage increases, however, your body has to handle more and more stress.
That’s why it’s worth paying attention to the small things.
If the same area keeps getting tight, sore, or uncomfortable, don’t simply wait for it to become painful enough to stop your training.
What Is a Pre-Marathon Injury Screen?
A pre-marathon injury screen is a focused look at how your body is handling the demands of marathon training.
At PREP Performance Center, we can look at areas such as:
- Strength and muscular control
- Mobility and flexibility
- Movement patterns
- Running mechanics
- Previous injury areas
- Current aches or recurring discomfort
- Side-to-side differences
The goal isn’t to assume something is wrong.
It’s to identify potential areas of concern and help you understand what your body may need as you continue training toward race day.
You Don’t Have to Be Injured
You don’t have to be dealing with significant pain to benefit from a screen.
It may be worth considering if:
- You’re training for your first marathon
- You’ve had a previous running injury
- You’ve recently increased your mileage
- You keep dealing with the same ache or tightness
- One side feels different from the other
- Your running mechanics feel different than they used to
- You simply want to know how your body is handling your training
And if you’re feeling great?
That’s okay too.
A screen can give you a better understanding of your movement and help identify areas you may want to work on before race day.
Don’t Wait Until Race Week
If something comes up during marathon training, finding out about it earlier gives you more time to address it.
You may need to work on strength or mobility. You may need to adjust part of your training. You may need a closer look at your running mechanics.
The answer will be different for every runner.
The important part is not waiting until the problem forces you to stop.
You’ve already put too much work into your training to let something you’ve been ignoring derail your progress.
A Free Running Mechanics Guide
Want to learn more about what to pay attention to when you’re running?
Download our free Running Mechanics Guide for helpful information you can use during your marathon training.
Download Your FREE Running Guide
Running the 2026 Chicago Marathon?
October 11 will be here before you know it.
Don’t wait for a small problem to become the reason you have to change your training.
Get your Pre-Marathon Injury Screen at PREP Performance Center and find out what your body needs before race day.
Want a deeper look at your running?
If you’re interested in understanding your running mechanics in more detail, check out our Running Performance Analysis at PREP Performance Center.