Walk a marathon next month??

[Greentea93]

Hi, I have a marathon coming up in April. I got a place but done no real training due to life being v busy the last few months. I am generally healthy, can run up to 6miles atm and walk my dogs each day. My average daily step count is around 15000. I’ve done a few half-marathons over last couple of years. I know I have no hope to attempt running the whole thing but am I crazy in thinking I may be able to walk it? Run first 6m and walk the rest?? Will I be the only one walking it or should I not even start?

It’s not a v big marathon so feel I will stand out if I walk rather than run?

You don't know if you don't try OP! However, I know nothing about marathons. Good luck though :)

Is there a time limit? A lot have time restrictions due to road closures, marshalls etc. I personally wouldn't do it if I had to walk but I know many would.

I think you need to be able to finish in 6,5 hours.

Well they say it takes approx 20 minutes to walk a mile. If you're going to walk 20 miles then that would be 400 minutes which nearly takes you to the time limit without running the first 6 miles. Could you do a run/walk approach so after 6 miles you run 2 minutes then walk 4 or something for the rest of the way? This is called jeffing, google it.

I'd walk/run it. Run for 5 min, walk a minute and keep doing that as long as possible - if you look at the Jeff Galloway method it lets you run a lot more and a lot faster than just keeping running till you have to walk

I walked the Great North Run (half-marathon) in 2019, time 3hr 24 mins. SIXTEEN THOUSAND people finished behind me ! The whole way I was surrounded by people walking. Walking a marathon is no mean feat - you've done some half-ms, so will no that. I don't think that anyone will mind you walking, I can't see that you are inconveniencing anybody. Good luck.

You can do it. But don't run 6, stop running before you reach the point you're tired and used that energy for a fast walk. Most people finishing marathons around 6 hours have been at a running speed that is fast walking, you'll have to push though, the problem with 6hrs is that you mentally have a much longer (harder) job than someone who finishes in 3. It can be mentally very tough, especially if you have the sweeper van behind you, or the fences being removed and no spectators cheering you on.

On the other hand, some spectators will see you and be totally behind you in a way they weren't for the middle speed runners.

*sorry - the 6 hour speed isn't a fast walk the whole way, it starts off like that, or a bit faster but slows down.

Anyway, I am still in awe of the people who do it in 6 hrs because the mental side can be so, so long.

Totally depends what the event is, IMO. In a huge city road race you won't stand out at all but, in a smaller event like you suggest, it might be problematic.

A pp said they walked the GNR in 3h 24 and there were 16,000 people behind them. Well yes that's all well and good, but the GNR is the biggest road race in the UK.

By comparison, a friend of mine was last in a local half marathon, when she ran it in 2h 35. She didn't give a stuff - but a walker an hour behind that would've really stood out, and would have been on their own, walking on open roads after everyone else had gone.

Your first job I suggest, OP, is to check the finish times for the event from last year and the year before. If there's a few finishers around 6h or more then it'll be worth a go.
I definitely don't recommend running 6 miles and walking the rest, though - you'll burn yourself out early on. Far better to run one mile, walk one, for as long as you can keep it up. Say you ran it v steady in 10 mins, and then walked the next mile in 20 mins, that would work out at the 6.5hrs cut off.
Good luck!

Some good advise to take on board, thanks 🙏 will give it some consideration

For a small event with a 6.5 cut off then I wouldn't. Most peoples' walking speed is about 20mpm, you'd need to do a very brisk 15mpm an that's not leaving spare time to drink, wee etc.

I’ve done a lot of long distance walking and if you’re fit and especially if you can find time to get in at least one long walk before the event you should be fine. Time on the feet is the most important thing for distance walking and if you’re doing 15,000 steps a day already it won’t come as a complete shock to your legs and feet! I would recommend using a sports watch if you have one to see your pace. I can comfortably walk at 15 minute miles (or quicker) once I get going, but it’s really helpful as it gets you into the rhythm.

I would also highly recommend jeffing!