Untrained Marathoning

[ControlD]

Looking at FB feed around marathon time, you can see the reasons why some people finish the way they do.
Runs at 10-11 minute pace for 10 miles with group of friends (For mutual support)
Stops to take selfie
Walks for 2
Stops to take picture with family member.
Runs for another 5 miles at 10 minute pace.
Goes to bathroom.
Walks for 2 miles.
Stops to take selfie
Runs for 2 miles
Stops to take selfie
Emergency poo.
Walks for 1 mile
Stops to take selfie
Runs for 2 miles
Takes selfie with friend they bump into
Runs rest of race at 10 minute pace.

Goes ahead to post "Ran my first marathon!!!" and slap stickers on car. Gets tattoo. Gets t-shirt related to being woman athlete.

What's wrong with running a marathon at a 10 minute per mile pace? Nothing at all. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the experience either. Not everyone is out there trying to BQ.

The constant selfie thing that has become popular is annoying though.

 

[pauldun170]

What's wrong with running a marathon at a 10 minute per mile pace? Nothing at all. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the experience either. Not everyone is out there trying to BQ.

The constant selfie thing that has become popular is annoying though.

Focus was on the constant stopping, picture taking and and walking.
Pace number was just random sample common across friend who run

 

[ControlD]

Focus was on the constant stopping, picture taking and and walking.
Pace number was just random sample common across friend who run

Yeah, I don't get all of the Facebook phone pictures people feel the need to post all over the place during a race. Now that a few people have "gone viral" with it I expect to see it a lot more in the future.

Some of it is downright disrespectful as well.

<---- Guy that would kill to run 26.2 at a 10 mpm pace!

 

[pauldun170]

Slightly related...
http://www.theonion.com/articles/woman-barely-jogging,35762/

 

[marmasatt]

Did this when I was young. I'm relatively athletic but it was still hard. Really good way to injure yourself. So no, I don't recommend it. Did Boston in just under 5 hours while only running 20 miles a week for a few months. My longest training run was 14 miles.

 

[Nebor]

Looking at FB feed around marathon time, you can see the reasons why some people finish the way they do.
Runs at 10-11 minute pace for 10 miles with group of friends (For mutual support)
Stops to take selfie
Walks for 2
Stops to take picture with family member.
Runs for another 5 miles at 10 minute pace.
Goes to bathroom.
Walks for 2 miles.
Stops to take selfie
Runs for 2 miles
Stops to take selfie
Emergency poo.
Walks for 1 mile
Stops to take selfie
Runs for 2 miles
Takes selfie with friend they bump into
Runs rest of race at 10 minute pace.

Goes ahead to post "Ran my first marathon!!!" and slap stickers on car. Gets tattoo. Gets t-shirt related to being woman athlete.

I was behind countless people taking selfies, and one girl with a 26.2 tattoo on the back of her neck.

Also, if you fall off your pace group in the first 4 miles, you're an idiot and a hazard on the course.

 

[Mursilis]

Did this when I was young. I'm relatively athletic but it was still hard. Really good way to injure yourself. So no, I don't recommend it. Did Boston in just under 5 hours while only running 20 miles a week for a few months. My longest training run was 14 miles.

I think overall mileage per week is a lot more important than the distance of a single training run. I've run sub-3:30 twice, and both times my longest run was only 16 miles. The second time, I only did a single 16 mile run during training due to injury. I did, however, run 40+ miles per week during those training cycles. That's what allowed me to maintain pace.