Half marathon with no training

Yes that is actually a decent pace. That’s my goal HM pace for six months’ time and I run 4 times a week, have done multiple 10k races, can do well under a 30-min 5k. Two hours would be an v impressive time for most amateur runners for their first HM, and I mean runners who have actually trained for it!

Yeah, 2hrs slow jogging will get him to about mile 9 or 10.

Well, he’s obviously a moron. There is no way that someone who doesn’t really run and hasn’t trained for the distance can just run a half marathon by having lots of caffeine and trying to go really fast. 😂

I’ve run a few half marathons and also run about a 35 minute 5k. I did not run a sub 2 hr even being a regular long distance runner, though admittedly I don’t particularly care about speed.

He either won’t finish or will make himself ill with he exhaustion, but let him crack on.

He’s not going to get 13.1 miles in 2 hours at a slow jog. And he’s very unlikely to be able to do a “slow jog” for 2 hours no matter many protein balls he eats!

If he managed a slow jog for 2 hours he wouldn't cover 13.1 miles. However jogging even slowly for 2 hours is harder than it sounds with no training. There is the mental aspect too, he will hit a mental wall and will need to get over that which is not easy. I did a 26 mile hike for Macmillan and a few people thought it would be easy as it's just walking. It was bloody hard, I've ran half marathons and I struggled in the last few miles. People underestimate the mental toll of these events.

2 hours is not a slow jog for a half marathon. Someone without a decent level of running training is getting nowhere near that.

Apologies if I’ve missed it but is there a time limit on when you have to finish the race before they sweep you off the roads with the water bottles and open them again?

I think that with the popularity of marathons these days people forget that it's actually really far. Even running 10km is running far. Running that again and a bit is really fucking far. It's not something someone with no fitness background can slow jog.

I've been running for 2 years now and 5:40/km is my 'easy pace' now for long runs but that's with 1000s of kms and a lot of work behind me.

If it's hot he really needs to stay on top of his hydration and electrolytes though and listen to his body. A half marathon isn't a fun run for beginners and the distance should be respected.

Two hours is not a very slow jog - it's 5:41km
pace (9:09 mile). That might seem slow to people who are fast runners, but OP's DH is a 35min 5k runner apparently - that's a lot slower.

Seriously, if he is fit and healthy, and he carbs up the night before, takes loads of fluids and a sone sugar sweets as well as if he needs, protein balls or something, 2 hours as a very slow jog is really doable

As I said previously , I can only walk but I do park run in 42 mins , and that's a fast walk, a wee jog for about 20 yards on the flat grass - and Im in my 60's and started very obese , a smoker, and basically a slob

I did 14 miles in the Glasgow kiltwalk with no training and bitterly regretted it after the first 2 miles. My hips and heels were agony 😣 By the time I got to the finish line I felt so sore and exhausted I felt like shouting at all the folks cheering us on to shut the fck up 🤦🏻‍♀️ I wish him luck 🍀

I don’t agree with this unless you mean the vast majority of those people walking, not running, for most of the 21km

It's probably been said (sorry not read full
thread) but a sub 2 half marathon means a pace of just over 9 mins per mile for 13 miles.

His 35 min 5k is over 11 mins per mile for 3 miles.

Sub 2 is not happening!

I'd suggest a run-walk strategy with the run segments at a very conservative pace. That should get him round. Please advise him against the rookie error of speeding off and wearing himself out in the first kilometre.

He's an idiot for sure but I would advise any pre running breakfast, coffee, gels during etc he tries out beforehand as many have said running can impact your digestion and make things go straight through you, but it's different for everyone. No one wants to shit themselves whilst running. I know a few have said races have portaloos but he may not get enough warning to get to one 💩
Also if he does manage to run it all he will not do sub 2 hours on no training and he will hurt so much the couple of days afterwards.

Thinking he can get sub 2hrs for a half marathon with zero training when he struggled with a 5k is arrogant and rude towards people who do train.
He won’t be in danger, unless you count the danger of looking completely ridiculous when he has to walk a lot of it and does it in 2/3 hrs. 🤷🏻‍♀️

That was my thinking.

I know absolutely nothing about running, but I do know what the effects of drinking lots of coffee can be.

On his own head be it.

Not at all - just not as sure as everyone else that a blister is the worst that could happen to a non runner aiming for a competitive time in a 'hot' half marathon with no training and an arrogant attitude

Highly unlikely he will die unless he has some kind of serious underlying health condition.

Highly likely that he will have a miserable time.

pretty much anyone (obviously age and illness aside) can do a half marathon it’s a matter for some people of how much you walk.

I wouldn’t worry

As I’ve said, he’s an idiot! You can’t help arrogant people (usually men) like this. You seem quite determined that he could die, I think that’s highly unlikely.

😂😂

She also said he is not a runner, struggled to run a 5K and is aiming for less than 2hrs - doesn't sound like someone who is going to be sensible and walk
Young,fit and healthy man died in GNR less than 2 years ago in cooler temperatures.

Let him get on with it. He won't come to any harm, but his pride might suffer if he's telling everyone he's going to do it under 2 hours

He's got a bit of time to get some training in and he doesn't have to run the whole time. Slow jog, walk, repeat. His choice, grown man, he will probably regret it...

Of course I know that, and to be flippant again, people unfortunately die from very banal things every day. OP has said he’s fairly fit and healthy, so he would be highly unlikely and extremely unlucky to die from a half marathon. I’m imagining he’ll be walking most of it, so the worst he’ll end up with is blisters. Which serves him right.