Page 8 | Half marathon with no training

MagpiePi · 19/07/2026 09:31

I’m going to watch this thread in the hope that the OP reports back after the event.
😂

ETA: With his ego I doubt he is going to listen to any advice from a bunch of random women off the internet.

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 19/07/2026 09:31

"He got the 2hr for the half marathon by thinking he could shave off some time from his 5km then multiplying it by 4"

😂cocky sod. If he couldn't do 5km in 30 minutes there's not a hope in hell he can do 4x 5km in 30 mins each (and an extra 1.1km to boot)

I'm sure he will survive the experience, but it will take him way longer than 2 hours and it will really hurt both during and after. I'm sure he'll have an excuse about 'the heat' or 'an upset stomach' (from all the coffee) which stopped him achieving his sub-2 dream....

Original poster

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 09:30

zurigo · 19/07/2026 09:29

I also wouldn’t recommend lots of coffee, running itself can make people need to poo, so add coffee plus lack of training and I’d be worried about shitting myself

This is very sound advice - tea is okay first thing, then water and electrolyte drinks only!

Great- I’ll pass that on to him 👍🏼 definitely sounds like coffee would be bad! We have a friend who goes to the gym a lot and uses pre workout so I think that’s where he’s got it from 🙈

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Original poster

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 09:29

EarringsandLipstick · 19/07/2026 09:27

I’ve met men like this over the years. What I expect will happen is that he’ll set off too fast, get a certain way, maybe even half way, before needing to stop. He’ll probably finish but painfully and not sub-2.

The point about the possible heat is most relevant. He really could collapse in that situation.

He is being silly & it’s pointless, but he’s an adult and can make his own choices. OP, I’d stay out of it, in all respects, but make it clear you’re not there to mind him when he’s in bits afterwards.

Sorry, I’m probably being really stupid here but with the heat being an issue will that only be if he runs too fast at the start? Or is that likely to be an issue just doing the run in general if it’s a hot day?

thanks for the advice (and thanks to everyone else on here too) x

OP posts:

zurigo · 19/07/2026 09:29

I also wouldn’t recommend lots of coffee, running itself can make people need to poo, so add coffee plus lack of training and I’d be worried about shitting myself

This is very sound advice - tea is okay first thing, then water and electrolyte drinks only!

EarringsandLipstick · 19/07/2026 09:27

I’ve met men like this over the years. What I expect will happen is that he’ll set off too fast, get a certain way, maybe even half way, before needing to stop. He’ll probably finish but painfully and not sub-2.

The point about the possible heat is most relevant. He really could collapse in that situation.

He is being silly & it’s pointless, but he’s an adult and can make his own choices. OP, I’d stay out of it, in all respects, but make it clear you’re not there to mind him when he’s in bits afterwards.

backformoreofthesame · 19/07/2026 09:26

Half marathon he should be ok ( assuming he’s nearer 40 than 60 and not seriously overweight )

he will start off too fast and he will be walking at the end - try and give him some praise at the end as he may be feeling a bit stupid

carbs and water for breakfast and carry jelly babies or the like

Original poster

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 09:24

But anyway, glad to know im being a bit dramatic and he’ll be fine. I’m sure he’ll have great fun and it’s a cool thing to say you’ve done!

I think I was just worried because I’d googled it and it comes up that it’s a bad idea and health risky and I had got myself worried because I literally no nothing about running so had no perspective on it haha

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msmandolin · 19/07/2026 09:23

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!

I did just this in my 20s! I was probably about 28ish? I finished in 2 and a quarter hours and ate a massive roast dinner with several pints afterwards. I was a regular (shortish distance) runner and very fit though.

I'm 33 now with diastasis recti and a 4 month old and I think it would kill me 😂

Original poster

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 09:21

I know a few people have commented saying they know someone who did the same without any training but then in their comment they go on to say actually they were a PT or a football player or something so it’s not like they’re starting from zero, they might not have running training but they just have a great level of fitness already

I’d say my DH is just normal level. He’s not unfit but not fit either. I think his 5km was around 35 minutes. He got the 2hr for the half marathon by thinking he could shave off some time from his 5kn then multiplying it by 4

OP posts:

pimplebum · 19/07/2026 09:20

I ran a half marathon , with v little prep and ii am chubby best thing ever ! Such fun

i took it slow

hes a grown up. Let him make mistakes

lechatdhenri · 19/07/2026 09:20

I know this sounds mean and i can see you want to help him, but maybe you should not?
I’m guessing you often come to the rescue when he decides on impulsive crazy plans, but it might be better to let him learn a lesson from this. He’s unlikely to cause himself serious long term harm but at some point in his life he needs to face reality himself. And if that comes from having to walk most of a half marathon in half covered in poo, then maybe he’ll think twice next time!

ThursdayLastWeek · 19/07/2026 09:18

People like this are always fine. It’s really annoying.

He’s given me the right ick though.

Original poster

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 09:18

MyThreeWords · 19/07/2026 07:38

A couple of bizarrely hostile posts on this thread. Why shouldn't the OP be concerned about her partner's health, and why the nasty remarks about 'drip feeding', just on the basis of one extra detail?

Thank you so much!

some of the comments have been strange haha. Totally fine with being told I’m worrying about nothing or being dramatic but from some of the comments you’d think I was a bad person for it😂

anyway, it’s up to him to do it if he wants. I’ll be there at the end either way (and will resist the urge to say I told you so😂)

im sure he’ll be absolutely fine if he walks part of it and is sensible and from the comments im hoping he doesn’t decide to run too fast at the start as it sounds like that would be bad

thanks again everyone for the advice xx

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Original poster

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 09:15

Thanks so much for all the advice! I’ll let him know about the carbs beforehand etc 👍🏼

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Original poster

sunallsummer · 19/07/2026 09:14

HelmholtzWatson · 19/07/2026 06:16

Any other information you'd like to drip feed to nudge people to your way of thinking?

Anyway, is it naive to run a 20k with no training? Yes. Will he do it relatively easily with minimal risk to his health? Also yes.

Show quote history

right, it was like midnight when I posted and I was half asleep. I forgot to add the sub 2hr bit to the OP but I had mentioned in it that he planned to take lots of caffeine and that he was planning on running really fast, so it’s not as much as a drip feed as you’re making out and you can take your snide comment elsewhere thanks 👍🏼

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BringBackCatsEyes · 19/07/2026 09:13

MandemChickenShop · 19/07/2026 08:11

I think he will be fine. he backs himself, that's the main thing. I know someone that did a marathon with no training in under 3 hrs. They were a PT so pretty fit.

Are you sure? Not many excellent club runners achieve that.

BringBackCatsEyes · 19/07/2026 09:10

Gingerwarthog · 19/07/2026 08:44

Runner here with 3 marathons and 20 halfs under my belt. Yes, you are right to be worried OP.
You need to respect the distance, 13 miles in hot weather is a challenge and if he struggles with 5k he won’t do it. Better to drop out, train properly and enter a new event.
If he does a lot of other sport (swimming, cycling, football- not just weights) and is under 40 he might be ok.

I’m thinking he’ll probably just end up walking most of it.

Passaggressfedup · 19/07/2026 09:08

What's normal fitness? Does he do any sport? How old is he?

I don't know anyone who has managed to run, ie. not included walking a half marathon without some running training. I managed to go from 10k to 15k to 21k quite quickly, but 5k to 21k, no chance.

Unless he is under 30 and involved in a regular sporting activity, I'm not sure how he expects to do it under 2 hours.

WonderingWanda · 19/07/2026 08:55

Can you suggest he does a couple of runs before hand. Maybe an 8 mile this week and a 10 mile next week. It would certainly help him to work out what pace he can sustain and whether he can keep going for that sort of distance.

borntobequiet · 19/07/2026 08:52

He sounds like an idiot. Tell him not to expect any sympathy from you when he’s incapacitated afterwards.

catsarethefuture · 19/07/2026 08:49

Pearl69 · 19/07/2026 08:12

Top tip - my DH runs marathons but never runs on a coffee (I think it comes back up !) . Your DH is a muppet but he ll live.

Huh? I do all my morning runs on coffee alone, and I always drink it before races (half&full distance)

Sugarfish · 19/07/2026 08:47

I have ran plenty of half marathons over the years, but this year life has got in the way and I’ve not been able to run as much as I’d like. I’m trying to do 5k a couple of times a week at the moment, and there is no way I’d attempt a half in 2 weeks!

Its not just that he’d struggle with fitness, or pull a muscle. There is a genuine risk of a medical emergency, especially during the summer with the warmer weather. I’ve seen friends who have been experienced runners get into difficulties. It doesn’t even need to be heatwave conditions. The summer sun shining on you whilst running can make you overheat quickly!

Of course it’s not guaranteed that he will injure himself, but the risk is higher. If he does insist on running it, for the love of god don’t let him drink coffee in the morning before, eat spicy food the day before, or take any of those energy gels during the race! Best thing he can have in my experience is banana on toast, jelly babies and water.

Gingerwarthog · 19/07/2026 08:44

Runner here with 3 marathons and 20 halfs under my belt. Yes, you are right to be worried OP.
You need to respect the distance, 13 miles in hot weather is a challenge and if he struggles with 5k he won’t do it. Better to drop out, train properly and enter a new event.
If he does a lot of other sport (swimming, cycling, football- not just weights) and is under 40 he might be ok.

EverytimeItPours · 19/07/2026 08:26

Savoretti · 19/07/2026 08:18

How old is he?
My brothers used to run marathons in their 20s and 30s. They played a bit of squash and football sometimes so fit ish but not runners. They managed just fine. Young bodies, strong impulsive heads. He will be fine if he is determined 💪

But op said her husband struggled to finish a 5k