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If I regularly run 10k, can I prepare for a marathon in 2 weeks?

272 replies

54321nought · 19/08/2021 21:36

I've been offered a place in a marathon in 2 weeks time, which I want to take, but realistically, I am not sure I can finish it within the time limit ( 6 hours)

Any advice on diet and training to give myself the best shot?

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 24/08/2021 08:02

@Indoctro

I ran the London marathon 3 stone overweight and pretty much no training and had only just started running

It was a roasting hot day and it took me 5 hours 18 minutes

It's definitely doable especially if you have done the distance before

When I did it I didn't even actually know what a marathon was Confused

Young and stupid

You will be fine

The key part of that is "young".

OP is in her fifties and will be much much more injury prone than someone in their twenties or even thirties.

54321nought · 24/08/2021 11:30

OP is in her fifties and will be much much more injury prone than someone in their twenties or even thirties

I don't think I am more injury prone, because I have decades of on and off running behind me, and have grown old in the habit of running

I think, from what I've seen at the back end of trail runs and ultras, that old women are possibly the demographic with the most stamina

I think you are probably right about an older person who has never run before

OP posts:
54321nought · 24/08/2021 11:31

Anyway, no major issues from the 16 miles yesterday. I woke up with mild stiffness in my calves, but it has worn of now

OP posts:
igelkott2021 · 24/08/2021 11:38

@Indoctro

I ran the London marathon 3 stone overweight and pretty much no training and had only just started running

It was a roasting hot day and it took me 5 hours 18 minutes

It's definitely doable especially if you have done the distance before

When I did it I didn't even actually know what a marathon was Confused

Young and stupid

You will be fine

If you took 5 hours when you were 3 stone overweight, presumably you've now lost the weight and do it in under 3 hours!

Meanwhile, for us mere mortals...

I've been running for over ten years and there's no way I'd take on a marathon with training, never mind without. I would quite like not to get injured. Running marathons is silly. However, I am going out for a (10k) run with a friend this evening who runs marathons every weekend for fun. He is a machine...

Marguerite2000 · 24/08/2021 11:40

If you're planning on run-walking I don't see any reason why not. I walk a lot and do 15 minutes quite easily.
Maybe fit in a couple of long walks instead of running over the last week?

54321nought · 24/08/2021 11:42

@Marguerite2000

If you're planning on run-walking I don't see any reason why not. I walk a lot and do 15 minutes quite easily. Maybe fit in a couple of long walks instead of running over the last week?
yes, I am going to do that.
OP posts:
igelkott2021 · 24/08/2021 11:48

Ok now I've read the first five pages of this thread and I think it's a wind-up. Nobody who runs 10k three times a week and has allegedly done marathons in the past can be this clueless about the demands of a marathon.

Hill sprints?

Running two half marathons in a day to see if you can do it?

Oh dear.

Go back to your bridge OP.

54321nought · 24/08/2021 12:27

@igelkott2021

Ok now I've read the first five pages of this thread and I think it's a wind-up. Nobody who runs 10k three times a week and has allegedly done marathons in the past can be this clueless about the demands of a marathon.

Hill sprints?

Running two half marathons in a day to see if you can do it?

Oh dear.

Go back to your bridge OP.

There is not a lot of point on coming onto my thread and telling me that what I am saying is not true.

Obviously, I know what I am saying is true, this is my life! I am living it!

So your post is just complete nonsense to me, isn't it!

The people on this thread do seem to hold marathons in very high regard, which is fine, but in my life, and my experience, and my running groups, this is not so

I've gone to marathon and half marathon events where people run several marathons on consecutive days, or even half marathons every day for 10 days!

I am very much in the far and slow category. I think a lot of people on this thread have a very different aim, getting a fast time recorded, and pushing themselves to go really fast - that might account for some of the different attitude, and of course they train very seriously

I have never been a serious runner

My question about this specific marathon is the time limit. I had not done anything above 10 k for a while, I have not done an organised road marathon for many years

( they are much faster than the trail ultras I occasionally do - also without specific training, plans or strategies - just turn up and run laps until you have had enough)

OP posts:
Changechangychange · 24/08/2021 12:42

Run 10K, walk 5K, run 10K, walk 5k, then run as much of the last 8k as you can manage. Should get you round.

But yes you are definitely risking injury.

Changechangychange · 24/08/2021 12:43

Sorry, last 11k. Bad maths.

WaterBottle123 · 24/08/2021 14:16

Hi @54321nought

In 2016 I got a place in the London Marathon for cancer research.

Then lone parenting, full time work and the death of a friend took over and I did zero training. Nothing at all. I'd never been a runner, never run 5k, nothing, I was just fairly fit and healthy.

I power walked round in 6 hours. Completely achievable. Ignore the marathon snobbery on this thread.

I raised 6k! No regrets.

Crowtooyo · 24/08/2021 14:44

Some people are really mean on here!!
Good luck op! I'm routing for you.

54321nought · 24/08/2021 16:28

@Changechangychange

@WaterBottle123

@Crowtooyo

Thank you very much! much appreciated xx

OP posts:
DillonPanthersTexas · 24/08/2021 16:43

I power walked round in 6 hours. Completely achievable. Ignore the marathon snobbery on this thread.

Fair play to you for getting round, I would say you were very much the exception to the rule. I don't think there is any snobbery going on here, just experienced runners speculating that trying to run a marathon with very little preparation is a very bad idea due to the increased risk of injury.

fellrunner85 · 24/08/2021 16:43

Ignore the marathon snobbery on this thread

I haven't seen any marathon snobbery on this thread. What I have seen is experienced runners, who have been through injuries and lengthy rehab, saying that the risk of injury when attempting a marathon on this little training is very high.

Just because you walked a marathon in six hours and remained injury free doesn't mean that many people could get away with that.

Running a marathon without being adequately prepared is a bad idea for many reasons.
You can injure yourself - seriously - and face a long recovery; or even permanent damage to your joints.
You could end up being a burden on the St John's Ambulance and race crew if they have to treat you, which is hardly fair when you went into the race knowingly unprepared. And you could also ruin the race for other runners/walkers if they stop to help you if you become injured.

The marathon is a serious distance and, as the cliche goes, you should respect it. This is so far past disrespecting it that it's basically waving a v sign and shouting fuck off.

ReviewingTheSituation · 24/08/2021 18:13

I walked 25 miles with absolutely zero training or preparation when I was around 20 (drunkenly agreed to do so with friends). I can't remember how long it took us, but we did it with little bother. Boy did we know about it the next day (and the one after...)

It's a world away from running (or run/walking) the same distance in your late 50s. Walking and running use and affect your joints and muscles in a very different way. I can run up to 20 miles without really feeling it the next day (thanks to training), but if I walk 10 miles, my knees, quads and hamstrings know about it for a few days afterwards because they're simply not used to being asked to do that.

SusieBob · 24/08/2021 18:32

@WaterBottle123

Hi *@54321nought*

In 2016 I got a place in the London Marathon for cancer research.

Then lone parenting, full time work and the death of a friend took over and I did zero training. Nothing at all. I'd never been a runner, never run 5k, nothing, I was just fairly fit and healthy.

I power walked round in 6 hours. Completely achievable. Ignore the marathon snobbery on this thread.

I raised 6k! No regrets.

Marathon snobbery or people very sensibly pointing out that the OP risks hurting herself?

HmmHmm

Not that it's actually true.

54321nought · 24/08/2021 19:13

Well, I am definitely going to do it, if only for the experience, which I think will be worth it, even if I don't finish, or don't finish in the time limit.

This thread has bolstered my confidence quite considerably. I've always thought of myself as a pretty rubbish runner, but that might be because I am mostly comparing myself to excellent ultra runners. Compared to some of the people on this thread, it does seem to come more easily to me.

With the people I normally run with, I expect to be one of the last, but against some of the posters on here, who have really struggled with the marathon distance in the past, I might actually not be.

I am not expecting to struggle with the distance, really. I might, but I would be surprised. I am expecting to struggle with the timing

OP posts:
PizzaBreath · 24/08/2021 23:10

Good luck! Keep us posted, if you still have a few days ahead, a sports massage might be a good idea just to loosen everything up?

shrodingersbiscuit · 25/08/2021 11:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

fellrunner85 · 25/08/2021 11:25

applauds @shrodingersbiscuit**

Agree 100%. You've put it perfectly.

shrodingersbiscuit · 25/08/2021 11:41

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

54321nought · 25/08/2021 19:53

@PizzaBreath

Good luck! Keep us posted, if you still have a few days ahead, a sports massage might be a good idea just to loosen everything up?
ok, I will look in to that, thank you
OP posts:
54321nought · 25/08/2021 19:55

not asking what to eat to make it within 6.

I didn't ask, I just responded to posters asking me.

I will stick with the orange juice and jelly babies in my belt, and help myself to the refreshment tables as I go around

OP posts:
54321nought · 25/08/2021 19:56

Orange juice and jelly babies has always worked for me

OP posts: