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Many runners will train nonstop before an event, which is why recovery time is so important and could make the difference in overall performance or even the ability to compete.

According to Kenneth Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., president of The Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, research shows that strenuous aerobic exercise is associated with oxidative stress and tissue damage in the body.

"The body's need for oxygen during exercise seems to produce excess free radicals, which can result in DNA damage and direct damage to muscle tissue," says Cooper who actually coined the term "aerobics" over 30 years ago and has since been known as the "Father of Aerobics."

Those at risk of oxidative stress and tissue damage include anyone who runs over 30 miles a week, or trains at or above 80 percent of their maximum heart rate for at least five hours each week.

If oxidative stress is too high, the body can experience increased internal inflammation and a weakened immune system, which could hinder an athlete's performance.

"Many runners train so vigorously before a race that they compromise their immune system, which can cause them to be too sick to compete," says Tim Church, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of The Cooper Research Institute and a competitive Ironman triathlete. "Athletes need to maintain their immune system throughout their training regimen, so they have faster recovery times, and can perform at their peak on the day of the race."

Although little research has been conducted to understand how to speed recovery time for marathon runners, Cooper says that supplementing with the correct combination of vitamins could make an impact in overall performance.

"Prolonged, strenuous training results in the depletion of antioxidants," says Cooper. "Therefore it is conceivable that dietary supplementation of specific antioxidants can be beneficial."

Cooper and his colleagues from three leading universities have developed a multivitamin specifically for marathon runners and triathletes, providing high levels of antioxidant vitamins to help prevent free radical damage that may result from endurance exercise.

Click here to SAVE 10% on your order of Cooper Complete Vitamins -- must use coupon code "runner." Or you can call (888) 393-2221 to order by phone (again, please use coupon code "runner" to obtain the 10% discount).