To think there is no way my SIL will manage to run the marathon?

[edsheeransgingerbeard]

This will probably make me sound like a horrid unsupportive cow, which I'm not, honest!
We were all hugely surprised yesterday when SIL revealed that she has secured a charity London Marathon place. She currently does zero exercise, refuses to walk anything other than short distances as she finds it too much hard work, and is fairly unhealthy generally. She hasn't done any kind of running / jogging for over 20yrs (and never a marathon)
It is obviously fantastic that she wants to start training, and has a goal to aim for. But to go from zero to 26 miles in 4 months is madness, is it not?
I'm a huge lazy glutton right now. I have run a few half marathons over the last few years and I think I could probably get round a half marathon course by the end of April if I started training next week. But not a whole marathon.
AIBU to think that a very unfit person who does not exercise in any way at all can successfully train for a marathon in just over 4 months?

My ex did the marathon via a charity place and trained for a year was very fit and healthy taking just over 4hrs, the pain after for days was nothing compared to the raising £5k you had to guarantee to raise for the charity (BHF) hopefully she's up to the challenge of both!

She needs to "Jeff" it. There are run/ walk plans which would take a lot of impact off and reduce the injury risk. Even so, 26.2 miles is a bloody long way and hard work so even if she's aiming for 6-8 hours, she still needs to put milage and therefore a lot of time into training. Plus she'll have the fundraising to do which if you don't have an affluent base of contacts to put ££££ together, is a bloody tough mission on its own.

I went from nothing to London marathon in a few months too. Took me almost 6 hours to finish but I finished

As long as she is determined she will finish.

@Zoecarter, I think @Justontherightsideofnormal has every right to state her opinion. An unfit 50 yr old with a sedentary lifestyle who isn't (and hasn't been) a runner, is going to hurt herself trying to run a marathon by April, not having started now we are in to January. That means first aiders or potentially hospital visits - self inflicted. This isn't a 'Couch to 5K' - which would be something to encourage. As someone else has already said, sadly people can even die doing a marathon. People watch the London Marathon and seriously underestimate just how gruelling it is to run a marathon.

I honestly don't think people realise how taxing a marathon or a half is on your body! Was it Katie price and jade goody who tried to do it with no training and dropped out straight away. I admire people who put in so much effort with training and fitness, esp through the winter months.

I can't see her doing it either, not even walking it. Maybe if she was a fit person who walks a lot but not if she hasn't already got a basic level of fitness.
I wouldn't tell her that though, she'll find out soon enough. Just support and encourage her.

I recommend a great book called the non-runners marathon training handbook. This is doable but she needs to start training immediately!

Possible maybe if she starts v serious training like now. I started couch to 5k in October but unfortunately not got past couch yet but working on it

ballsdeep Katie Price dropped out with a knee injury between 6 and 9 miles. Jade Goody managed 18.5 miles after training for 4 hours.

OP you are horrid. So unsupportive and demeaning. Maybe she intends to walk most of it? Maybe she will train? As long as she raises money for the charity, surely she is doing good? You're not pretending that you are worried for the purity of the sporting event are you? You just sound jealous that someone is aiming at something.

Nah. I run 10km a few times a week and I don't think I could run a marathon in 4 months.

The thing is - she doesn’t have just over 4 months to train. She will need to schedule in a 3 week taper and at least 3 step back rest weeks in that time. She has about 12 weeks to increase her mileage from zero to at least 20 miles (we are all winging it after mile 20 to be honest!)

I’m a slightly above average for my age runner. I run 4-5 times a week and have done London a few times. I have always started training for it in early December - with a starting base mileage of around 25k a week.
I’m running for time though which I’m assuming your sil is not. She’ll get round but it will definitely hurt!

How though? It's a tough thing to get into, charity places want thousands sometimes and you have to raise that regardless. Is she not pulling your leg?

@Africa2go I'm not being judgemental, I'm really not. I have some experience of running and I know how hard it can be. I'm mega unfit right now so I know I couldn't do it!
SIL is lovely, but notorious for being very sedentary. I've tried to persuade her to do walks with me in the past but she's refused. Of course I'll be super encouraging, but that's not going to change basic physiology.

Is anyone else picturing the HIMYM episode where Barney bets he can run the marathon with no training and then gets mugged on the subway because he can’t walk?

I’ve been running since my early teens and I’ve done 10k races and even a half marathon once without much training but I was still very fit and had youth on my side.

IF she manages to complete it, and it sounds unlikely, she’ll be putting her body under a huge amount of pressure and will certainly injure herself.

Why didn’t she start with park run and see if she liked that before signing up for a bloody marathon?

I don't understand why a serious athlete would want to run it, I understand its so crowded that you can't run that fast even if you want to, unless you're one of the elites of course.

Maybe she won't get up to the full distance running wise, but attempting it will undoubtedly be good for her. I wouldn't piss on her chips. People should never be sneered at or discouraged for wanting to take positive steps to improve themselves. Better she try and fail then never try at all.

@Sickofrain how am I horrid? I'm not taking the Micky out of her. I'm being realistic, on an anonymous forum. I accept you saying that IABU, but not mean.
Most people on the thread seem to think the same as me, though. It's a wonderful thing to try and do. She needs to raise £2000, a fantastic amount of money for a charity. I just really think she's being unrealistic.

She ain't going to do it if she's not really interested and totally sedentary. Bet she has zero idea just how far 26.2 miles really is. I did one and had done all the training and run for a few years and it still took 5 hours and hurt like hell.

Will people sponsor her though? Realistically people want to believe you will actually make the start line and not drop out at mile 7..

@Justontherightsideofnormal Has he joined a running club? It’s a lot easier to get in through a running club than the main ballot! My club get a couple of places a year and we do a draw before our christmas run.

Just to reassure everyone; I will be being supportive and enthusiastic. When I found out she was doing it I said "bloody hell, you're brave but that's amazing. Right can you get me running again too please?" I'm not going to "piss on her chips".

So she's started training then I presume?

I wouldn’t sponsor someone to walk the London marathon. Bit of a joke really.

Its mind over matter apparently.
I know somebody in similar circumstances who applied and secured a place in the New York marathon (fundraised for charity also). She did do it and she did it in five hours and 50 minutes. She is very strong mentally.