Running a Marathon with No Training in 3 Months

No training includes supplemental advice and research. You are on your own to win the bet.

Most people not fat af could complete a 4.5 hr marathon off the street no training, so chances are you’ll be fine.

NoTrainMary wrote:

Before you post, I am not looking to be talked out of this or told that I will injure myself :). I am going to run a marathon 3 months from now with 0 training. I made a bet that I could complete it in under 4.5 hours. I am looking for any tips. What kind of shoes should I buy? What books or podcasts should I listen to?

Get a copy of Jeff Galloway's "Marathon FAQ" and use his run/walk method.

Ace_of_Base wrote:

Most people not fat af could complete a 4.5 hr marathon off the street no training

No they could not.

Breathing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DGojb2EVgg

Stretching and music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-50GjySwew

You are welcome

Uh-Uh wrote:

Ace_of_Base wrote:

Most people not fat af could complete a 4.5 hr marathon off the street no training

No they could not.

Oprah did it, ok most people that would take on this bet will be able to do it.

Ace_of_Base wrote:

Uh-Uh wrote:

No they could not.

Oprah did it, ok most people that would take on this bet will be able to do it.

Oprah didn't do it off no training. If you think that "most" non-fat schmoes off the street could

propel themselves over marathon distance at nearly 6mph with no training, you are delusional.

This sound super smart and you should totally do it!

Not sure if we're being trolled or not. If you do zero running/activity then, yeah, this could definitely lead to injury and won't be a lot of fun. If you are a recreational runner who gets out 1-3 times/week or something like that then 12 weeks is plenty of time to train.

It's not like you won't train for the marathon -- you have 12 weeks. That's a decent amount of time.

I would look into the run/walk stuff like others have suggested but imo you need to get away from that as reasonably quick as you can. go from 0 to 6 miles as a long run in 4 weeks. get to the half marathon distance by 8ish. Tack on a couple of miles to the long run so you get up to 18-20ish before a 2 week taper. It won't be pretty but you have some time to make it happen. Consistency is key. Once you're in full training, get out there at least 3-4 times/week, with 5-6 being better. Look at strength training/prehab stuff for shin splits, achilles, hamstrings, hips, plantar, etc. The body takes some time to adapt to this kind of training.

NERunner53 wrote:

Not sure if we're being trolled or not. If you do zero running/activity then, yeah, this could definitely lead to injury and won't be a lot of fun. If you are a recreational runner who gets out 1-3 times/week or something like that then 12 weeks is plenty of time to train.

It's not like you won't train for the marathon -- you have 12 weeks. That's a decent amount of time.

The OP clarified on another board that part of the bet is that he/she can't do any more running than they are doing currently - max of 3 miles three times a week.

I think with that restriction, the best bet is to do a LOT of walking in the next 12 weeks, plan to run/walk (mostly walking) the marathon, and forget about 4:30.

Ace_of_Base wrote:

Uh-Uh wrote:

No they could not.

Oprah did it, ok most people that would take on this bet will be able to do it.

Oprah is your shining example?! She had a cadre of trainers, coaches, nutritionists, private chef, massage therapists,....and even then, she made the cut off by 30 seconds.

Whatever Ryan Hall did during the ultra he recently completed off of six runs over the course of nine months?

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a33966878/ryan-hall-ultramarathon/

Look up the 5x18 training.

Burt T. Macklin wrote:

Whatever Ryan Hall did during the ultra he recently completed off of six runs over the course of nine months?

Step 1: become one of the best American distance runners ever.

Please video your endeavour and post it to YouTube.

NoTrainMary wrote:

I am going to run a marathon 3 months from now with 0 training.

I’ll start with the assumption that 0 training is what you have now, but you are starting to train now, and you will train for 3 months. If that’s the case, then it’s totally possible for you to win the bet.

Lots of people do exactly this. It’s not smart, but I would say that this is how most of the people that “run a marathon” do it.

Any training plan that you can find will do as long as you run enough. Any running shoes will do. You don’t need any books or podcasts, but Jack Daniel’s Running Formula would be the go-to book. A gps watch is nice for tracking. If you don’t want to carry a phone, then you’ll need to get one of the few that can store music (Garmin 645 music?). You don’t need any special breathing exercises.

You need to stretch and cool down. Do not skip stretching. At the end of your runs, walk like half a mile to a mile and then stretch. This might be the most important part of not getting injured.

You need to ramp up to running 35-45 miles per week during the second month at a rate that everyone considers dangerous and stupid. Good luck. If your body tells you you’re developing an injury, then back off a bit. I wouldn’t advise this, but when people have decided to do this, it’s already too late to convince them not to, so I like to see them give it a full effort, hope to avoid injury, and see what they can do.

Depending on your fitness now and previous running experience, running a 4.5 hour marathon could be very difficult or very easy for you. (Running 26 miles isn’t very easy for anyone, but if you’re faster and you build up some running during the next 3 month the time could be easily achievable...)

The most important question that you didnt answer is are you allowed to train during this 3 months or no? and in what kind of shape are you now? Are you active, do you play any sports or do you just sit behind computer all day? Are you overweight or are you skinny?

After you answer this questions we might be able to help you :)

1) Vaseline your toes, between your thighs (groin area), under your armpits.

2) Carry a small amount of Vaseline in your running shorts pocket or running belt, either a small toothpaste-like container or wrapped in saranwrap.

3) Drink plenty of water at the stations, and if hot, soak your head to cool off.

4) Bring a small package or packages of tissue in your running belt or shorts' pocket for the toiletries, which may be out of paper when you arrive to use the facility.

5) Wear shoes that you have run in a few times, or have walked miles in, but are not too worn. It helps to have the bounce of newer shoes.

Slow people can be expected to run 10 minutes a mile for the first 10 miles.

After that, you will be jogging and walking, because around 30km (18 miles is around 29 km) is when most people are getting in over their heads.

If you make 20 miles reasonably, expect to walk much of the last 6+ miles. If you c an jog the last part, great for you!

I've made the mistake of running 2 marathons.

First I ran without any water, and sped up the last 7 miles, both of which were mistakes. I found out later Pheidippides probably didn't run the 25 miles (1908 London Olympics extends to 26 miles 385 yards), but he likely ran from Athens to Sparta in about 40 hours (amazing!).

As an aside, I ran 8 min miles for 20, then 7 min miles and finished a few minutes over 3 hours. The race was in the city where I went to high school, and I was spotted in the area after the finish line by a runner who remembered me from high school (he went to a neighboring high school) and wanted to know what interval training that I was doing for shorter distances (mile, 5k, etc). We talked and then he gave me a ride in his car to the start area, while we continued to discuss interval training. The radio was on, and announced that he was the winner of the marathon! I didn't know, partly because I was so far behind.

Second, in 1988 I ran in the Malaysia Marathon, serving as their national championships. l remember that Doug Kurtis won, and that I got my photo in the local paper because at the 5 mile mark I was with the Malaysian Marathon champion (and a Japanese runner). We were 25:25 at the 5 mile mark. I crossed 20 miles under 2 hours, but walked most of the last 5 1/2 miles for a 2:57 (unofficially 38th). I promised myself not to run another.

best wishes

I cannot do any running training besides 3 miles 3 times a week. I can continue my strength training. I am in good shape. I work out 7 hours a week, and I play sports here and there. I am 6'3" 185 pounds. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

You're not fat and you say that you're in good shape, so I agree with the other poster that said that you can probably run a 4:30 marathon right now. It wouldn't be smart or healthy, but having your marathon training be 9mpw isn't gonna make much of a difference.