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?

I guess that all else being equal, it is possible for an overweight, sedentary, non running 50 year old to slog their way by hook or by crook round the extremely motivating and lavishly supported London Mara course.

What makes me think that OPs sister in law is unlikely to do so is the bit in the OP where SIL refuses to walk anything other than short distances because it’s too much like hard work. To slog out the mara on no training would need someone to be mentally strong and not mind walking, which isn’t the impression OP gave. I love an underdog and an inspirational story of triumph over the odds as much as the next person, but not sure this is a goer...

I don't think it's fair to say everyone who's disappointed to miss out on the ballot "can just get a charity place."
Yes, you can, but then you're relying on your friends and family to raise the minimum sponsorship, which is huge - for London it's usually 2k. That's why I've never done it that way, as I think it's a lot to ask of people. The one time I was sponsored for a marathon I raised around £700, which was great - but far off the 2k required for London.
As a pp said, the way for "serious" runners to get in is through GFA or Championship places, but that's a tough ask too!

(Better idea just to run a different marathon IMO....)

I went from zero to 10k in 6 weeks and was fine... but then added an extra 5k the following week because I thought it wouldn't be a problem. Wrong! I ended up with a stress fracture that took 12 weeks to fully heal. The doctor who I saw after my X-ray said these injuries are very common indeed in people who go from zero to several miles in a short space of time. I honestly think she'll injure herself in training and have to back out, which is a shame if there's someone else who missed out on a place and had already begun training.

I ran the Dublin marathon (in I think 2007). I know I did it in 4hrs35 as it was my best marathon time. My inlaws, who were 60 years old and of average fitness (no sports) walked the course with family and friends “for the craic”. They did it though! In about 9 hours I think. They were holding each other up at the end and they had a lift from the on hand “ambulance” from the end (which was probably packed up) to the pub they were meeting everyone at. Don’t underestimate what people can achieve. It sounds like your sister in law only has 7 hours to complete but if she trains sensibly she should get round in time with a run a bit/walk a bit approach (which I do think is all she should aim for at this point).

I have run London (I was lucky with a club ballot place) and every runner is treated like an absolute star for the day. It is wonderful. It is too busy to get your best time though (I think I got about 5 and a half hours).

I have been very sedentary and lazy for a good few years now as life/childcare/night shift and low motivation have taken hold - but a couple of days ago I bought a fitness tracker determined to do 10,000 steps a day in 2020 and this thread motivated me to get a start on my steps with a morning walk (so already done 5000 steps today). Onwards and upwards. Good luck to your SIL. Let us know how she gets on.

In my opinion her exercise strategy is decidedly suboptimal
but God loves a trier 😁

FoamingAtTheUterus no-one has ever run 40 miles in 'a couple of hours' Eliod Kipchoge only beat the two hour record for a marathon last autumn - fastest man on Earth. 🤔

Winter2020

Every runner certainly isn't treated like a star, don't you recall all the controversy last year over the back runners being hounded and heckled?

Wish the OP would tell us whether the SIL has even started running yet...

Totally agree Runningonempty84 Charity and ballot places are completely different things. OP is being silly to compare the one, resentfully, with the other.

The OP's SIL has a charity place so she must have convinced them somehow!

I know somebody who did couch to marathon starting In January. She was determined and paced it with a Jeffing plan but was nearer 40.

I think with a good plan, good diet, lots of sleep, stretching and strength training she WILL do it! She has to be prepared for the event to take over her life - the training is phenomenal, I've done a couple of half's and they were hard. The fundraising too will be challenging, her employer might pledge if she asks?

Good music helps a lot, podcasts and audio books are popular too as it is very boring running for hours at a time. If she can find a running buddy (you) ? who can join her even better, eg when she is at mile 8 join her then?

Get the whole family on board!

I'd love to hear how she gets on! I'm down to do another half and feeling like I can't this year but feeling inspired today.

Does she know she has to pay the money regardless? dont thin people will be impressed if she pulls out is she taking it seriously

It sounds like a tall order OP, but I sincerely hope you can come back in 5 months with a tale of triumph and a life made better.
Also justtherightsideofnormal you need to get that "boiling piss" seen to. Sounds nasty.

A colleague of mine, early 50s,started from scratch at Christmas and managed to do it - it took a lot of time and effort but is possible. I don't think she'd do it again though!

On another note, if anyone is looking for a place in the London Landmarks half marathon, please PM me as a small charity I work with has a couple of places (available some low key fundraising obligations attached).

I think it's a bit disrespectful to all the people who genuinely prepare for it - particularly those who like me aren't natural runners - to think she can just rock up and have a go.

Biology is a fact so her body isn't going magically morph into that of a long-distance runner overnight. If she doesn't put the training in, she physically won't be able to do it, or will end up injured.

She's an adult though - as long as she stumps up the financial commitment for the charity, the only person who'll be affected by her decision is her.

I think it's a bit disrespectful to all the people who genuinely prepare for it

Personally I’d prefer to support fundraisers than people who do it for personal achievement t only.

4 months is AGES, she can definitely do it if she really wants to. However, I very much doubt she will, as going from zero to training 3-4 times a week is incredibly unlikely. So basically if you sponsor her don't do it with an expectation she will actually complete the course.

It's hard but not impossible. The runner for charity I know ran/walked their first London Marathon because she'd never really done any training or indeed running before signing up. Shes doing her fourth one this year and for the last one ran a very respectable time and is expected to do even better this year.
The London Marathon's a bit of an odd race because you have both committed athletes and total amateurs competing.

So basically if you sponsor her don't do it with an expectation she will actually complete the course
My friend who ran the Marathon's biggest fear is not completing and losing the sponsorship money. I don't know how it works given that most is given up front via JustGiving but my understanding is if you don't cross that finish line the charity gets nothing. That alone should motivate her on the day.

Good on her, but I think it’s going to be very tough and potentially dangerous. I exercise a lot and would live to have a go, but running is not my forte, so I know I’d find it impossible.

I'm a regular runner and have run several marathons. Usually I'd be gearing up for one in April but I'm not signed up for any this year. I normally run 80-100 miles per month, but only managed 20 in December due to work. However I re-started last week and ha e run about 4 times since then. I would not fancy starting marathon training now, and I'm pretty fit! While it may be possible to get round, the injury risks are horrendous, even if you walk.

Personally I’d prefer to support fundraisers than people who do it for personal achievement t only.

It doesn’t have to be either/or. And of course you could support charities regardless of their buying places in sports events

Ok, maybe 'few' would have been an appropriate word choice. I was.being flippant

Either ways the point still remains the same, the London marathon isn't particularly arduous. It's 26 miles of flat / running and walking. If kids (( and unfit fatties like me )) can manage the hell that is the C2B with miles of hills

I think it's a bit disrespectful to all the people who genuinely prepare for it

^I agree. But then I also think the cut off time should be reduced to 7hrs.

Rowenamud I agree with that. The 'glory' runners can apply for charity places just the same as anybody else, they're not any more deserving than anybody else.

And of course you could support charities regardless of their buying places in sports events

Marathon fundraising creates a lot of publicity for the charity. I’m far more likely to support a non runner aiming for a marathon especially if I have any personal connection to them even if it is for a charity not already close to my heart.
The non fundraising personal achievement only runners can run marathon distances whenever they want.

She won't manage at all. She'll maybe walk the majority or give up half way round.

She's an idiot too. As others have said people have died running marathons, and they were healthy.

She's not an idiot and you have no way of knowing that she won't finish, ChristmasSweet. I'm glad she's not posting on this thread with posters like you needlessly and pointlessly putting her down.

It's her choice and decision, not yours.