The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of marathon running on the levels of adipokines adiponectin, leptin and resistin, as well as on markers associated with cartilage degradation in inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis; i.e. COMP, MMP-3 and YKL-40, in an attempt to further understand the effects of running associated strenuous loading on articular cartilage. Here, MMP3 is linked to osteoarthritis.