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Half marathon with no training

262 replies

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 00:42

Probably a stupid question sorry but I’m not a runner so have no idea!

DH impulsively signed up to do a half marathon in 2 weeks and has done zero training for it. He’s slim and has normal fitness I would say but definitely not a runner and previously did a 5km and completed it but struggled

I know it’s his choice and he’s an adult to it’s up to him, but I’m just a bit worried about the idea of him running 21km with little to no training. I’m just not sure if I’m just being overly anxious but it seems so far to my non runner brain! Having said that, I know people do 10km without any real training and it’s fine, has anyone ever done a half marathon without any training and did it go ok?!

My concern is when he puts his mind to something he can be very stubborn and competitive so I think when the run starts he’ll actually go much faster than he should and it’s not like he’ll accept he’s not trained and take it at a slower pace. His plan was to drink a few coffee and get some pre workout for it and frankly I’m worried he ends up unwell after it

If anyone who knows anything about running can put my mind at rest and reassure me that I’m being silly and dramatic and he’ll be fine (other than a normal amount of tiredness afterwards) I’d really appreciate it!

OP posts:
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MagpiePi · 18/08/2026 08:27

LittlestBoho · 17/08/2026 18:41

@sunallsummer So did he do the run? We are all here waiting to hear about him being humbled!

You mean, we're all waiting to hear how he smashed it in 1hr 30 and has been asked to run for GB?!

HeidiLite · 18/08/2026 07:44

there's a show now, How hard can it be, where they ask men if they think they could do x, like compete against a female athlete or land a plane. and then they make them do it.

Fizbosshoes · 18/08/2026 07:22

BogRollBOGOF · 18/08/2026 00:28

How did he do???
I thought of this thread when reading the one about 40% of men thinking they could train for the Olympics Grin

I thought the percentage was higher, it made me realise that my DH is quite normal. He "likes to think" that if he did a marathon he'd do it in 4 hrs....based on no evidence at all!

BogRollBOGOF · 18/08/2026 00:28

How did he do???
I thought of this thread when reading the one about 40% of men thinking they could train for the Olympics Grin

AnnDroidAnnDroid · 17/08/2026 21:18

I’ve done it, although at that time I was a runner, just of shorter distances. A friend had signed up but got injured and couldn’t do it so I took her number. My time was awful but I ran the whole thing, strongly advise taking on enough fuel first, I felt so weak by the end!

HoldMyWine · 17/08/2026 19:11

Gosh yes I would love to know how this went

HoldMyWine · 17/08/2026 19:10

Gosh yes I would love to know how this went

LittlestBoho · 17/08/2026 18:41

@sunallsummer So did he do the run? We are all here waiting to hear about him being humbled!

Cel77 · 17/08/2026 09:03

I ran a 5k not long ago. My "training" was running 3 k every Sunday for 6 months.
It was better than nothing. I'm a bit overweight and 48. I found the 5k manageable but hard work.
He probably will feel it and hopefully, it might be a lesson for him to train in the future.

MagpiePi · 17/08/2026 08:35

It’s so annoying when the OP doesn’t give an update.

MyThreeWords · 06/08/2026 18:17

Any updates, @sunallsummer ? I'm ridiculously keen to know how he got on.

Youspurnme · 03/08/2026 20:39

@BogRollBOGOF username checks out 😂😂

BogRollBOGOF · 03/08/2026 18:57

Youspurnme · 02/08/2026 20:40

@Merkins I did the Royal Parks half last year, saw at least 6 ‘don’t trust that fart’ signs 😂
I would not like to see the state of the portaloos at the end of the day 🤢

I took one look in the portaloos at mile 21 of a marathon and decided I could last another 5 miles/ hour 😂

MagpiePi · 03/08/2026 17:54

CalmConfident · 03/08/2026 13:11

I wonder if he went through with it ?

Or did he stop when he followed through?

I so want to know what happened too!!

Merkins · 03/08/2026 14:46

BringBackCatsEyes · 03/08/2026 13:48

maybe he’s still running? Come on OP!

🤣🤣🤣

BringBackCatsEyes · 03/08/2026 13:48

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 00:42

Probably a stupid question sorry but I’m not a runner so have no idea!

DH impulsively signed up to do a half marathon in 2 weeks and has done zero training for it. He’s slim and has normal fitness I would say but definitely not a runner and previously did a 5km and completed it but struggled

I know it’s his choice and he’s an adult to it’s up to him, but I’m just a bit worried about the idea of him running 21km with little to no training. I’m just not sure if I’m just being overly anxious but it seems so far to my non runner brain! Having said that, I know people do 10km without any real training and it’s fine, has anyone ever done a half marathon without any training and did it go ok?!

My concern is when he puts his mind to something he can be very stubborn and competitive so I think when the run starts he’ll actually go much faster than he should and it’s not like he’ll accept he’s not trained and take it at a slower pace. His plan was to drink a few coffee and get some pre workout for it and frankly I’m worried he ends up unwell after it

If anyone who knows anything about running can put my mind at rest and reassure me that I’m being silly and dramatic and he’ll be fine (other than a normal amount of tiredness afterwards) I’d really appreciate it!

maybe he’s still running? Come on OP!

CalmConfident · 03/08/2026 13:11

I wonder if he went through with it ?

Youspurnme · 02/08/2026 20:40

@Merkins I did the Royal Parks half last year, saw at least 6 ‘don’t trust that fart’ signs 😂
I would not like to see the state of the portaloos at the end of the day 🤢

Merkins · 02/08/2026 20:31

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 02/08/2026 20:15

Ditch the coffee idea.

I was struggling with training for a half marathon and a friend gave me some caffeinated energy gels to try while running. I was running along a rural road and had to make an emergency pit stop in a hedge 😮

I did the GNR last year and the first 2 signs I saw said, “Don’t trust that fart!” and “Don’t shit yourself!” 😂

HeidiLite · 02/08/2026 20:20

ha when I did a 2:00 half-marathon, my 5K time was 25min, not 35. Delulu. He hopefully lived but I will eat my literal hat if he did it under 2h.

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 02/08/2026 20:15

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 00:42

Probably a stupid question sorry but I’m not a runner so have no idea!

DH impulsively signed up to do a half marathon in 2 weeks and has done zero training for it. He’s slim and has normal fitness I would say but definitely not a runner and previously did a 5km and completed it but struggled

I know it’s his choice and he’s an adult to it’s up to him, but I’m just a bit worried about the idea of him running 21km with little to no training. I’m just not sure if I’m just being overly anxious but it seems so far to my non runner brain! Having said that, I know people do 10km without any real training and it’s fine, has anyone ever done a half marathon without any training and did it go ok?!

My concern is when he puts his mind to something he can be very stubborn and competitive so I think when the run starts he’ll actually go much faster than he should and it’s not like he’ll accept he’s not trained and take it at a slower pace. His plan was to drink a few coffee and get some pre workout for it and frankly I’m worried he ends up unwell after it

If anyone who knows anything about running can put my mind at rest and reassure me that I’m being silly and dramatic and he’ll be fine (other than a normal amount of tiredness afterwards) I’d really appreciate it!

Ditch the coffee idea.

I was struggling with training for a half marathon and a friend gave me some caffeinated energy gels to try while running. I was running along a rural road and had to make an emergency pit stop in a hedge 😮

Gateappreciation · 02/08/2026 20:15

Me too!

Youspurnme · 02/08/2026 20:10

I’m on tenterhooks here 😂

Lins77 · 02/08/2026 18:37

@sunallsummer we need an update! 😄

Tinkerbellflowers · 02/08/2026 18:36

Please don't keep us in suspense!