Half marathon with no training

Up, not yo!

You do know people have actually died running half marathons
It seems to me someone arrogant enough to think he doesn't need to train is also unlikely to pace themselves or take on enough water and in the current climate is going to be dehydrated and struggle to stay upright
Let's hope he doesn't die - but I wouldn't be so flippant

Half marathon and marathon runner here. My personal trainer did a half with no running training but was in his twenties and very fit. My guess is it’ll probably not kill him
but it’ll teach him a lesson. A half is much more than twice as hard as a 10k. What he could do is train for a half properly, then he might actually enjoy it!

I’m a mid 40s woman of average fitness. I run a 5km in a similar time to your husband. I’ve done silly impulsive things like this in the past. The issue isn’t running the race without training, it is the following week / days of agony 🤣 make sure he gets up and about the next day so he doesnt get too much pain to walk. Hubby and I did a 40 mile quite slowly but it’s doable.

I really agree with @EarringsandLipstick and a couple of other experienced runners here.

I did a half on a whim when I was around 30. I had previously been fit but allowed myself to get out of shape and put on weight. I had 2 months to prepare and finished in just under 2h but it was hard.

I am now 46 and hadn't run since having my 8yo twins, although I am very "gym fit". I started again last year, just running recreationally, and last weekend completed my goal of doing 21km at a continuous run in under 2h 30m. It was an unexpectedly hot day and the last 1.5km were fucking brutal, being honest.

I think the big variables are

What age is he? Can't see it anywhere but big difference between 25 and 45

How hot is it meant to be where you are? I planned my 21km because the heatwave was meant to be over - but then the temp stayed up and it was a 30° day. I beat that by getting up early but obvs you can't do that for a race

Is he likely to be sensible about fuelling? I cannot do coffee before running and some gels agree with me and some really don't. He should experiment with a couple beforehand.

Is he likely to listen to his body if he starts feeling poorly? I had coffee with a colleague last week who is an experienced runner but had a heart attack. These things can just happen. My colleague is extremely sensible and sought help/ went to first aid as soon as he started feeling bad, which probably saved his life (he collapsed right next to an intensive care nurse who was volunteering there).

Does he have existing sports kit he trains in? I bought a pair of new shoes for Xmas and the size had been missold to me - I did a 10k in them, fine, then a 16k - not fine at all. If he is getting new shoes or is not used to spending time in his existing trainers, that is a risk.

And warning, if he does get a blister (likely) do NOT put Compeed or similar on an open / ripped blister. They are for blisters which haven't torn only. I did it once when I was running a lot in my 20s and it was ... bad.

You definitely would be able to if you trained properly for it, unlike OP's DH 😄

I feel that a lot of people sign up for events on (often drunken) impulse, can't be bothered to do the training, and assume they'll be fine. Respect the distance! 🏃🏽‍♀️

I'm only posting here to save the thread because I'm desperate to know what time he gets at the end of the day. I'm sure he'll finish it but I'm guessing it'll be closer to 3hours than 2hours. Fwiw good luck to him, I can easily run 5k in under half an hour but I don't think I'd be able to complete a half marathon, it seems so far 😅

He’ll get to the finish line probably, but he might hate it. Definitely no coffee!!

The lime one is slightly less disgusting than the orange 😂 @EarringsandLipstick

My DD has signed up for Manchester and London next year. Now thats something to worry about

As someone who trained very hard to achieve a sub-2 hour half marathon, I think he’s crazy and he won’t manage it in under two hours. The distance is probably doable if he takes it slowly and he‘ll be in pain during and for some days afterwards. You are right to be concerned.

Also tell him to stay hydrated, not push himself too hard, and not to experiment or overdo caffeine/untested energy products etc in case he gets caught short.

Yes because all young people are naturally fit and able to run 21k. This guy can barely run 5… I know plenty of young people who struggle to walk upstairs without getting out of breath. Youth doesn’t automatically make you able to run long distances, training does.

I've done a half with no specific training but being a regular jogger/runner and knew I had comfortably run 9/10miles before.

As long as he can walk he'll be able to get round.

I would be concerned about giving himself tendonitis though. That can be a real drag for months to get over.

Rhabdomyolysis is indeed nasty, dropping dead due to a previously unknown heart abnormality is probably worse, and both are statistically possible but unlikely and can happen irrespective of training.

When I was 30 I started running again after an injury. It took me 30 mins to run 5k the first week, and I found it hard.

After 6+ months of training several times a week I could run a half marathon in 2 hours 15 mins.

Your husband is delusional about running and sounds ignorant about how to fuel his body!

On no training it will definitely feel like the second half of a marathon

Ah thanks @Youspurnme & @WhosGotTheKeysToMyBimma I haven’t used / seen these (even tho SIS are my preferred gels)

@EarringsandLipstick SIS have both
https://www.scienceinsport.com/shop-sis/go-range/go-gels/sis-go-energy-electrolyte-gels-pack

There's energy gels with electrolytes. I assumed that's what was meant.

I used some yesterday on a really hot, really hilly 50k

You’ve said he has general good fitness but you’ve not mentioned what kind of training he actually does do (if not for running), because that will help. In any case, he’ll be fine. If he's not going to get his sub 2 he’ll realise and slow down and he’ll be with loads of other people doing a similar pace.

yeah, the coffee thing won’t help but it probably won’t hurt either.

are you sure you mean electrolytes? And not energy gels? Entirely different.

The gels are a source of carbohydrates (energy) during a long race; electrolytes are usually taken after, to replenish sodium and other minerals lost when racing.

I initially misunderstood this as meaning "Is it the first half of a marathon or the second half?" I understand the second half is much harder so I'd always opt for the first.

30 minutes time for a 5km ..and thinks he will go FASTER in a half marathon 😅😅😅😅

Ambitious is one word for it 🤣 My friend who is considered a fast runner and does marathons, ultras and 100 mile running events only just got a sub 2 hour half marathon.