You Can Run a Marathon Without Training

Question

Running a marathon is an incredible feat, and one that many of us will likely never do because of the strain and the months of training required. However, this claim introduces the idea of skipping all that hard work and hoping right into the race. While it is possible to run a marathon without training, the real question is whether you should. And according to professionals, the answer is a strong absolutely not.

In an article from the Marathon Handbook, Running Coach Amber Sayer references concerning videos about running a marathon with no training and the interest that has sprouted from them. She explains how challenging a marathon can be without the recommended several months of raining, and the greater issues. She claims novice runners can put stress on their kidneys, provoke muscle tissue, and are at risk of running-induced injuries (knee pain and stress fractures).

Sayer recommends beginners run for 6 months to a year before even starting marathon training. She also invites runners to do a half-marathon before starting to train for the full thing. While it’s possible to run a marathon without any training, it’s not recommended. If you really want to run a marathon, it seems best thing to do is throw those running shorts on and turn on the treadmill.

Answer 1

While you can run a marathon without training, all the professionals say you should avoid it at all costs. Marathon training usually takes months, so the thought that you could run a marathon with no training under your belt, and not expect some physical repercussions is insane. I found a couple articles, most of them consisting of news interviews with people who did just this and marathon bloggers strongly advising against this. The first source that I found is an Outside Magazine interview with two women who ran the Chicago Marathoon with absolutely no training. One of the runners stated that she couldn’t walk for 9 days without pain in her feet because of the marathon. This is to be expected when you run 26.2 miles when you haven’t ran in years. The next article I found was a blog like website that clearly expresses the mental and physical side effects of running a marathon without any training. The most interesting things that I learned is that besides all the physical injuries that can happen, you can get mental burnout. This means that you are less likely to compete in a marathon later in life, because you had a bad experience in the one you ran with zero training. This blogger has been running since they were ten years old, but goes on to explain that you don’t have to be running for that long to compete. The blogger argues that you should train for at least 6-12 months. They prefer that you compete in a half-marathon before you do a full marathon, just to get a feel for how long the distance truly is. While you can run in a marathon without any training, it is highly suggested that you don’t for many reasons.

Sources:

Outside Magazine Interview

Marathon Handbook Blog

Answer 2

This claim is misleading. The article from Marathon Handbook included in this claim states that it is "technically possible" for healthy adults to finish a marathon without training, but is not safe or recommended. A healthy adult may be able to walk a marathon or even jog a six or seven hour marathon with little to no training, but in terms of actually running and finishing an hours long marathon, it can lead to high risk of injury, muscle soreness, and overall disappointment, "if not worse." The article emphasizes, "We do not endorse running a marathon without proper training."

The article also makes sure to cover the risks of running a marathon not having received adequate training, including: increased risk of myocardial fibrosis (the buildup of scar tissue in the heart muscle which can make it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively), increased risk of running-induced injuries such as knee pain and stress fractures, stress on the kidneys, damage to DNA and muscle tissue (red cell breakdown, skeletal muscle cell damage, increased cortisol, blood in the urine, etc.), and mental burnout. Since most experienced marathon runners train for 3-6 months leading up to a marathon, those who have no experience are more prone to these health risks. The author implores beginners to "respect the marathon distance and go through a proper training plan." (Marathon Handbook).

OCMarathon, the official site for the Hoag Orange County Marathon Running Festival, also states the risk of running a marathon unprepared, highlighting risk of muscle strain, dehydration, exhaustion, and injury. The article however, also includes benefits for running a marathon with proper training: improved endurance, improved strength, and improved fitness. (OCMarathon).

Answer 3

This claim is highly inaccurate and misleading. This claim doesn't mention the risk of running a marathon without proper training. The most common injuries associated with running marathons, according to Half Marathon, include "shin splints, knee pain, and stress fractures." These injuries are only more likely to occur if a participant doesn't properly train before the marathon. Running a successful marathon is much more than just a simple run, according to OCMarathon. A marathon is "a significant mental and physical challenge." Due to this, participants should train and build endurance before competing in a marathon to reduce the risk of injury. 

However, these websites showcase the importance of training before attending a marathon, but they never claim that you are unable to. It is very possible to run a marathon without training, but it is not recommended for an individual's mental and physical health. 

Sources: https://www.halfmarathons.net/can-you-run-a-marathon-without-training/

https://ocmarathon.com/can-you-run-a-marathon-without-training-2/