Hottenrott et al. 2016, Run/walk strategy in a marathon

Controlled field study (n=42) of non-elite (~4-hour) marathoners. A planned run/walk strategy produced finishing times statistically similar to continuous running (about 4:14 vs 4:08, not significant) and less self-reported muscle pain and fatigue, but did not reduce cardiac stress: both groups showed similar rises in cardiac biomarkers. The time parity applies to slower recreational runners, not faster ones. Moderate.