Walking a Marathon.

RonanP77

One of my big things on my bucket list is to run a Marathon. If I never get to that level through running, for what ever reason, is it frowned upon to walk one? Or walk 75% of it?

I'm just talking about the Irish ones now so I'd imagine there's no time limit on them but if you hobble home after 6ish hours do people reckon you had no business being there? Or is it accepted that maybe people like walking really long distances too?

menoscemo

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=90746235

eviltwin

RonanP77 wrote: »

One of my big things on my bucket list is to run a Marathon. If I never get to that level through running, for what ever reason, is it frowned upon to walk one? Or walk 75% of it?

I'm just talking about the Irish ones now so I'd imagine there's no time limit on them but if you hobble home after 6ish hours do people reckon you had no business being there? Or is it accepted that maybe people like walking really long distances too?

I know a few people who walked the DCM this year and for the most part got a great reception from the runners. However there are some out there who are really hostile and dismissive of anyone who they perceive to be not trying hard enough. But you get those kinds in all events.

The cut off for the DCM is 7.5 hours, I think to even finish one is a hell of an achievement so it shouldn't matter how you do it, run walk or crawl. Obviously its a major endurance test so you'd need to be fairly sure you can handle the distance but don't let the running snobs put you off.

Chivito550

RonanP77 wrote: »

If I never get to that level through running, for what ever reason

What are you talking about? Running a marathon is not a "level". Literally anyone can do it. You just have to train for it.

Why would you want to walk a marathon? What's the point!

eviltwin

Chivito550 wrote: »

What are you talking about? Running a marathon is not a "level". Literally anyone can do it. You just have to train for it.

Why would you want to walk a marathon? What's the point!

This is the kind of attitude I'm talking about. Why should it matter why anyone wants to do it. Does it devalue it for the proper runners or something to have walkers in it? Completing any event is an achievement and it should matter how long you take, just doing it should be enough.

ultraman1

Marathon club of Ireland will give u great help and support

menoscemo

Come on lads, It's only 5 months since we had this exact same conversation (see link above)

RonanP77

At the moment I couldn't run a marathon because I'm not fit enough. I've never run further than 12k. Of course it's a level of fitness. I had to reach a certain level to run my 1st 5k, 10k, Duathlon, how is being able to run long distances not a level?

As to why I'd want to walk one, well it's the next best thing to running one. I love the buzz around events so really want to be a part of it. If regular injuries meant I could never get to a stage where I could run that far I was just wondering if walking it would be an acceptable alternative.

Chivito550

eviltwin wrote: »

Completing any event is an achievement and it should matter how long you take, just doing it should be enough.

Absolute rot!

eviltwin

RonanP77 wrote: »

At the moment I couldn't run a marathon because I'm not fit enough. I've never run further than 12k. Of course it's a level of fitness. I had to reach a certain level to run my 1st 5k, 10k, Duathlon, how is being able to run long distances not a level?

As to why I'd want to walk one, well it's the next best thing to running one. I love the buzz around events so really want to be a part of it. If regular injuries meant I could never get to a stage where I could run that far I was just wondering if walking it would be an acceptable alternative.

Check out the Runners Support Page on Facebook, a lot of the people there walked DCM this year, a lot ran too and there is a lot of support, inspiration and encouragement regardless of ability.

Chivito550

RonanP77 wrote: »

At the moment I couldn't run a marathon because I'm not fit enough. I've never run further than 12k. Of course it's a level of fitness. I had to reach a certain level to run my 1st 5k, 10k, Duathlon, how is being able to run long distances not a level?

As to why I'd want to walk one, well it's the next best thing to running one. I love the buzz around events so really want to be a part of it. If regular injuries meant I could never get to a stage where I could run that far I was just wondering if walking it would be an acceptable alternative.

Well then sort it out and get fit, instead of looking for short cuts. You might have to wait a few years to be ready to run one but it will be a lot more satisfying when you do. If injuries are a problem then start a strength and conditioning programme and get regular massages.

RacoonQueen

RonanP77 wrote: »

At the moment I couldn't run a marathon because I'm not fit enough. I've never run further than 12k. Of course it's a level of fitness. I had to reach a certain level to run my 1st 5k, 10k, Duathlon, how is being able to run long distances not a level?

As to why I'd want to walk one, well it's the next best thing to running one. I love the buzz around events so really want to be a part of it. If regular injuries meant I could never get to a stage where I could run that far I was just wondering if walking it would be an acceptable alternative.

If you are not fit enough to run it, then I'm sorry, but you are not fit enough to walk it.
Train to run it, you can go from 0 to 26.2 in 5/6 months if you dedicate yourself to the training along with eating and sleeping well.

Ososlo

RonanP77 wrote: »

At the moment I couldn't run a marathon because I'm not fit enough. I've never run further than 12k. Of course it's a level of fitness. I had to reach a certain level to run my 1st 5k, 10k, Duathlon, how is being able to run long distances not a level?

As to why I'd want to walk one, well it's the next best thing to running one. I love the buzz around events so really want to be a part of it. If regular injuries meant I could never get to a stage where I could run that far I was just wondering if walking it would be an acceptable alternative.

There is no reason in the world why you can't run a marathon OP by this time next year or sooner. There is not really (or should not be) any big mystique around running a marathon.
The thing is that most people (anyone who hasn't done one and doesn't run much) are of the opinion that it's this magnificent other-worldly feat whereas in reality it's not really.

You're running already so just keep plugging away at it and you could run the whole thing next year if you're consistent with the training between now and then and train sensibly so you don't get injured. Most people have started from where you currently are at.
DCM allows walkers but I don't understand why you'd wanna walk it if you could run it. I'm sure you'd rather run it than walk it?
It'd be a much bigger achievement imo.

Pacing Mule

eviltwin wrote: »

Check out the Runners Support Page on Facebook, a lot of the people there walked DCM this year, a lot ran too and there is a lot of support, inspiration and encouragement regardless of ability.

Why would a lot of people on a runners support page be walking ?

eviltwin

Imo running a marathon is more of a mental challenge than a physical one. You're running already so you have a good base to start from. As the others have said there is no reason to sell yourself short and think you can't do it, you probably would surprise yourself. The big thing is finding and sticking to a training plan and taking care of your diet and general health. Once you can do that the rest is pretty easy.

But if you need the mental security of knowing you can walk it if you have to its good to know its allowed.

Chivito550

Race walking would be an acceptable alternative. I'd imagine running it would be easier though.

eviltwin

Pacing Mule wrote: »

Why would a lot of people on a runners support page be walking ?

They are not but they couldn't run the full 26m and ended up walking parts of it. No one made them feel like a time waster either. You'd think we'd be trying to encourage people. This is the reason why I hate this forum sometimes. Its so off putting to novice runners.

Chivito550

eviltwin wrote: »

They are not but they couldn't run the full 26m and ended up walking parts of it. No one made them feel like a time waster either. You'd think we'd be trying to encourage people. This is the reason why I hate this forum sometimes. Its so off putting to novice runners.

This is different. Plenty of people who trained to run it and had a bad day ended up walking the last few miles. That's not the same as setting out to walk the whole thing from the start.

Ososlo

eviltwin wrote: »

This is the reason why I hate this forum sometimes. Its so off putting to novice runners.

God I couldn't disagree with you more. I was where the OP is a couple of years ago. I got SO MUCH encouragement from this forum and it supported me from running for 60 seconds at a time (couch to 5k) to running 26.2 without stopping 2 years later.

Bottom line is this is a running forum and we want everyone to run if they can.

Pacing Mule

eviltwin wrote: »

They are not but they couldn't run the full 26m and ended up walking parts of it. No one made them feel like a time waster either. You'd think we'd be trying to encourage people. This is the reason why I hate this forum sometimes. Its so off putting to novice runners.

Big big difference between setting off to walk the entire thing and having a go at running but having to walk some of it.

And ironically enough since you are holding me up as an example I ended up walking quite a lot of DCM this year myself. It's a running forum. Novice runners are very welcome. A novice runner by definition has a go at running surely ?

menoscemo

eviltwin wrote: »

They are not but they couldn't run the full 26m and ended up walking parts of it. No one made them feel like a time waster either. You'd think we'd be trying to encourage people. This is the reason why I hate this forum sometimes. Its so off putting to novice runners.

To be fair, novice runners shouldn't be doing marathons, especially if they are not fit enough or done enough training to run one.
I say that as a former novice runner who made the mistake of going straight to a marathon.

RonanP77

Well the hope is to run one (hopefully a lot more than that if I enjoy it as much as I expect) so obviously I'd prefer that. I'm not looking at walking it as a shortcut, that's an odd thing to say.

I started running about 8 months ago, I've already missed 2 months of that and now I'm missing at least one more. I'm getting Physio at the minute for numerous injuries. Some of the lads at work have been telling me to give up on the Marathon dream altogether. It just had me thinking that if running wasn't going to happen, I could still do it, just slower.

I know it takes a lot of work and the plan is always 3 days running a week + 1 day working out in some other way so I'm not lazy.

eviltwin

Ososlo wrote: »

God I couldn't disagree with you more. I was where the OP is a couple of years ago. I got SO MUCH encouragement from this forum and it brought me from running for 60 seconds at a time (couch to 5k) to running 26.2 without stopping 2 years later.

Bottom line is this is a running forum and we want everyone to run if they can.

One of my first experiences here was posting after my first half and complaining about lack of water for people at the back of the pack and being told to run faster in future. I guess it depends on who replies to you but that put me off.

Ososlo

RonanP77 wrote: »

I started running about 8 months ago, I've already missed 2 months of that and now I'm missing at least one more. I'm getting Physio at the minute for numerous injuries. Some of the lads at work have been telling me to give up on the Marathon dream altogether. It just had me thinking that if running wasn't going to happen, I could still do it, just slower.
.

Absolute horsesh1t
Course you can run one. Sounds like you need to just train a bit smarter to avoid the injuries.

Pacing Mule

RonanP77 wrote: »

Well the hope is to run one (hopefully a lot more than that if I enjoy it as much as I expect) so obviously I'd prefer that. I'm not looking at walking it as a shortcut, that's an odd thing to say.

I started running about 8 months ago, I've already missed 2 months of that and now I'm missing at least one more. I'm getting Physio at the minute for numerous injuries. Some of the lads at work have been telling me to give up on the Marathon dream altogether. It just had me thinking that if running wasn't going to happen, I could still do it, just slower.

I know it takes a lot of work and the plan is always 3 days running a week + 1 day working out in some other way so I'm not lazy.

Plans normally have 4-5 days running.

If you are carrying numerous injuries and missing months at a time chances are you are trying to build mileage too fast and are possibly carrying too much weight. Take a long term approach. Increase mileage gradually giving time for the body to adapt and recover. Then run a marathon. Your fall back should be to take longer to get ready to run, not to walk it IMO.

Puibo

Chivito550 wrote:

Why would you want to walk a marathon? What's the point!

Well said!

menoscemo

RonanP77 wrote: »

Well the hope is to run one (hopefully a lot more than that if I enjoy it as much as I expect) so obviously I'd prefer that. I'm not looking at walking it as a shortcut, that's an odd thing to say.

I started running about 8 months ago, I've already missed 2 months of that and now I'm missing at least one more. I'm getting Physio at the minute for numerous injuries. Some of the lads at work have been telling me to give up on the Marathon dream altogether. It just had me thinking that if running wasn't going to happen, I could still do it, just slower.

I know it takes a lot of work and the plan is always 3 days running a week + 1 day working out in some other way so I'm not lazy.

Concentrate on getting yourself fit and healthy first, then get into a good routine of running week in week out. Do 5ks and 10ks and improve your times then maybe onto a HM in a year or so, then repeat to improve your times.

Thinking about running Marathons from a position of multiple injuries is not good. Training for one from a low base will lead you to further injuries so take your time. That might take a few years but it will be much better than to jump from zero to marathon training and getting injured.

Plenty of really good runners on here have been running for years and have never run a marathon. It's not the be all and end all. For example a sub 6 minute mile, a sub 20 minute 5k or a sub 45 minute 10k is a much more impressive achievement than say a sub 4 Marathon.

Ososlo

eviltwin wrote: »

One of my first experiences here was posting after my first half and complaining about lack of water for people at the back of the pack and being told to run faster in future. I guess it depends on who replies to you but that put me off.

That's a shame. Try not to let one or two posts like that put you off.

Ososlo

menoscemo wrote: »

Plenty of really good runners on here have been running for years and have never run a marathon. It's not the be all and end all. For example a sub 6 minute mile, a sub 20 minute 5k or a sub 45 minute 10k is a much more impressive achievement than say a sub 4 Marathon.

The ironic thing is that it takes most people until after their first marathon to realise this! Me included! I see it year after year on this forum!

RonanP77

I prefer longer slower runs, I enjoy them. I suppose the intention is to go back and improve the shorter distances after that.

Is a 6min mile not handy enough to achieve?

Ososlo

RonanP77 wrote: »

I prefer longer slower runs, I enjoy them. I suppose the intention is to go back and improve the shorter distances after that.

Is a 6min mile not handy enough to achieve?

If you're a sub 21 min 5k runner maybe!

Chivito550

RonanP77 wrote: »

Is a 6min mile not handy enough to achieve?

Haha. Ignorance. Have a go at it if you think it's that easy.

Edit. If you mean 6 min mile as in 6:59 then yeh you should manage that. Sub 6, no chance off current fitness.

menoscemo

RonanP77 wrote: »

I prefer longer slower runs, I enjoy them. I suppose the intention is to go back and improve the shorter distances after that.

Is a 6min mile not handy enough to achieve?

I know of sub 3 hr marathoners that can barely break 6 minutes for a mile. If you find a sub 6 mile easy then perhaps that's a distance you can concentrate on. There's plenty of merit in being a fast miler!!

Rigsy

Chivito550 wrote: »

What are you talking about? Running a marathon is not a "level". Literally anyone can do it. You just have to train for it.

Why would you want to walk a marathon? What's the point!

Couldn't disagree more. Ran 3 marathons in my time. A fading hip has given up on me now and can't run any great distances. I could do all the strength and conditioning in the world and it wouldn't do me any good.

I had actually thought about walking it this year just to get out and enjoy the day. I may do it next year and if I do I'll be delighted to do it. Won't be the same as running but the closest I'll probably get again.

RonanP77

It takes me 22:4* to do 5k, over a shorter distance you'd up your pace quite a bit though. I can improve a lot if I get rid of the niggles so I'd say I wouldn't be a million miles away from it. I'll have to stick it down as one of my goals.

menoscemo

RonanP77 wrote: »

It takes me 22:4* to do 5k, over a shorter distance you'd up your pace quite a bit though. I can improve a lot if I get rid of the niggles so I'd say I wouldn't be a million miles away from it. I'll have to stick it down as one of my goals.

That's already a decent 5k time and much more impressive than walking a marathon to be honest.

RonanP77

I've dipped below 4min/km before so that's why I figured if someone really went for the 6min mile and put in some work it wouldn't be all that hard. I thought most runners on here would be capable of it. I am still new to running though.

Krusty_Clown

RonanP77 wrote: »

It takes me 22:4* to do 5k, over a shorter distance you'd up your pace quite a bit though. I can improve a lot if I get rid of the niggles so I'd say I wouldn't be a million miles away from it. I'll have to stick it down as one of my goals.

I would have been a good deal slower than that when I started running (and I would have been around the same age as you). I don't see anything wrong with people who can't run, walking the marathon (e.g. Risgy above), but clearly you can run. You're just not ready for the marathon. Forget about it for a few years, until you are in a position to give it a proper shot. You've been running less than a year. Considering a marathon is a little pointless. When you can break 1:45 for the half marathon, then think about the full distance.

kjbsrah1

Chivito550 wrote: »

Why would you want to walk a marathon? What's the point!

Well my dad has just completed his 112th marathon and he has power walked all of them. He is 69 years of age and has travelled the world doing them. I think its an insult to ask what is the point? Surely its each to their own. And is it not better to have walked a marathon than not done any at all??? I for one am very proud of him.

Ososlo

kjbsrah1 wrote: »

Well my dad has just completed his 112th marathon and he has power walked all of them. He is 69 years of age and has travelled the world doing them. I think its an insult to ask what is the point? Surely its each to their own. And is it not better to have walked a marathon than not done any at all??? I for one am very proud of him.

But the OP is a runner already! Not a walker or a power walker. Why would anyone advise him to walk a marathon instead of running one when he will be capable of running it when he's trained to do so? It will take hard work but as JFK said "We chose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

RossieMan

This just looks like a thinly veined look how fast i can run 5k thread?

I'd love to run/walk a marathon some day. But have to work my fitness up to it. Really struggle with keeping the same tempo. I always want to go faster and end up burning myself out.

Chivito550

RonanP77 wrote: »

I've dipped below 4min/km before so that's why I figured if someone really went for the 6min mile and put in some work it wouldn't be all that hard. I thought most runners on here would be capable of it. I am still new to running though.

You haven't a notion what you are talking about. Can you run a kilometre in 3:43 and then keep that exact same pace up for another 609m? If you can do that now in poor shape, then give up on the marathon and become a middle distance runner!

Itziger

eviltwin wrote: »

They are not but they couldn't run the full 26m and ended up walking parts of it. No one made them feel like a time waster either. You'd think we'd be trying to encourage people. This is the reason why I hate this forum sometimes. Its so off putting to novice runners.

Couldn't disagree more with this statement. Or these statements, to be precise. Like many on here, I started from just about scratch. Was very unfit, quite overweight and with no great drive to do anything about it.

I trained for a 'Quarter' marathon (6 months roughly, training) then targeted a Half the following year and after about 2 years and 4 months of training I did my first marathon. I still struggle with the distance actually and am currently 'looking forward' to my 7th marathon in 5 weeks time.

I have received great support from people here and from another forum I post in. For me, it's not about level but attitude. Do you want to give it a go? Do you want to try your best? That 'your best' varies radically from one runner to another as everyone here knows. The level, I repeat, ain't the problem. But imagine if someone posted in a GAA Hurling forum:

"Eh, c'mere, I'm thinking of taking up Hurling - nothing too serious now though. I'll just be looking to stroll around flaking a few random opponents and maybe the sliotar every now and again. But I'd love to be able to last the full 70 minutes. 'Twould be a great achievement"

Well, we all know the answer the poster would receive, right?

desertcircus

I don't think there's anything wrong with planning to walk a marathon; we all set our own goals, and if yours is to finish a marathon without regard to the time, then go ahead and walk.

That said: OP, if you're running a sub-23 minute 5k, then running a marathon in its entirety should be well within your capabilities. You might not get to do a marathon as soon as you'd like, but a decent training programme focused on getting you ready for the distance should have you ready in a few months to post a more than respectable time.

RonanP77

Of course I haven't a notion what I'm talking about, I'm still new to running. That's why I pop on to places like this looking for tips and advice.

It just seems to me that if you can run a km under 4 mins as part of a longer run while only starting out, then it should be possible, with a little work to run a mile in 6 mins.

I'm not saying or never said I can do it now, just that it doesn't seem like it would be all that hard to achieve if you set it as a goal to actually work on. You don't know me or what I'm capable of if fully fit so to be fair you haven't a notion what you're talking about when it comes to what I can/can't do.

So I'm taking a few things from this;

1. Yes it's allowed/accepted to walk a marathon, so if my physio rules out long distance running that shouldn't mean I'll never get to complete one.

2. It's definitely frowned upon by some runners, in fact some will actually get angry and become insulting at the thoughts of it.

3. There's an interesting mix of people here, some that will actually answer the question you asked, some that will advise you and encourage you to go beyond what you're asking about and then there's the few keyboard warriors that are going to get angry and try to start an argument regardless of what's being said.

Thanks for the advice, I can mull it all over in my head now over the next month on the couch.

overpronator

First of all OP the best of luck with your goals but you should really knock the idea of walking a marathon on the head imo as there is no need to sell yourself short like that. Get yourself a training plan or join a club and start a training log on here, it would likely transform your running. Running is a long road with no shortcuts and most on here are only starting in reality, it's tough but the rewards are immense.

You have been given some very sensible advice from people who know what they are talking about and many (most) of us have made the "mistakes" you run the risk of making as we didn't have that advice or more likely didn't heed it.
We see these threads a lot, most people get advice they don't want to hear and mistake this advice for hostility. It's genuinely not, so get stuck in, be as sensible as you can and you will 100% surprise yourself. Good luck again.

overpronator

First of all OP the best of luck with your goals but you should really knock the idea of walking a marathon on the head, there's nothing wrong with walking one imo but there is absolutely no need to sell yourself short like that. Get yourself a training plan or join a club and start a training log on here, it would likely transform your running. Running is a long road with no shortcuts and most on here are only starting in reality, it's tough but the rewards are immense.

You have been given some very sensible advice from people who know what they are talking about and many (most) of us have made the "mistakes" you run the risk of making as we didn't have that advice or more likely didn't heed it.
We see these threads a lot, most people get advice they don't want to hear and mistake this advice for hostility. It's genuinely not, so get stuck in, be as sensible as you can and you will 100% surprise yourself. Good luck again.

rom

Replace marathon with job, leaving cert or anything else in life.

I am thinking about doing the leaving cert. I want to get 40% so scrape pass in as many foundation subjects as I can. If I am the average person then this goal is lower than I can achieve. However if I have a learning difficulty then it may be setting my goal very high. Stating that the capable student that just passed the leaving who could have put in much more work has the same achievement to someone who studied. Who is to say that the underachiever may have had more academic ability than the diligent student. The edge case of the student with learning difficulties is often presented as passing the leaving cert as a validation of the underachiever's achievement. The student with learning difficulties has achieved a lot more than the underachiever because they gave it their all.

Two siblings from the same family both with the same academic ability. One does not apply themselves but has a great few years partying while the other is studying and does poorly in education. It results in them having less options in their employment. The other works hard for many years studying, not going out with friends, working at night etc as they are working for an end goal to get job X. Both at the end have a job but one worked hard in getting theirs. This is the same as your finishers medal.

A race is a competition. It is expected that you try your best no mater what ability that is. As a person who was this "defeatist" person running has inspired me that if I put in the hard work I will improve and I will get better. This has been replicated in other areas of my life as a result of the mindset of hard work and achievement that I have gained from the sport. Who is to say that those who walk that could run are simply just selling themselves short both in running and in other areas of their life like I was.

ooter

RonanP77 wrote: »

At the moment I couldn't run a marathon because I'm not fit enough. I've never run further than 12k. Of course it's a level of fitness. I had to reach a certain level to run my 1st 5k, 10k, Duathlon, how is being able to run long distances not a level?

As to why I'd want to walk one, well it's the next best thing to running one. I love the buzz around events so really want to be a part of it. If regular injuries meant I could never get to a stage where I could run that far I was just wondering if walking it would be an acceptable alternative.

18 months ago the furthest I'd ever ran was 10k and 3 weeks ago I ran my 2nd Dublin marathon, if you're not in any hurry build it up gradually and you'll definitely be able to run a marathon but sure if you want to walk it fire away,ignore the snobs.;)

Chivito550

Running Snob: Somebody who sees Athletics as a sport and that walking a marathon to tick a box, when fully capable of running it, as not being part of the ethos of the sport.

Tennis Snob: somebody who sees Tennis as a sport and that playing without a net to divide the court, when fully capable of hitting the ball over the net, as not being part of the ethos of the sport.

Same difference. Happy to be called a snob by that definition. This is a sport.

walshb

Does an official marathon legislate for how it is traversed?