marathon training and back spasms

I don't have any scientific advice for you, just personal experience. I had major scoliosis surgery about 5 years ago so I have a very temperamental back and while I just started running ( just a 14K last weekend) I know what you are talking about. Usually when my back starts to hurt consistently after a good workout I will hit the pool. I spend about 30 min doing a slow swim where I concentrate on stretching my spine out under water and just working out the muscles without putting the pressure of gravity on them. Additionally, I also try and just massage the muscles of my back by laying flat on my face and just working the muscles with my hands to calm them down. It might be your running shoes which I would test by trying out your other pair on a day your back doesnt hurt or it might be your running posture, I found that I start to lean backward too much when I'm getting tired which puts a lot of pressure on my lower back. During my race as I felt my back start to hurt I slowed down to a jog and really concentrated on form and that seemed to help. Also, if you make sure to maintain good posture all the time that should help allieviate tension within your back, which might help during runs. This are all just my personal experiences so I'm sorry if they don't help! However, I totally understand how you feel and keep working towards it! Running a marathon is so phenomenal and good luck!

Agree with the above, first things to check are shoes and form. I injured my knee training for my first marathon two years ago and after it healed (lost a month of training) I went to a running store and did a quick gait analysis. Found out the shoes I had had given out support-wise and I also was wearing the wrong shoes (I have a slight under-pronation on my right leg).

Form always degrades when you get tired. What you can do is try to recognize early on when you may be spazzing and slow down and remember to keep your form upright.

Hi there- I don't have any "specific" advice for you either, just some personal experience... only with my knees and marathon training- not back. I do find the two MOST helpful things to help alleviate (make more bearable) my knee pain is good sneakers and STRETCHING. I trained in 2010 for the Maine Marathon- Once I started getting into the heavy mileage I developed IT Band Syndrome, pain so bad in my knee I literally couldn't run. I saw a PT who diagnosed me, advised on sneakers and showed me stretches to do SEVERAL times/day. The stretching really does wonders- if done properly. I am currently training for The Maine Marathon again and sure enough once my miles started getting up there... the knee pain is back. And so.... I am stretching... a lot. 3X/ day and after runs. Maybe check online for back stretches? I'm not sure about spasms though?? Are you hydrated enough? What about nutrition? Do you take along any gel packs/ sport beans?? Just some thoughts :-) Well wishes to you!

Do you run all the time? Are the spasms cuz you're going farther than you've gone before? If so it old just be your body needs to get used to the long run.

That was my first thought too... Just the body reacting to a big mileage increase. If so it will happen less and less as you adapt. Be sure to take a moderate pace on long runs espceially when covering a new distance. When in doubt, choose a sloower pace.