“Starting the intensive Phase of Preparation in Good Health” – why a Sports Medicine Check-up is so important right now
In just two months, the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will start and many runners are deep into their preparation. Motivation is high, training volumes are increasing, and the big goal is coming within reach. Now is the perfect time to take a closer look at your health: Am I truly physically ready for the challenges ahead?
A sports medicine check-up is more than just a precaution — it can form the foundation for a healthy and successful training process. This is also emphasized by Dr. Margrit Lock, Executive Board Member Medical of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and its organizer, SCC EVENTS. As a specialist in orthopedics, trauma surgery, and sports medicine, she knows exactly what matters — and explains in the following interview what a thorough sports medical check-up should include.
Dr. med. Margrit Lock @ SCC EVENTS
Dr. Lock, why is a sports medicine check-up so important at the start of marathon training?
A marathon is a high-level endurance achievement, even for well-trained athletes. Especially now, training volume increases significantly. A sports medicine check-up helps to begin training in an individualized and responsible way. We assess whether the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and metabolism are up to the coming demands. This allows us to identify potential health risks early — or ideally, rule them out altogether. It’s about prevention, not restriction.
What exactly should a sports medicine check-up include, and how is it different from a general health check?
A sports medicine check-up is much more specific. In addition to a thorough medical history and physical examination, it includes a resting ECG and a stress ECG, usually on a bike or treadmill. We also check lung function, blood values and, if needed, perform spiroergometry. This test allows for a targeted assessment of endurance capacity and helps define training zones. Unlike a standard health check, our focus isn’t just on whether someone is healthy but how resilient they really are.
What typical risks can be identified during the check-up, even in seemingly healthy runners?
Endurance athletes in particular can be misled by the feeling, “I’m fit.” Some heart conditions or circulatory problems show no symptoms at first and only become apparent under stress. Undetected infections, blood pressure issues or muscular imbalances may also show up during the check-up.
Our goal is not to discourage anyone from training, but to identify risks early and adjust training if necessary. This helps prevent overuse injuries and ultimately enhances long-term performance.
An important tool in early detection is also the PAPS test, a digital prevention questionnaire for self-assessment in sports medicine. It’s been a mandatory part of the registration process at all SCC EVENTS races for years. We were the first organizers to establish this standard. The aim is to detect potential risks early and encourage targeted medical evaluation.
Many ambitious runners train hard, often despite minor issues. What is your view on the topic of “training load vs. overtraining”?
Training stress is part of the process, no doubt. But those who regularly run with pain or ignore warning signs such as fatigue, sleep disturbances or unusual heart rate responses are risking injury or health complications.
Ambitious runners especially tend to downplay symptoms. Our recommendation: better to get something checked once too often than once too little. Often, small adjustments, like to training structure or running technique, can make a big difference.
Who should definitely get a sports medicine check-up? Are there age groups or situations where it’s essential?
In general, we recommend a check-up for all runners before entering intense race preparation—regardless of age. It’s particularly important for beginners, those returning after a long break, anyone with pre-existing conditions and runners over about 35 to 40 years old.
In these groups, the risk for cardiovascular issues or orthopedic problems increases — issues that might go unnoticed in daily life but become relevant under heavy training loads.
How can a check-up also help make training more targeted and effective?
Through performance diagnostics, such as lactate testing or spiroergometry, we can define individual training zones. This allows training to be managed optimally — not too little, not too much, but efficient and tailored.
Many runners train too much in the “gray zone”, not easy enough to recover and not intense enough to improve. A check-up brings clarity here and ultimately saves time and energy.
And finally: your personal tip for a healthy marathon preparation over the next weeks?
Listen to your body and trust solid data. Good preparation isn’t just about mileage — it’s about quality, recovery, and health.
A sports medicine check-up lays the foundation for that. Those who prepare consciously usually not only reach the finish line more safely but also faster.
