Half marathon with no training

[sunallsummer]

Probably a stupid question sorry but I’m not a runner so have no idea!

DH impulsively signed up to do a half marathon in 2 weeks and has done zero training for it. He’s slim and has normal fitness I would say but definitely not a runner and previously did a 5km and completed it but struggled

I know it’s his choice and he’s an adult to it’s up to him, but I’m just a bit worried about the idea of him running 21km with little to no training. I’m just not sure if I’m just being overly anxious but it seems so far to my non runner brain! Having said that, I know people do 10km without any real training and it’s fine, has anyone ever done a half marathon without any training and did it go ok?!

My concern is when he puts his mind to something he can be very stubborn and competitive so I think when the run starts he’ll actually go much faster than he should and it’s not like he’ll accept he’s not trained and take it at a slower pace. His plan was to drink a few coffee and get some pre workout for it and frankly I’m worried he ends up unwell after it

If anyone who knows anything about running can put my mind at rest and reassure me that I’m being silly and dramatic and he’ll be fine (other than a normal amount of tiredness afterwards) I’d really appreciate it!

I know this sounds mean and i can see you want to help him, but maybe you should not?
I’m guessing you often come to the rescue when he decides on impulsive crazy plans, but it might be better to let him learn a lesson from this. He’s unlikely to cause himself serious long term harm but at some point in his life he needs to face reality himself. And if that comes from having to walk most of a half marathon in half covered in poo, then maybe he’ll think twice next time!

I ran a half marathon , with v little prep and ii am chubby best thing ever ! Such fun

i took it slow

hes a grown up. Let him make mistakes

I know a few people have commented saying they know someone who did the same without any training but then in their comment they go on to say actually they were a PT or a football player or something so it’s not like they’re starting from zero, they might not have running training but they just have a great level of fitness already

I’d say my DH is just normal level. He’s not unfit but not fit either. I think his 5km was around 35 minutes. He got the 2hr for the half marathon by thinking he could shave off some time from his 5kn then multiplying it by 4

I did just this in my 20s! I was probably about 28ish? I finished in 2 and a quarter hours and ate a massive roast dinner with several pints afterwards. I was a regular (shortish distance) runner and very fit though.

I'm 33 now with diastasis recti and a 4 month old and I think it would kill me 😂

But anyway, glad to know im being a bit dramatic and he’ll be fine. I’m sure he’ll have great fun and it’s a cool thing to say you’ve done!

I think I was just worried because I’d googled it and it comes up that it’s a bad idea and health risky and I had got myself worried because I literally no nothing about running so had no perspective on it haha

Half marathon he should be ok ( assuming he’s nearer 40 than 60 and not seriously overweight )

he will start off too fast and he will be walking at the end - try and give him some praise at the end as he may be feeling a bit stupid

carbs and water for breakfast and carry jelly babies or the like

I’ve met men like this over the years. What I expect will happen is that he’ll set off too fast, get a certain way, maybe even half way, before needing to stop. He’ll probably finish but painfully and not sub-2.

The point about the possible heat is most relevant. He really could collapse in that situation.

He is being silly & it’s pointless, but he’s an adult and can make his own choices. OP, I’d stay out of it, in all respects, but make it clear you’re not there to mind him when he’s in bits afterwards.

I also wouldn’t recommend lots of coffee, running itself can make people need to poo, so add coffee plus lack of training and I’d be worried about shitting myself

This is very sound advice - tea is okay first thing, then water and electrolyte drinks only!

Sorry, I’m probably being really stupid here but with the heat being an issue will that only be if he runs too fast at the start? Or is that likely to be an issue just doing the run in general if it’s a hot day?

thanks for the advice (and thanks to everyone else on here too) x

Great- I’ll pass that on to him 👍🏼 definitely sounds like coffee would be bad! We have a friend who goes to the gym a lot and uses pre workout so I think that’s where he’s got it from 🙈

"He got the 2hr for the half marathon by thinking he could shave off some time from his 5km then multiplying it by 4"

😂cocky sod. If he couldn't do 5km in 30 minutes there's not a hope in hell he can do 4x 5km in 30 mins each (and an extra 1.1km to boot)

I'm sure he will survive the experience, but it will take him way longer than 2 hours and it will really hurt both during and after. I'm sure he'll have an excuse about 'the heat' or 'an upset stomach' (from all the coffee) which stopped him achieving his sub-2 dream....

I’m going to watch this thread in the hope that the OP reports back after the event.
😂

ETA: With his ego I doubt he is going to listen to any advice from a bunch of random women off the internet.

You are.not being dramatic. It is not dramatic to care about the people we spend our life with.

I agree with @Kerri126 in what's likely going to happen.

I’m mean you can’t decide to run really fast to get round in under 2 hours if your body isn’t able. Sure, there is a lot of mental strength needed, but in conjunction with a body that is capable.
We’ve all heard about dads’ race at sports day where grown, overweight men who haven’t so much as run to chase down a loose trolley in a supermarket car park THUNDER down the track. You can’t do that for longer distances. Does he think caffeine will give him bionic powers? If he struggled with a 5k why does he think he’ll be ok over 13 miles?
I do hope it motivates him to train to run one properly. It’s a distance that doesn’t dominate your life like marathon training does.

I used to have a partner who was seriously into running. One time he was doing a cross-country race and several people turned up ‘unprepared’. One guy just had a normal pair of office shoes on. Needless to say he didn’t last long 😂

OP, I’m sure if there is a lesson to be learned here, your partner will learn it.
Also, can’t wait to find out how he gets on…

Yeah, I've seen people talking about having a double shot of espresso before a workout as it boosts your workout - and that's okay - gyms have toilets. A half marathon course? You'll get toilets at the start/finish, but rarely otherwise.

Whats the worse thing that could happen? Sore feet and take longer than planned?

Haha! He would say in fairness he was slowed down by all the other slow runners and that stopped him reaching his under 30min 5km goal😂😂😂 I saw him during it and that absolutely was not the case hahaha

he’s a great guy and takes a good joke against himself 👍🏼 I’d love to see him make his target time but if not he’ll definitely take some gentle teasing against himself about how it was the heat/the shoes/the blisters/the other runners that stopped him winning the entire thing 😂🙈

I am a runner and have ran numerous halves and several marathons. I would say it's doable, but highly unlikely he will get anywhere under two hours. He should try and train as much as he can though and get a long practice run in. My biggest pieces of advice:

1. Get some decent running shoes, loads of new runners cheap out on this and then get injured. I use Mizuno Wave riders, which are very reasonably priced and provide great support.

1. Eat plenty of carbs and proteins (something like chicken pasta the night before), a high protein breakfast (my go to is poached eggs and spinach).

1. Absolutely do not drink loads of coffee/ try any workout supplements he's never tried before, he will be cramping/ shitting through the eye of a needle. SIS electrolyte tablets are good for a bit of a boost pre race though, one before a run normally works for me and you can also get electrolytes chew bars. Lots of runners like energy gels but personally, I think they are disgusting and am yet to find one I like that sits well, after over a decade of running.

Good luck!

Most larger ones will have loos along the route.

Heat makes everything hard. I’m very fit and an experienced runner - days when I’m competing / running in hot weather are very tough, even having trained. You need to adjust your hydration plan and increase gels etc due to sweating, and especially the loss of sodium. (I’m in Ireland so clearly we don’t cope well with the (usually rare!) heat).

So if he’s not ready for the race and it’s a hot day, he may well collapse or faint. It’s not uncommon. First Aid will be available but it’s not ideal.

Not read all the replies but I'd make sure he has his phone and make sure your volume is up for when he calls for you to collect him from mile 6 when his energy will be spent.

I've done 3 half marathons when a fit, regular runner and they are draining & require prep if you're not running decent distances regularly.

A completely different beast than a 5k which anyone with ok fitness could do.

Hahahaha a sub 2 hour half marathon with no training 😂😂😂 👍 he will end up walking most of it in between stops to shit because of all the coffee. And those portaloos are…something.
He may well finish eventually but if he starts off too hard there’s a good chance of DNF. Oh well, please come back and let us know how he gets on!

It’s in 2 weeks time.
The training ship has sailed!

Maybe if they're city ones? I don't recall any loos on ones I've run (in the countryside).