Changes in the lipid metabolism during an episode of “physical stress – fatty meal – physical stress” were investigated in male marathon runners (MR) and non-endurance-trained allround athletes (AL). Each group consisted of 15 subjects aged 20 to 35 years. The IAS was 7.8 to 11.1 km/h in the AL and 13.0 to 15.6 km/h in the MR. VO2max ranged between 34 and 48 ml·min^-1·kg^-1 in the AL and between 53 and 61 ml·min^-1·kg^-1 in the MR. Subjects came nil by mouth in the morning and completed three 30-minute running units on a treadmill 15% below their individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). Prior to and after each running unit as well as at the end after a 15-min period of rest a venous blood sample was taken. After the first running unit, subjects were asked to drink 250 ml of cream followed by a one-hour break. Subsequently, the second and the third running unit were performed, intermitted only by taking of a blood sample. Cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and ApoB did not reveal any differences between the two groups, with lower mean values for the MR. However, significant to highly significant developments could be observed in the process of the experiment. HDL showed a highly significant (p < 0.001) and ApoA a significant (p < 0.05) difference between the two groups with higher mean values in profile for the MR compared to the AL. In the process of the experiment, HDL exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) and ApoA a highly significant development (p < 0.001). These developments proceeded similarly in both groups. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was found for HDL during the second running unit. In the MR an HDL increase could be observed in contrast to an HDL decrease in the AL. The lipid metabolism reacts similarly in MR and AL during an episode of “physical stress – fatty meal – physical stress”. Due to a significantly lower HDL concentration in AL 90 min after the ingestion of cream a protective effect of endurance training in MR is conceivable.