I think my husband has lost his mind. Running related.

[PurplePeopleEater2]

My husband has been doing running events for 8 years now. 10ks, half marathons and 5 full marathons.

Last year he said he was giving up the full marathons as he was no longer enjoying it and he was finding it very hard going.
He hates doing the training and didn't use to train very hard but managed to pull it out the bag come race day.

He did his final marathon a year ago and I thought that was the end of it.

He has not done another event since. He has done a few runs for fun 10 miles or so but nothing for 6 months.

He's now dropped it on me he has yesterday signed up to a ultra+ marathon I think it was called. It's 62 miles and it's in 5 weeks time.

I think he's completely bonkers for even considering it let alone entering it. Seeing as he has done no training what so ever this year.

He says it will be fine, he doesn't have to run he can walk or walk and run but he's a stubborn competitive bugger and I don't think he will walk.

I'm really worried about him, I don't want him to do it full stop as I think it's complete and utter madness.

Can I have other peoples opinions to wether I should try and talk him out of it or just let him carry on?

That is deluded! 62 miles in one day with 5 weeks training?! I'm worried about doing a 10k in six weeks because I haven't trained much yet!!

Even if he does 10 minute miles for the whole thing it'll take him 10 hours: he's not going to pee at all in that time?! If he's as stubborn as he says I expect he'll start but I doubt he'll finish!

My dad used to do ultras every year. He spent every weekend on marathon length runs and midweek runs usually 2/3 of no less than 15 miles.

One of his running partners who was at the similar fitness level etc did an ultra with dad and travelling back he went into kidney failure. This guy has never fully recovered.

Your DH is an idiot but I guess he'll not listen. Good luck trying to talk some sense into him

'He hates doing the training and didn't use to train very hard but managed to pull it out the bag come race day. ' interesting statement almost as if you resent him having 'success' because he didn't work hard enough weird attitude and the ultra will be fine on the london2brighton website it says most people will walk.

To be honest, I think it's probably a good idea to go along to the finish. Firstly to support him, but secondly to make sure he gets home ok!

I naively stupidly signed up to one of these last year with a friend. We didn't take it too seriously as we were planning on walking the whole thing and thought it would just be a nice day out to wander along and have a chat.

That belief was gone by the quarter way point. It was horrific. By the halfway point friend was in floods of tears and we were both in a world of pain. We ended up dropping out at the checkpoint after the halfway point, can't even remember how far it was, just remember that the idea of having to put my trainers back on seemed like the worst thing anyone had ever asked me to do. I couldn't walk the next day, was in a lot of pain for a week or two and lost a toenail.

Admittedly, I can't imagine being fit enough to run a normally marathon ever and we did very minimal training, I have no idea what we were thinking! But we spoke to loads of experienced ultra people along the way who said the pain never goes away, it never gets easier, it just depends on whether you've done the training to get used to the feeling! I also met a woman at the halfway point who ran marathons but said this had destroyed her and she had dropped out and was waiting for transport. If it's the group I'm thinking of there is a Facebook group - if your DH has Facebook I'd get him to go on it and discuss it with people so he knows what he's getting himself into.

On the plus side, mine was with the company that do the London to Brighton (although we did a different route) and they are brilliantly organised the food available at the stations is varied and there's lots of it, there'd medics at all checkpoints (which are numerous) there's physios available from halfway, guides that do the second half (more for motivation considering the route is really well marked) and transport available to the finish line from all points if you have to drop out. They think of everything and the atmosphere is really friendly, participants really look out for each other - if he does go through with it hope that eases some of your worries!

I'm off to google for next year! I can cope with challenges but looking for something special for next year

Done 3 peaks challenge and London marathon. Looking for something else big for my 50th

Bluegreen I don't resent him having success. I always go along to support. He finds the training boring and does very little towards it. But he does manage to complete on race day as he's as stubborn as a mule and doesn't give up. He will admit that himself.

He booked it all without saying a word and clearly hasn't thought the logistics through.

He's booked the train it departs at 11pm the night before to get the event for a early morning start. He won't find out what his start time is until he gets his race pack so is aiming for 5:30am. He has not booked a hotel before or after.

He has said he is looking to mainly walk with a bit of running. Google maps says walking would take about 17 hours. With no sleep the night before as he's traveling through the night.

He's just not thought about it. Saw it and booked without a seconds thought.

He is a bit of an idiot but he'll probably be fine and yes, he'll walk most of it. It'll just be really hideous as he'll probably start seizing up around the 30 mile mark. At least it's pretty flat.

Jesus I do a lot more except use than him, I'm 21 and I wouldn't even attempt an ultra!

But screw it if he has the will you should encourage him!