To think that MIL is being ridiculous

[BasinHaircut]

DH has just had a call from his mother who has apparently just applied to a charity for a place in the London marathon.

MIL is 59, does absolutely no exercise, and I guarantee will not go for one single run unless someone goes with her. She has signed up with her 60yo partner, who works long hours so wouldn't be able to run on a week day before 7:30pm, so I have no idea when they think they will train.

Her partner has also just spent the best part of a month suffering v badly with his asthma, so hardly the time to start crash marathon training I'd have thought?

Am I right in thinking that any sane person planning on running the marathon would have started training before now?

We are a bit worried that firstly, MIL could cause herself serious physical harm, and secondly, that they are going to ask people to sponsor them (they have to raise around £3k between them) and not do it properly, or at all. The upshot of that being that they are letting the charity down and denying someone who would actually do it the chance?

She can just walk it.

They can walk it, I done the GNR with a broken foot.

That's hardly doing the marathon is it?

Would take 9-10 hours, and walking round when all the roads have re-opened isn't exactly 'doing the marathon' is it? I'm sure that's not what she means.

Oh and they are going on holiday for 2 weeks, 3 weeks before the race.

I ran the London marathon once. On new years day, I could run for 40 mins. By April I ran it in just under 5 hours. It is possible, just bloody hard work. I was pretty determined though and religiously followed a training programme.

it's an insane plan.
remind her of jade goody when she tried to do just that.

I'm sure you're right and it will go badly, but as adults they have to find this out for themselves. Don't suffer by making yourself the bad guy over this. Leave them to learn their own lesson.

No, loads of people walk it - cancer survivors, people with disabilities

Lots of people take all day and all night to do it

My friend did it in 14 hours while undergoing cancer treatment. Trust me, she did the marathon - it's not all runners

neolara that's just it she won't train.

And small yes I was thinking of Jade Goody actually.

Laurie I think that's a bit different.

I'm not having a go at people who walk it when they have a disability or have just fought cancel etc, I just think that (aside from the health risks of trying to run 26 miles without sufficient preparation) that it's a bit disingenuous to ask people to sponsor you if you aren't going to do it properly.

Do you think she's going to try to run it then?

Is there something else going on between you and her - I would just normally assume someone was 'doing' it if they walked it - so I'm wondering if she tends to be a bit daft and you're exasperated?

Do you think she's going to try to run it then?

Is there something else going on between you and her - I would just normally assume someone was 'doing' it if they walked it - so I'm wondering if she tends to be a bit daft and you're exasperated?

I agree with you OP.
If you sign up to something like that, you have to put in the work to make it work. It's just irresponsible not to - the first aiders only want to have to treat as few people as possible. It just deprives other who might be more suitable candidates, of a place. If you aren't a runner then you need to train for months to be ready for a marathon.

Visir London website

www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/26500223-virgin-money-london-marathon

Run walk or watch.

Go walk 26.2 miles yourself then come back and tell us it's not doing it properly op?

Yes Laurie, she thinks she is going to run it.

And at a reasonable pace of wAlkibg it's more likely to take 6-7 hours than 9-10.

They are nuts, clearly, but it doesn't really affect you other than you having to decide about sponsoring them.

Why not volunteer to be her running partner and help her train for it then?

I walked the London Marathon (or most of it, I slow-jogged part of it - took me about 8 hours total). I definitely "did" the marathon, I have a finishers medal and branded space blanket to show for it.

I didn't need a first aider, I finished and I'm proud I did it. And I'm sure the charity I did it for appreciated the £1000 I raised, no matter how long it took me.

So, good for your MIL. I hope she gets round safely and successfully, and raises the money she's aiming for.

I'd love to send my mil off around the London marathon route with no training, it would be payback time

Well if I was sponsoring someone who was running the marathon, I would hand the money over regardless and wouldn't be bothered at all if they only managed a couple of miles.

Applying for a place doesn't mean she will get a place - places are VERY hard to get.

Applying is no guarantee of a place, it's pretty over subscribed isn't it? Presumably the charity will ask applicants what their race time is so they don't waste a place on people like your MIL who haven't actually got any running experience. So I wouldn't concern yourself too much just yet.