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ago in General Factchecking by Newbie (320 points)

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.

43 Answers

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ago by Newbie (340 points)

They claim that you can run a marathon without training, but while that is technically true, it’s not recommended because it can cause several physical repercussions to your body and health. I simply just went on Google and asked, “Can you run a marathon without training?” and the AI Overview said, “It is not recommended due to high risk of injury, pain, and other health complications.” Also, while briefly looking at other articles, they said the same thing about not being recommended to do so since professional physical training is required for these marathons. Meaning that this claim is misleading with the information and the article itself.

Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (340 points)
They claim that you can run a marathon without training, but while that is technically true, it’s not recommended because it can cause several physical repercussions to your body and health. I simply just went on Google and asked, “Can you run a marathon without training?” and OC Marathon.com  said, “Running and finishing a marathon is not an easy feat. It requires physical and mental stamina, endurance, and strength. Running a marathon comes with risks. These risks are elevated when the runner doesn’t prepare adequately for the race.” Also, while briefly looking at other articles, they said the same thing about not being recommended to do so since professional physical training is required for these marathons. Meaning that this claim is misleading with the information and the article itself.

https://ocmarathon.com/can-you-run-a-marathon-without-training-2/
Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (300 points)
edited ago by

While this is technically true, this claim is misleading, running a marathon without any training and inadequate preparation can lead to severe injuries, dehydration and health consequences. Endurance coaches and sports medicine professionals emphasize on the importance of training for marathons.The marathon handbook written by a certified running coach (Amber sayer),explains that untrained marathon attempts can cause kidney stress, muscle breakdown and bone injuries.she recommends that "beginners( adults) train for at least 6 to 12 months". According to OC marathon, " proper training is the key to successfully completing a marathon and minimizing risk of injury" https://marathonhandbook.com/running-a-marathon-without-training/. potential interests, marathon handbook and OC marathon are both fitness oriented publications that may emphasize safety and proper training to maintaining their credibility with athletic audiences.Outside magazine https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/no-training-marathon/ interviewed two women who ran a marathon without training, they are former D1 collage athletes and used their past experiences to get through the marathon, they shared that " I experienced the worst pain in my lower body from my feet all the way to my hips" and that it took 9 days to experience pain free walking.There is no strong evidence undermining the claim as experts strongly emphasize the injury risks and health complications that come without training for a marathon. In conclusion it is possible to run a marathon without training but it is dangerous, and this claim is misleading.

sources:

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/no-training-marathon/

https://marathonhandbook.com/running-a-marathon-without-training/

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

Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (260 points)

This claim is technically true, but it's very misleading. Just because you might physically be able to run a marathon without training, doesn't mean you should. According to one account on ‘Outside magazine’ where they interviewed two young women who ran the Chicago marathon without any training. In the article they mention some of the consequences of the marathon on their bodies, mentioning that they “experienced probably some of the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my lower body. Moving at a snail’s pace, every step hurt from my feet all the way up to my hips.” and that they couldn’t walk properly for days after. This account is also coming from two women who were D1 athletes in college and are fairly active people. The original claim of this statement is correct, but misleading, failing to talk about or mention the consequences that it can have on the body. 

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/no-training-marathon/

Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (310 points)

This claim came up online and gained attention with some people on social media boasting about running a marathon without ever training in advance. I checked several sources, including The Marathon Handbook and health professionals, and they all say that, while it's technically possible for someone to do it, it's not smart or safe for most people. Going directly into a marathon could result in knee pain, muscle damage, or stress fractures. It also says it can place large amounts of stress on the heart and kidneys. Overall, it is wise to allow the body to train and develop gradually, over a period of several months or a year, before running a full marathon. While a person may complete one without training, it is not advisable, and can be very dangerous.

I believe this is Misleading and Mostly false. While you are physically able to do it, it is  strongly advised not to for health reasons.

https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a28763715/running-a-marathon-without-training/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://marathonhandbook.com/running-a-marathon-without-training/

Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (300 points)

Technically, it is possible for healthy individuals to run a marathon without training. However, it is dangerous and not suggested. Marathon Handbook claims that running a marathon should require at least is months of training prior to running a marathon. Even mentioning that new runners aren't recommended to participate in marathons if they haven't been training for long. The reason is that running for that long without prior conditioning can cause significant physical stress on the body. There can even be an increase in the risk of cardiac death. Even trained marathon runners still experience physical damage to their bodies. To gain a deeper understanding of the injuries commonly associated with marathons, I consulted an article by Foot Active, which states that the injuries can include runner's knee, characterized by pain around the kneecap due to over-stressing the knee or improper running form. Shin splints (over-stressing the shin-bone)  and Achilles tendinitis (the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed or swollen). This just goes to show that having prior knowledge or experience in running can still cause injuries; imagine not having any at all. To conclude, it is possible for someone to run a marathon without training; however, it is not recommended due to the significant physical stress that would be placed on the body. 

https://fr.footactive.co.uk/blog/the-pitfalls-of-running-a-marathon-without-training

https://marathonhandbook.com/running-a-marathon-without-training/

Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (300 points)
This claim is misleading. Much of the information in the article states that while anyone can run a marathon, medical professionals extremely discourage anyone from attempting a marathon without prior training. While yes, it is possible, and the claim is technically true, it is highly unrecommended. "Running a marathon with zero training is not safe and can put you at risk for injuries and other problems," the source credited states, "...it is technically possible for many healthy adults to finish a marathon without training..." Overall, running a marathon with no training has more risks than benefits, if any at all.
Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (300 points)

This claim has been circulating throughout my social media and TikTok for you page, leading me to believe that it is definitely possible. Due to TikTok, many others and I have been influenced to believe that no training is necessary; however, the influencers making these claims are all in shape and healthy. The marathon handbook says, “While it is technically possible for many healthy adults to finish a marathon without training, it is not safe or recommended.” The risk of injury and possibly hurting yourself without the proper training is one of the main concerns of this claim. Running without training and putting your body through physical and mental stress without the proper preparation can lead to severe damage. A negative experience may bring significant impacts and take a lasting toll on your body. 

https://marathonhandbook.com/running-a-marathon-without-training/

Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (310 points)
Although it is technically true that some individuals can run a marathon without any previous training, this claim is an extreme and misleading exaggeration. Though it is physically possible for a person to complete a marathon with no prior training, the marathon handbook cited in the article claims that runners without prior training run the risk of putting stress on their kidneys, provoking muscle tissue, and sustaining injuries https://marathonhandbook.com/running-a-marathon-without-training/

Many articles on the same topic also claim that it is technically possible to run a marathon with no prior training, but that there are many health risks associated with doing so. The article "Can you run a marathon without training?" highlights many of the same issues, such as risk of injury, dehydration, and cellular damage. The article also highlights the importance of preparing properly for a marathon and the benefits of training. https://ocmarathon.com/can-you-run-a-marathon-without-training-2/This highlights that the claim that "you can run a marathon without training a dangerous and exaggerated statement that has little to no evidence to support it.
Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (300 points)

Every website that instantly popped up when I searched around with this claim said immediately in bold "DO NOT TRY THIS". For me, that immediately made me feel the claim was false. I used the OC Marathon and Marathon handbook to prove my opinion on this claim. OC Marathon and Marathon Handbook both said that running the marathon without training can create many health hazards. On the OC Marathon website, most rookies will face serious health hazards such as dehydration, strain, exhaustion, and serious injuries. Marathon Handbook said that amateurs can suffer heart strain, kidney troubles, and long-term damages to muscles. The consequences may not be failure but can create serious health hazards even death. 

Sources: 
https://marathonhandbook.com/running-a-marathon-without-training/

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

False

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