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Original poster

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:
DillonPanthersTexas · 20/08/2021 09:49

It's possible but you leave yourself wide open to injury and I imagine for the last 20km you will be in a world of pain.

Softleftpowerstance · 20/08/2021 09:49

There is no point doing hill sprints at this point. You won’t have time to benefit from the adaptations. Plus your number one issue is your endurance. Even if you were doing a proper marathon training plan you’d be prioritising mileage over speed work.

Personally for me I just wouldn’t see the point of this. You’ll get a rubbish time and you’ve done marathons before.

It’s very unusual for charities to be trying to replace runners at this stage. I’m surprised the organisers are even allowing it. Make sure the charity has double checked this is even allowed.

ReviewingTheSituation · 20/08/2021 09:50

Doing hill sprints now is totally pointless, and another path to injury. As part of a long term training plan, yes, but not out of the blue 2 weeks beforehand.
And - as everyone has pointed out - 'getting faster' should not be your aim here.

If there's a cut off of 6hrs, and it took you 3hrs 10 to do half this morning, you will definitely need more than that for the second half (I know you said you felt OK at the end, but the second half is MUCH harder than the first, which you'll know if you've done one before).

There are 2 things to consider - CV fitness, which as people have pointed out, you are probably OK with. But also whether your legs can do it. There's a reason training plans have lots of long runs in them, and focus on 'time on feet'. That's the bit which will be a struggle, no matter how 'fit' you are. Running a marathon is about a lot more than just CV fitness. There's nothing you can do between now and 2 weeks time to make any difference to your legs' ability to run the marathon.

AdmiralCain · 20/08/2021 10:07

I did half marathons around the country every weekend a few years ago, I did a London Marathon training run of 21miles just for fun, when I got to 18 miles I hit the wall badly. Psychologically I just couldn't push myself, the muscle memory wasn't having it, I had to walk a bit until I could get back into it.
Going from a 10k to half marathon in a couple of weeks if possibly do-able, 10k to a marathon would be a feat.

Dentistlakes · 20/08/2021 10:09

Personally I wouldn’t risk it op. You could end up getting injured and unable to run at all for a while. If you are keen then I would sign up for a different one and train for it properly.

SusieBob · 20/08/2021 10:12

@54321nought

I tried a slow half marathon distance this morning, mixing walking and running as suggested. I took more than 3 hours about it, but that's because I was taking it easy. I ran a mile and walked a mile for the first 10 miles, then speeded up at the end. 3 hours 10 minutes, but I feel like I have lots of scope for going faster, and I am not tired or achy at all- I may be tomorrow! I deliberately didn't push myself at all, until the very last mile, which I ran much faster than the others.
The thing is (fairly obviously) that a marathon is double that distance. Can you imagine doing double what you did this morning, and faster?

You might get round but TBH you are being pretty silly.

And yeah, at this point any training you do is going to have no impact on your fitness at this point. You would be better off just making sure you are well rested if you daft enough to do it.

DoubleHelix79 · 20/08/2021 10:24

I once did a marathon with only 4 weeks preparation and wouldn't recommend it in hindsight. I hadn't run much at all for a few months, and used the 4 weeks to get used to about 15k max again, running several times a week. I'd previously done quite a few half marathons and knew I could finish at least one half-marathon distance loop with that amount of training. I'd then planned to drop out before doing the second loop if necessary. I did end up doing the second loop, but it was painful and I ended up having a few lingering niggles afterwards that annoyed me quite a bit.

In retrospect i should have just done a half and enjoyed the run instead of risking more serious injury. If you really do want to do it then do ir with a combination of walking and slow running, and drop out if you think you're developing an injury. There is always another race, but knees/hips are less easy to replace.

Mrsjamin · 20/08/2021 10:43

@54321nought I am open to further suggestion

No you're not, we are suggesting to you that you shouldn't do it and you're ignoring everyone. The second half of a marathon is going to be ten times harder as you'll have already done a half marathon. If you do it, you'll ruin your running forever.

Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 10:57

ok, thanks for your advice, I am going to scrap the hill sprints

OP posts:
Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 10:58

So, I did a half marathon this morning, and yes, do fully feel like I could do another

Is there any point in going out again and doing the other half now, to see if I can cover the whole distance in one day|||?

OP posts:
SusieBob · 20/08/2021 11:05

@54321nought

So, I did a half marathon this morning, and yes, do fully feel like I could do another

Is there any point in going out again and doing the other half now, to see if I can cover the whole distance in one day|||?

Bearing in mind that muscle fatigue is not a linear thing?

It's much, much harder than twice as hard to run a marathon than it is a half.

And no, there is no point going out to run another half. You are not going to see any significant gains in your fitness at this short notice so you are just risking injury.

But tbh it's pretty obvious you just want people to say "oh, you'll be fine" so good luck and all and I hope you don't hury yourself.

Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 11:09

I'm not wanting people to just say "you'll be fine" at all - I am doing it yes, but I have taken on board the need to be prepared to drop out if there is any pain

I am just hoping to tap into the collective knowledge about how best to go about it

OP posts:
KnotKnot · 20/08/2021 11:09

You'd be crazy to try run it. However, your 10k time is good. I think you'd manage to mix of walk/run. Be very careful with your running shoes!

You might find it very long. Depending on the event you might find some other walk/runners in the course of the event that you could tag along with. Good luck!!

Dogscanteatonions · 20/08/2021 11:12

@54321nought

So, I did a half marathon this morning, and yes, do fully feel like I could do another

Is there any point in going out again and doing the other half now, to see if I can cover the whole distance in one day|||?

Meh... Why go in half cocked? I can give you details of an ultra in a couple of weeks. Hmm
ReviewingTheSituation · 20/08/2021 11:19

@54321nought

There is no 'best way to go about it', other than not to. And the 'collective knowledge' (most of which seems to be from people who have experience to impart) that you say you want to tap in to is largely saying 'don't do it'. But if you're hell bent on it then good luck, and hopefully you come out unscathed.

(And no, don't be ridiculous and go out and do another half. No training plan ever has a 26 mile run in it, for very good reason).

Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 11:20

Honestly you are being really obtuse not listening to all this advice. It will hurt, massively. They say the first half of a marathon is 20 miles and the other half is the last six. You will feel pain and could really injure yourself but I bet you won't stop in the heat of the moment. Over 3 hours for the first half yesterday? You don't seriously think you'll get negative splits and do the second half quicker do you? You'll end up in the broom wagon gaining bugger all. You're in your 50's fgs, as am I by the way, I'm training for an ultra atm and have spent careful months leading up to my race practicing all my nutrition, gear, pace etc. What have you done re nutrition btw?

Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 11:22

I am just hoping to tap into the collective knowledge about how best to go about it

The collective knowledge is saying don't do it....the votes say 89% of us think you're being unreasonable....

Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 11:24

ok, so attempting the whole distance today as a trial is also a bad idea then, thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 11:26

You don't seriously think you'll get negative splits and do the second half quicker do you?

I think I will do the second half quicker because I did the first half really slowly, and finished with load of energy

What have you done re nutrition btw?

lots of protein! is this right? Do you have any other suggestions?

OP posts:
Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 11:26

ok, so attempting the whole distance today as a trial is also a bad idea then, thank you

It's bonkers, do you know what DOMS is?

I'm interested in your nutrition plan too

Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 11:28

lots of protein! is this right? Do you have any other suggestions?

During the race? Er, no....

as for doing the second half faster....

SusieBob · 20/08/2021 11:29

@54321nought

I'm not wanting people to just say "you'll be fine" at all - I am doing it yes, but I have taken on board the need to be prepared to drop out if there is any pain

I am just hoping to tap into the collective knowledge about how best to go about it

The best advice is "don't do it".

However, If you are determined to do it:

Don't do anything more than very light training from this point onwards. You aren't going to make any fitness gains now and you want to conserve energy. Take it very, very easy from the get go. Do not think "oh, this doesn't hurt too much" and speed up as it will come back to bite you. Take on plenty of water and energy gels/tablets etc the whole way through.

And book an appointment with a physio because you are probably going to need it.

Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 11:32

@Therehavetobeadjustments

lots of protein! is this right? Do you have any other suggestions?

During the race? Er, no....

as for doing the second half faster....

ok, I thought you meant in the next two weeks

In the race itself I intend to carry orange juice cartons

OP posts:
Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 11:33

@Therehavetobeadjustments

ok, so attempting the whole distance today as a trial is also a bad idea then, thank you

It's bonkers, do you know what DOMS is?

I'm interested in your nutrition plan too

It means I might be stiff tomorrow
OP posts:
Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 11:35

In the race itself I intend to carry orange juice cartons

I'm honestly beginning to think this is just a wind up tbh