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!

Also tell him to stay hydrated, not push himself too hard, and not to experiment or overdo caffeine/untested energy products etc in case he gets caught short.

As someone who trained very hard to achieve a sub-2 hour half marathon, I think he’s crazy and he won’t manage it in under two hours. The distance is probably doable if he takes it slowly and he‘ll be in pain during and for some days afterwards. You are right to be concerned.

My DD has signed up for Manchester and London next year. Now thats something to worry about

The lime one is slightly less disgusting than the orange 😂 @EarringsandLipstick

He’ll get to the finish line probably, but he might hate it. Definitely no coffee!!

I'm only posting here to save the thread because I'm desperate to know what time he gets at the end of the day. I'm sure he'll finish it but I'm guessing it'll be closer to 3hours than 2hours. Fwiw good luck to him, I can easily run 5k in under half an hour but I don't think I'd be able to complete a half marathon, it seems so far 😅

You definitely would be able to if you trained properly for it, unlike OP's DH 😄

I feel that a lot of people sign up for events on (often drunken) impulse, can't be bothered to do the training, and assume they'll be fine. Respect the distance! 🏃🏽‍♀️

I really agree with @EarringsandLipstick and a couple of other experienced runners here.

I did a half on a whim when I was around 30. I had previously been fit but allowed myself to get out of shape and put on weight. I had 2 months to prepare and finished in just under 2h but it was hard.

I am now 46 and hadn't run since having my 8yo twins, although I am very "gym fit". I started again last year, just running recreationally, and last weekend completed my goal of doing 21km at a continuous run in under 2h 30m. It was an unexpectedly hot day and the last 1.5km were fucking brutal, being honest.

I think the big variables are

What age is he? Can't see it anywhere but big difference between 25 and 45

How hot is it meant to be where you are? I planned my 21km because the heatwave was meant to be over - but then the temp stayed up and it was a 30° day. I beat that by getting up early but obvs you can't do that for a race

Is he likely to be sensible about fuelling? I cannot do coffee before running and some gels agree with me and some really don't. He should experiment with a couple beforehand.

Is he likely to listen to his body if he starts feeling poorly? I had coffee with a colleague last week who is an experienced runner but had a heart attack. These things can just happen. My colleague is extremely sensible and sought help/ went to first aid as soon as he started feeling bad, which probably saved his life (he collapsed right next to an intensive care nurse who was volunteering there).

Does he have existing sports kit he trains in? I bought a pair of new shoes for Xmas and the size had been missold to me - I did a 10k in them, fine, then a 16k - not fine at all. If he is getting new shoes or is not used to spending time in his existing trainers, that is a risk.

And warning, if he does get a blister (likely) do NOT put Compeed or similar on an open / ripped blister. They are for blisters which haven't torn only. I did it once when I was running a lot in my 20s and it was ... bad.

I’m a mid 40s woman of average fitness. I run a 5km in a similar time to your husband. I’ve done silly impulsive things like this in the past. The issue isn’t running the race without training, it is the following week / days of agony 🤣 make sure he gets up and about the next day so he doesnt get too much pain to walk. Hubby and I did a 40 mile quite slowly but it’s doable.

Half marathon and marathon runner here. My personal trainer did a half with no running training but was in his twenties and very fit. My guess is it’ll probably not kill him
but it’ll teach him a lesson. A half is much more than twice as hard as a 10k. What he could do is train for a half properly, then he might actually enjoy it!

You do know people have actually died running half marathons
It seems to me someone arrogant enough to think he doesn't need to train is also unlikely to pace themselves or take on enough water and in the current climate is going to be dehydrated and struggle to stay upright
Let's hope he doesn't die - but I wouldn't be so flippant

Up, not yo!

Of course I know that, and to be flippant again, people unfortunately die from very banal things every day. OP has said he’s fairly fit and healthy, so he would be highly unlikely and extremely unlucky to die from a half marathon. I’m imagining he’ll be walking most of it, so the worst he’ll end up with is blisters. Which serves him right.

He's got a bit of time to get some training in and he doesn't have to run the whole time. Slow jog, walk, repeat. His choice, grown man, he will probably regret it...

Let him get on with it. He won't come to any harm, but his pride might suffer if he's telling everyone he's going to do it under 2 hours

She also said he is not a runner, struggled to run a 5K and is aiming for less than 2hrs - doesn't sound like someone who is going to be sensible and walk
Young,fit and healthy man died in GNR less than 2 years ago in cooler temperatures.

😂😂

As I’ve said, he’s an idiot! You can’t help arrogant people (usually men) like this. You seem quite determined that he could die, I think that’s highly unlikely.

pretty much anyone (obviously age and illness aside) can do a half marathon it’s a matter for some people of how much you walk.

I wouldn’t worry

Highly unlikely he will die unless he has some kind of serious underlying health condition.

Highly likely that he will have a miserable time.

Not at all - just not as sure as everyone else that a blister is the worst that could happen to a non runner aiming for a competitive time in a 'hot' half marathon with no training and an arrogant attitude

That was my thinking.

I know absolutely nothing about running, but I do know what the effects of drinking lots of coffee can be.

On his own head be it.

Thinking he can get sub 2hrs for a half marathon with zero training when he struggled with a 5k is arrogant and rude towards people who do train.
He won’t be in danger, unless you count the danger of looking completely ridiculous when he has to walk a lot of it and does it in 2/3 hrs. 🤷🏻‍♀️

He's an idiot for sure but I would advise any pre running breakfast, coffee, gels during etc he tries out beforehand as many have said running can impact your digestion and make things go straight through you, but it's different for everyone. No one wants to shit themselves whilst running. I know a few have said races have portaloos but he may not get enough warning to get to one 💩
Also if he does manage to run it all he will not do sub 2 hours on no training and he will hurt so much the couple of days afterwards.

It's probably been said (sorry not read full
thread) but a sub 2 half marathon means a pace of just over 9 mins per mile for 13 miles.

His 35 min 5k is over 11 mins per mile for 3 miles.

Sub 2 is not happening!

I'd suggest a run-walk strategy with the run segments at a very conservative pace. That should get him round. Please advise him against the rookie error of speeding off and wearing himself out in the first kilometre.