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Original poster

Help !! Marathon

32 replies

kat35112 · 30/01/2023 21:36

Hi I've been accepted to run the London marathon in April for mind. I don't even remember signing up to it 😂😂 . I can't even run 5k but I'm pretty good with will power etc and I'm active .

Is this totally stupid or if I absolutely grafted with training, possible ?

Help grateful 😂

OP posts:
sianiblews · 30/01/2023 21:37

You can do it, you need to get started though. Get a beginner marathon plan, they’re normally 16. weeks (obviously work out how much time you have left!) Good luck

Dacadactyl · 30/01/2023 21:38

What is your current exercise regime? Do you have a running background? Have you run marathons before?

I personally think you have left it to late to start training without injuring yourself.

Original poster
kat35112 · 30/01/2023 21:42

Yeh that's my thoughts . I wish I had a bit longer . Erm, I'm more of a hiker than a runner . I was in a cross country club years ago and did pretty well. I haven't consistently ran for a while . I'm 31 decent shape don't drink etc.

OP posts:
Dacadactyl · 30/01/2023 21:45

Thing is I think you'd have needed to have some base mileage to build on already, otherwise you're going to struggle and get injured.

Have you thought about run/walking it? You could attempt that if you're not worried about your time.

fellrunner85 · 30/01/2023 21:45

London is 12 weeks out - and you can't even run 5k? I'm a big believer in getting round on sheer willpower, but even I think that's far too much of an injury risk at this point.
Running it on next to no training is also a tad unfair on the tens of thousands of people who have trained and would love to run but can't get a place.
Defer if you can.

RedPandaFluff · 30/01/2023 21:51

I think it's doable in 12 weeks (I went from shuffling an occasional 3-4km to marathon in 14 weeks with no injuries) but there are a lot of dependencies . . . if you already have a good level of fitness from the hiking/walking you do, if you don't get injured by upping your mileage too quickly when you're training etc.

I would suggest you download a training plan as others have advised, stick to it and walk it on the day if you don't quite make it.

PS it's not about absolutely grafting it with training either - rest and recovery days, non-running exercise days, and luck with injuries are all important too!

Good luck!

StopFeckingFaffing · 30/01/2023 21:58

I agree with @RedPandaFluff and believe it is definitely possible if you already have a decent level of fitness, are not overweight and injury free

As others have said, most plans are 16 weeks but I'm sure there will be shorter plans available

Get yourself out for a very steady 5K run in the next day or two and gradually build up from there

If you can afford it then it may be worth approaching a PT/coach to help with a training plan

AuntieStella · 30/01/2023 21:58

I think it might be better if you tell MIND that you aren't fit, return the charity place to them to reallocate, and get on their list for next year. By which time you can have build up a base level of running fitness, and be fit enough to do a 16 week plan

Raising £2k in the 12 weeks remaining is going to be a challenge too - so deferring to next year gives you a better shot at that too

NewFriday · 30/01/2023 22:04

I think ideally you'd have a couple of years of consistent running behind you before you start marathon training, but yiu (just!) have time to train.

Find a hey me round training plan, folllow it religiously for the weeks you have left and aim to walk/run on the day.

Please don't take the place if you're not going to do it. Bear in mind also that the fundraising will take a lot of mental energy. Lots of my runner friends have said that's actually the hardest bit.

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 30/01/2023 22:06

Look up the Jeff Galloway method, and focus on alternating walk/run. This will make it feel much more doable.

Fenella123 · 30/01/2023 22:07

Whoops!
Oh well.
Beg beg BEG to defer if you can. They must have some process for people getting ill or injured... I would hope. A certain amount of careful presentation of the facts (cough) may help.
0-marathon in a year and a bit is much safer, will be much less harrowing, and give you more fundraising time (and that's almost the hardest bit) than ...in a few weeks.

Otherwise - walk/run is your friend. Walk 2 mins, jog 1, repeat, have an energy gel every hour, you should be done in under 7 hours and London's limit is 8. If you get to 18 miles and feel you could do more, go to run 1 walk 1.
Yours, someone who has done quite a few marathons, including some she shouldn't really have started and/or wasn't fully trained for :D

RandomUsernameHere · 30/01/2023 22:20

I think it's probably a bit late to train to run the whole thing, but a run/walk combination should definitely be possible. As pp suggested, look up Jeffing or Galloway walking. London has an extremely generous cutoff time so you should be fine. Good luck!

Original poster
kat35112 · 30/01/2023 22:22

I'm so confused

Reasons being

  1. Is it selfish of me to try or just be sensible and try next year
  1. I think I could raise the 2k I'm fortunate to have wonderful friends and family.
  1. I always wanted to do something like this with my hubby but also half of me things how amazing it would be to do on my own
  1. Confused because I struggle to decide on what to have for tea never mind this 😂😂

Half of me is go for it girl... the other half thinks I've gone mad 🙈
Xx

OP posts:
ACynicalDad · 30/01/2023 22:23

Really worth delaying until next year and doing enough prep so you enjoy the day. If you are desperate to do it Jeff it.

RandomUsernameHere · 30/01/2023 22:28

Absolutely not selfish of you at all to go for it, why would you think that? As long as you are reasonably confident about meeting the fundraising target, which it sounds like you are

Original poster
kat35112 · 30/01/2023 22:34

I suppose I don't want to take the place of someone who really wanted a place if I'm going to fail 😟 xxx

OP posts:
StopFeckingFaffing · 30/01/2023 22:41

It is not that difficult to get a charity place as long as you are able to pledge that you will hit the fundraising target so please don't worry that you are taking the place of someone else who really wants to do it

The charity will be very happy to have you on their team as long as you can raise plenty of money for them and will be much less concerned about how fast you run! (I'm sure they would prefer you to run a very slow marathon and raise lots of money than vice versa!!)

Deliasyurt · 30/01/2023 22:47

Do it! You’ve said you can raise the money. You’re young and fit. Get training and give it your best shot.

RandomUsernameHere · 30/01/2023 22:48

No reason to think you will fail! Also you won't be taking a place from someone else that wants it more as you'd be taking a charity place not a ballot place. The charity will be keen to fill its places with people that are willing and able to raise the money. They don't mind how fast you are. If you're on Facebook think about joining the training groups on there if you need help deciding - lots of people on there to answer any questions x

BCxx · 30/01/2023 22:49

You’ll be fine! Just get a training plan and start now, minimum 3 runs a week. Make sure you do a long run (progressively building up to your 20 miles-ish around the end of March), a speed or hills session and an easy paced mid-distance each week. I did it in October and it was amazing! I can genuinely say I enjoyed it and didn’t find it ‘hard’ until I hit 30k and then something just comes over you for the last 10 or so km. I felt like I couldn’t care less about the whole thing and wasn’t even fussed if I finished it or not 😂 I didn’t break into walk the entire time though but those last few miles still haunt me, it was like time stood still! That’s the bit where your fitness really comes in to play. If you aren’t going with any crazy time in mind you’ll be fine, lots of people walk when they need to! I’m going to watch this year! Good luck

xsquared · 30/01/2023 22:49

kat35112 · 30/01/2023 22:22

I'm so confused

Reasons being

  1. Is it selfish of me to try or just be sensible and try next year
  1. I think I could raise the 2k I'm fortunate to have wonderful friends and family.
  1. I always wanted to do something like this with my hubby but also half of me things how amazing it would be to do on my own
  1. Confused because I struggle to decide on what to have for tea never mind this 😂😂

Half of me is go for it girl... the other half thinks I've gone mad 🙈
Xx

There are plenty of people who participate in the London Marathon without having ever run one before, and it's not just for the serious runners.

Although I have to admit, I am a little envious of anyone getting a place, but that's what the ballot is. The fundraising part for me, is the hardest as I don't feel comfortable with having to ask for donations again, so good on you on being good at fundraising.

Personally, I think if you can barely run 5k now, there is absolutely no way you can run the full marathon in 12 weeks time. At best you can do the run walk method as others have already mentioned.

If you've always wanted to do something like this, then now is a good time as any while the opportunity is here. However, if you wanted to do it justice and get a decent time, and not, then you could defer so that you can train properly and have a strong base.

dangbongo · 30/01/2023 22:53

Defer until next year and do it properly. You may be able to make it all the way round walking this year but you won't do it justice.

BogRollBOGOF · 01/02/2023 14:23

How far can you walk at the moment?

If you can walk at a decent pace for a couple of hours, I'd go down the run/ walk route. Set a timer for repeats of r30s, w60s and see what your body is comfortable doing. Do the run intervals gently.

There is overlap between a brisk walking pace and slow running pace.

emmathedilemma · 02/02/2023 13:13

It depends if you want to run it or just make it to the finish line? London has a very generous cut-off time that equates to brisk walking pace if you're fit so if you can jog and walk and don't mind being out there for 8 hours then you could probably make it to the finish line. But I think you can probably rule out any hopes of running much of it. our club training plan starts at 8 miles and is now on week 7 this weekend with a 14 mile training run.
If you're not local I would also check the price of hotel accommodation at this late stage before you commit to it.

MoneyInTheBananaStand · 03/02/2023 12:25

You could get round but it wouldn't be much fun from mile 15 or so I would imagine

You'll also be at the back and obviously crowd support isn't the same for the people coming in at 7 or 8 hours, people get tired of standing for hours and go home

If you can defer I would (and I say this as a runner who would dearly love a place at London).