Can “anyone” really do a marathon?

100% this!!

And that feeling of crossing your first marathon finish line……. I’m about to start sobbing again Marathons always make me cry 😢

ooooh an ultra- good luck!!

Injuries notwithstanding, almost everyone who can run 5km could train for a marathon.

I think the more impossible it feels for you to start training, the greater the sense of achievement in doing it. First time marathon training is amazing as every week you’re running further than you’ve ever run before in your life, and the impossible gets a little more possible every day.

i’ve had a long time off distance running for various reasons but having run a few marathons and it being highly unlikely I will ever better my best time, it is my ambition now to complete an ultra.

And if you do get in you can defer for a year to give yourself more time!

yes anyone really can- I’ve done 9 and seen/supported a fair few non runners complete one! You just build it up slowly!

Im a slow runner so I train by time rather than distance (as 20 miles would see me out for hours and hours) so my long runs on my last marathon plan stop at 3.30hrs!

The London Marathon is awesome- yes other marathons exist but it’s a truly magical day full of emotion and feeling like a megastar as you run round!

Im very envious watching the Tv today as currently can’t run 2.62 miles post baby let alone London 🤣

I always start with could I walk it? Well, yes, I can walk 10 miles now, so with an improved fitness I could.

Running a marathon is then about dedicating yourself to a sensible training regime and being prepared to do this week in week out slowly and gradually. It will take a lot of time when you get closer to the event and you'll get days of cold and days of rain.

Having run a few half marathons, when I see someone complete a marathon, I don't see them finishing 26 miles....I see them.ending the challenge and investment of hours of training with 26 mile ending.

I am in awe of each and every one. Half's were a big enough challenge.

DH trained for a half marathon for 6 months, had a trainer so trained properly. Then towards the end of the race something in his knee went, hobbled across the finish line and was out of action for a year. He has managed to do 5k regularly since then but once he gets to 10k, starts feeling his knee again

If you can do 10k then you can do a half, and if you can do a half then you can do a marathon. Not right now obviously, but in time and with careful training. You'd be best off mixing up your terrain and gradient too, as it's often the repetitive pounding that causes injuries rather than the running itself. Good luck!

That’s not ‘the worst that can happen’, sadly.

No, or at least it’s unhealthy or risking injury for some people to train that much. Eg muscular skeletal conditions that one may not know about before training.

The worst that happens is that you don't complete it. That's all!!
Just go home! You've e still done more than most people by simply trying to.

You are really wrong about this. Humans evolved to run very long distances, slowly - it's how we were able to succeed as hunter -gatherers as we ran our prey down and exhausted it over long periods of time. A marathon is a cultural touchstone but is by no means the limit of human endurance, and people who run long distances (marathons and beyond) are pretty much without exception some of the fittest, healthiest people you'll ever meet.

Long distances on hard surfaces can be punishing on your joints, but nowhere near as much as being overweight is. I'm honestly baffled by people who perpetuate this myth that long distance running is bad for you; it's literally what we are meant to do.

My friend is doing the London one today
2 years ago she was 5 stone overweight and could only walk 2 or 3 miles very slowly and then would be knackered.
She walked and then walked and ran a bit and walked and then ran slowly and then ran more quickly and then a bit further. She had a couple of injuries but took advice and kept going
Its amazing what she has achieved, the main thing is determination I think and a refusal to give up.
I could never run a marathon though, Mostly because I have no desire to

No not everyone can and it's probably pretty bad for your joints, knees and feet I'd have thought. It's not natural for humans to run that distance and for such a length of time, carrying out a repetitive movement and pounding solid ground for no real purpose.

I am doing one later this year- and am the same speed as you are.
Have done one before- and it's fine!
It's just miles after a certain point.
So long as either your mind or your legs will let you carry on then you're fine!
If either of those let you down- rely on other runners!!

I entered the ballot for 2017 and got a place first time. It was one of the best days of my life. No question.

yes, it is definitely doable, although I wouldn't have believed that when i was doing 5/10ks. I worked up to a half marathon then followed a marathon training plan. it helped me massively to have a running buddy, both for the long runs and general accountability

@Tophelleborine there's research for ultra and repeated marathons. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6139872/

It's a lot to do to your body. I mean Fillipes collapsed afterwards!

No. Sorry to be the downer. I run, three times a week, typical distances (5-10k). I have a foot thing and a back thing. Perfectly manageable at 5-10k a time but not for really long distances.

My experience is that a lot of people get injured training and lots of people end up injured in a way which means shorter distances aren't possible afterwards. My colleague is currently limping around after training too hard. My DH was a hip issue after training too hard.

I'm of the opinion that humans are made to run, well lope, for decent distances. We aren't made for marathons. If you'd like to, absolutely do. It's a great challenge. But not everyone can or should.

What do you think is unhealthy about marathon running?

Mental ability improves concurrent with physical training. If you have the time to fit in the training schedule (including rest), you can do it.

Also, what does successfully completing a marathon mean? It's the same route for everyone, but not the same challenge. It's an individual thing.

Of course, I know people who do ultra marathons. Takes a lot of training, discipline, etc. Good luck I’m sure you’ll get lots of tips here.

Well I was training for a half marathon and my fibula shattered and my ankle tendon ripped through too much running. Apparently being female, being middle aged and slightly overweight is a triad of doom according to my orthopedic consultant. Though I did subsequently get diagnosed with a genetic condition which means I am a lot more susceptible to soft tissue injury so my running dreams are definitely behind me now 😁😩.

Dh runs ultras with no injury issues so runs a couple of marathons a week as training runs, he runs all the time though. His longer run at a weekend might be 50 miles off road. He’s mad.

So yes if you are prepared to put the training in and don’t get injuries then yes. But i couldn’t do it.

Absolutely!

I do one in 2019 and it will forever be one of the best things I have ever done in my life.

Have fun OP!