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Half marathon with no training

252 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:
Triskellion75 · 20/07/2026 13:13

Ooooft I think he's in for a bit of a shock. I've done two HMs with proper training and I find the idea that you can just rock up and complete one with on zero training and fuelled by coffee both amusing and irritating.

BarnacleBeasley · 20/07/2026 13:19

MrsOni · 20/07/2026 13:04

Someone with a good level of fitness could get round a half, but anyone who tells you that they can hold that pace for that long without specific running training is in the minority and/or lying. Which is something men do quite often.

Maybe, and I'm sure some of them were lying. Others would be the ones who'd have the aptitude to run significantly faster if they trained (more than 1300 men ran sub 75 min half marathons in the UK last year vs 53 women). I don't think we actually disagree anyway - I agree it's a minority, but probably a bigger minority than it would be for women. Either way, it's not really relevant here as OP's DH is definitely not one of them.

BringBackCatsEyes · 20/07/2026 13:50

BarnacleBeasley · 20/07/2026 13:19

Maybe, and I'm sure some of them were lying. Others would be the ones who'd have the aptitude to run significantly faster if they trained (more than 1300 men ran sub 75 min half marathons in the UK last year vs 53 women). I don't think we actually disagree anyway - I agree it's a minority, but probably a bigger minority than it would be for women. Either way, it's not really relevant here as OP's DH is definitely not one of them.

Are you sure it's as many as 53 women running sub 1hr 15? That's really very fast!

BarnacleBeasley · 20/07/2026 14:38

BringBackCatsEyes · 20/07/2026 13:50

Are you sure it's as many as 53 women running sub 1hr 15? That's really very fast!

Yes, it's way faster than I ever managed! You can see the UK rankings on powerof10.uk for different distances and years (click on the road & distance tab). They record rankings for women up to 1:40 and men up to 80 mins for half marathon.

BringBackCatsEyes · 20/07/2026 14:48

BarnacleBeasley · 20/07/2026 14:38

Yes, it's way faster than I ever managed! You can see the UK rankings on powerof10.uk for different distances and years (click on the road & distance tab). They record rankings for women up to 1:40 and men up to 80 mins for half marathon.

Cool. Yeah..I was very good (not that good!)....10 years ago. Clinging on with fingernails at the moment.

Scarydinosaurs · 24/07/2026 05:14

How did he get on??

Tinkerbellflowers · 24/07/2026 08:02

I think there is another week yet. But would love to know how his training is going.

Merkins · 01/08/2026 16:50

I can’t be the only one dying to know how it went. Please come back and tell us OP!

BringBackCatsEyes · 01/08/2026 17:16

A Sunday half marathon is far more common than a Saturday one, so I bet it’s tomorrow.

Merkins · 01/08/2026 18:18

BringBackCatsEyes · 01/08/2026 17:16

A Sunday half marathon is far more common than a Saturday one, so I bet it’s tomorrow.

Good point!

Youspurnme · 02/08/2026 13:05

Checking in to see how he managed 😂

Merkins · 02/08/2026 17:52

It must be over by now.

Tinkerbellflowers · 02/08/2026 18:36

Please don't keep us in suspense!

Lins77 · 02/08/2026 18:37

@sunallsummer we need an update! 😄

Youspurnme · 02/08/2026 20:10

I’m on tenterhooks here 😂

Gateappreciation · 02/08/2026 20:15

Me too!

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 😮

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.

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!” 😂

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 🤢

CalmConfident · 03/08/2026 13:11

I wonder if he went through with it ?

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!

Merkins · 03/08/2026 14:46

BringBackCatsEyes · 03/08/2026 13:48

maybe he’s still running? Come on OP!

🤣🤣🤣

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!!

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 😂

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