Running-Related Injuries in Recreational Runners: Prevalence, Anatomical Distribution, and Associated Physiological and Training Factors

Background: Running-related injuries are a common issue among recreational runners and may affect training continuity and long-term participation. However, injury-associated factors remain unclear due to methodological heterogeneity and reliance on self-reported data. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence and anatomical distribution of running-related injuries and their association with physiological characteristics and weekly running volume in recreational runners. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 98 recreational runners (57 men and 41 women). Women were aged 41.54 ± 9.14 years, weighed 59.55 ± 5.89 kg, and had a maximal oxygen uptake (V.O2max) of 43.24 ± 4.86 mL·kg−1·min−1, whereas men were aged 40.16 ± 8.85 years, weighed 80.50 ± 12.89 kg, and had a V.O2max of 47.73 ± 7.55 mL·kg−1·min−1. Running-related injuries during the previous 12 months were clinically confirmed. Sex, age, body composition, V.O2max, resting heart rate, and weekly training volume were analyzed using independent t-tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Running-related injury prevalence was 43.9% (women: 56.1%; men: 35.1%), with a significant association between sex and injury occurrence (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.043). The knee was the most frequently affected anatomical region, followed by the leg and ankle/Achilles regions. Iliotibial band syndrome was the most common diagnosis, followed by calf muscle injury, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciopathy, ankle sprain, and hip labral tear. None of the demographic or physiological variables investigated, including weekly running volume, were independently associated with injury occurrence, and the model explained only a small proportion of the variability in injury occurrence. Conclusions: Running-related injuries were frequent among recreational runners, with knee-related injuries representing the most common anatomical pattern and iliotibial band syndrome being the predominant diagnosis. Although female runners presented a higher injury prevalence, the multifactorial nature of running-related injuries was reinforced, as the investigated demographic and physiological characteristics, along with weekly running volume, showed limited explanatory capacity for injury occurrence.