Can “anyone” really do a marathon?

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

I can do 5K in 35 mins and am doing a 10K next month. Having watched the marathon today it just looks so amazing and I’d love to think I could do London. However, can anyone really do a marathon? I know you can walk for bits and it’s about the finish line not the finish time, but is it realistic to think that an overweight menopausal woman can go from 10K to 42K (with training??) I can’t imagine mentally being able to go out for 4+ hour training runs 😵‍💫

Definitely.

You'll build up to the long runs like you did to 5k and 10k

Just have to give yourself the time to do it. Why not enter the ballot for London, you never know!

@SuncreamAndIceCream I have entered, safe in the knowledge it’ll probably be a no, but…. Have you done a marathon?

Most people can. It’s all about discipline.

A lot of training plans go to 30km or 35km rather than the full distance, so you’ll need to find that extra bit.

I have done a marathon last year and entered the London ballot- fingers crossed!

I was discussing this with DH. I can do 5k in 36-37 minutes and 10k in just over an hour but I couldn’t imagine running a marathon. He’s done a half marathon and he was going out jogging 3 times a week but still smoking and not eating food that was special or anything. I think if you were running for a solid year 3 times a week you probably could. I’ve been told that when the crowds are there you stop thinking about the running and just do it

Maybe not anyone but lots of people could if they do the right training for them. That might mean building up the distance really slowly so you don’t get injured.

I’m planning to do a half marathon and that’s more than enough for me!

Yes I've done a few now and I felt exactly the same as you when I contemplated it for the first time!

I will say, they never get easier 😂

Maybe I could try a half after a couple of 10Ks and see. I guess so much of it must be mental ability. I often feel like this after watching London - I’ll calm down in a bit 😅

I honestly don't think I could do it. Not even sure I could walk it! I run 5k once a week and do lots of other types of exercise. On the other hand I don't actually want to do it

I said to DH earlier that I probably have one marathon in me. But I'm not interested in trying! I run 6-9km every day with the dog, but I have no desire to do more!

DH did last year in 4 hours. He’s run lesser distances for years and the training regime for the marathon is very precise to get you over the line. Build up to 10 k and some half marathons and see how you do . Good luck

A lot will depend on how well your training goes and if you are injury prone. While I think most people could cover the distance with training even if they run/walk it, for some people it will be too physically painful. I've raced a few marathons but not sure I could do it again due to chronic knee pain.

My running club is all women age 35-60 and many have done marathons. In any given year about two thirds of those training for one get to the end of training successfully, the rest have to ease off at some point due to niggles and enter a different race or defer to the next year. So yes, it’s definitely possible but I’d be wary of pinning all your hopes on one specific and hard to get into race.

Maybe you can, but it's not necessarily healthy.

I’ve done a few 10ks in about an hour.

I honestly don’t think I’d have the mental strength to do a marathon, although I think if you follow the training plan it is possible for most people.

I always wanted to do it but after a couple of Half's know I don't have it in me to do the training.
I was around 32 min 5k, and 2 1/2 hour half marathon so by the end of my training my long runs were a couple of hours each and so whilst I know I "could" probably do it the time commitment and wear and tear on my body make it very unlikely I ever will.

Yep, I did mine in 5:30, just kept it slow and had one of the most amazing experiences ever. Not a ‘runner’ always back of the pack etc
I gave myself 9 months to train, I was probably around 5-10k fit when I started.
Let my training slip now and I’m working back up to 5k.

I think most could. It's mental strength more than anything. Discipline and perseverance. It's bloody painful though - I'd never do it again 😂 Honestly, once you're deep in training, you'll see an 8 or 10 mile run as a short one!

Absolutely!

I do one in 2019 and it will forever be one of the best things I have ever done in my life.

Have fun OP!

Well I was training for a half marathon and my fibula shattered and my ankle tendon ripped through too much running. Apparently being female, being middle aged and slightly overweight is a triad of doom according to my orthopedic consultant. Though I did subsequently get diagnosed with a genetic condition which means I am a lot more susceptible to soft tissue injury so my running dreams are definitely behind me now 😁😩.

Dh runs ultras with no injury issues so runs a couple of marathons a week as training runs, he runs all the time though. His longer run at a weekend might be 50 miles off road. He’s mad.

So yes if you are prepared to put the training in and don’t get injuries then yes. But i couldn’t do it.

Of course, I know people who do ultra marathons. Takes a lot of training, discipline, etc. Good luck I’m sure you’ll get lots of tips here.

Mental ability improves concurrent with physical training. If you have the time to fit in the training schedule (including rest), you can do it.

Also, what does successfully completing a marathon mean? It's the same route for everyone, but not the same challenge. It's an individual thing.

What do you think is unhealthy about marathon running?

No. Sorry to be the downer. I run, three times a week, typical distances (5-10k). I have a foot thing and a back thing. Perfectly manageable at 5-10k a time but not for really long distances.

My experience is that a lot of people get injured training and lots of people end up injured in a way which means shorter distances aren't possible afterwards. My colleague is currently limping around after training too hard. My DH was a hip issue after training too hard.

I'm of the opinion that humans are made to run, well lope, for decent distances. We aren't made for marathons. If you'd like to, absolutely do. It's a great challenge. But not everyone can or should.

@Tophelleborine there's research for ultra and repeated marathons. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6139872/

It's a lot to do to your body. I mean Fillipes collapsed afterwards!

yes, it is definitely doable, although I wouldn't have believed that when i was doing 5/10ks. I worked up to a half marathon then followed a marathon training plan. it helped me massively to have a running buddy, both for the long runs and general accountability