How to run a marathon with "no training"?

How to run a marathon with no training?

Spoiler Alert: You Can't :)

DISCLAIMERS: (I have 2)

1. I am not a coach, a doctor or your mom. So, this is not an advice column.  

2. I am a lifelong Formula 1 car racing fan. So, there could be some references to F1.

If you patiently read till the end, I may (or may not) have a tip or two on how to get through a marathon with no training :))

PRELUDE:

I believe running is a state of mind.

I am also a believer in hard work, grit, consistency and putting in the effort. 

This year's Chicago Marathon 2022 will be my 10th attempt to run this marathon, including 2020 when I ran it virtually.

While I had signed up for this one in November of 2021, I very unexpectedly had an injury with plantar fasciitis on my left foot that I am still struggling with. I had consulted multiple physiotherapists but none could put me in a program that would be a path to recovery. I am somewhat disappointed but that story is for another day. Just know that I have chronic plantar fasciitis on my left foot. 

In addition to that, throw in a busy family life, community commitments, work, travel... I can say, I did not train for this marathon at all by any standards. I will own it. It is not like I didn't have time, I just didn't feel like it. I instead spent time on things that brought me happiness like family, community, work, reading, writing and travel. 

You may ask, doesn't running bring you happiness? The short answer is Yes, but this season I just didn't feel like it. I had a lull. I let the entire summer skip by me without much running. And I will own it.

MARATHON TRAINING:

Running a marathon is not for the faint of the heart. It is a very long distance to run 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers for my global friends). A marathon training is usually 18 to 24 weeks, depending on which plan you follow. It starts in early June and continues until October. Many folks join a training group, which gives you a plan, company and accountability. I used to run in a running group, I was also a pacer and group leader for many years. It was one way for me to give back to the running community.  

One needs to have base strength, stamina and training to start a marathon training. You need a lot of time and patience to get through the training. While the prerequisites are more of an honor system, you will see better results if you are already a runner and able to run shorter distances and train consistently. I have seen a ton of runner friends get through the training and succeed. I have also seen many get injured. Either they ramped up the training too fast or other individual reasons. 

My training taking a nosedive starting June

I was training decent miles until May. But since June, my training miles really took a nosedive. The longest run was 18 miles in mid-August, nothing before or after. I kept running 3 to 5 miles on a regular basis. But I also knew that is not enough. While it is not a marathon training, I spent as much time on my feet as possible. I also went on a diet 3 weeks ago as I had gained the COVID 15 (lb) and lost almost 8 lb. But again, none of this is a traditional marathon training.

PACKET PICKUP:

This is a tradition that I love. The marathon expo, where you collect your BIB number and race t-shirt is a fun thing to do the days leading up to the marathon. It is usually at McCormick Place for the Chicago Marathon. Nike and Abbott are the main sponsors that you can feel their presence there. There are also a ton of other sponsors like Goose Island, Biofreeze, etc.

First in line to buy race swag

I usually took the race transportation. This was a way to meet other runners. In many cases international runners. And get to learn about where they come from, what motivated them to run Chicago, etc. This year, I just drove in. I used to spend half a day at the expo. This year, I spent half an hour. Just in and out. It was the usual stuff, nothing exciting for me. But it is really fun if you immerse in the experience. 

PRE-RACE:

I usually am very calm leading up to any long races. People ask me, "are you excited?" , "are you nervous?". I am neither. "I am calm".

I didn't feel a bit that I am running a big race the following day. I gathered all the stuff that I need for the morning of the marathon, stuff for the race and post-race. I have the routine down that it doesn't bother me anymore. I used to watch a movie called The Spirit of the Marathon where they follow 6 runners training for the Chicago Marathon from various backgrounds, places, age and reasons. It was an emotional and motivating movie. But I don't watch it anymore as it is in a DVD format and I pretty much memorized the movie by now.

Instead, I watched The Redeem Team on Netflix about the 2008 USA Basketball Olympic team. It was good and exciting enough to pump me up.

MORNING OF THE RACE:

RealFeel 37F

3:30 am wake up! Though I had the alarm for 4.30 am, my body just woke up at 3.30 and I was on the move. Got ready and left the house at 5 am. I was at the race venue by 6 am. Walked a mile to the L stop, took the L train to downtown and there I was. 

Since 2013, the security has been beefed up at the marathon. It is a bit unsettling but you also know that they are taking all the measures to keep the runners and spectators safe. Went through the security scan, all the way to the gear check area. But I had more than 1.5 hours and was not ready to check my gear. 

I went through the pre-race rituals, eating the pre-meal, emptying the stomach and hydrating. It was Real Feel 37F in the morning. I intentionally had only one layer. No hat or gloves as I wanted my body to get used to the cold. I knew it will be cold at the start of the race but will warm up.

Empty train at 5 am

This year, we had the PERFECT weather. It was cool the entire time, got a bit hot towards the end at 63F. Not much windy and no rain. Clear blue sky. The runners couldn't have asked for a better weather day.

Security screening

Most important pre-race ritual

Resting his body before the race, Smart!

I like to not listen to anything the morning of the race. One reason is to preserve the battery charge in my phone and AirPods. But also to take it all in. I like the sounds of the morning leaves, the train, people in the train, the runners going through the entry gates and preparing. I like listening to various chats and languages. I just want to take it all in. 

MARATHON:

I decided to run this marathon and enjoy the experience. Not going for time or distance. Oh well, the distance was predetermined.

I enjoy the Chicago Marathon. The race course goes through 29 neighborhoods. You can soak in the city, its people and various cultures. From Downtown to Old Town to Lincoln Park to Lakeview to West Loop to Pilson to Chinatown to South Loop and on and on. It is really awesome to see over 40,000 runners on the streets of Chicago and almost 2 million people come out and cheer for you. There is not a single location where you won't see spectators. 

When the whistle went off, I was running like a F1 race car at lights out. Balls to the walls. 

While I thought I was pacing myself, I was actually booking it. You run the first 10 miles with your adrenaline, second 10 miles with your training (which was none for me) and the last 6.2 miles with your heart.

My brain, heart and various body parts were sending signal back-and-forth.

The first 13 miles went by fast. I was just clocking the miles, at a much faster pace than I would run. This happens at all the races, and you suffer later.

When I passed the Half Marathon distance (13.1 miles), I suddenly felt a cramp on the right calf. It was a familiar feeling which had threatened to end my other races. I have had multiple years where I would cramp up real bad around mile 17 or 18 which is near UIC. But this is way sooner. One year, I cramped with 800 yards to go. The course marshal who saw me struggle told me kindly "Just walk it off buddy. The finish line is just around the corner". If the medic sees you suffering, your race is pretty much over. This one year, my friend Tim, had a full body cramp and crashed right before the finish line that they had to take him to the ER which was the end of his race.

Mile 13.1: Right Calf cramp 

I slowed down a bit and tried to assess the situation, my cadence, nutrition, hydration. All looked normal. I am running this with plantar fasciitis on my left foot. The only thing I can think of is, maybe I am overcompensating on my right leg. 

PIT STOPS - "BOX, BOX, BOX":

Due to excessive hydration before the race, I had to do a quick pit stop. But I don't want to be like the Ferrarri this season. They had the best car in the circuit and the best driver, but the worst strategy. But I am now like the Williams team. Not a good car, or strategy, or drivers. If you are reading and a Williams fan, I am sorry, I am just going by the stats man.  

I check the line up of porta-johns, all red. Meaning none of them are open. So I keep going. Around mile-5.5, I see green. My brain sends the signal to my legs, "Box, Box, Box", meaning it's time for a pit stop. I was in and out in 20 seconds. Thats a great pit strategy. I had to repeat the same in around mile 21. "Box, Box, Box".

HUMANS:

I should mention the most interesting thing about the marathon is us humans. The 40,000 runners at the start line. Each one of them have their own goals, ambitions, motivations, purpose and willpower. People of all races, ages, nationalities, causes... it is actually overwhelming. I have seen numerous languages, signs, country flags, and causes that runners carry with them during the run. I was trying to make mental note of countries I saw starting with US, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, China, India, Pakistan and more. I met a couple of runners at the start line who flew in from Hyderabad, India to run the race. 

These two runners are from Hyderabad, India

At around mile-16, an elderly runner just fell face planting on the road. Two runners helped him to get up. I immediately went behind him and signaled to other runners so that they don't trip on him, like a human STOP sign.  He stood up with help, he was wearing an international runner, his lips were bleeding. And let the helpers leave him and started a brisk walk ahead. It was really something. What drives this person?

YOU CAN, YOU WILL

BECAUSE, F*** CANCER

Starting mile 10, you can see runners cramping, limping, walking, crying, hobbling but you rarely see runners stopping. This increases as the miles increase. I saw a girl completely crashed with the medics around mile 23.

There is something I learned in ultra-running. To cheer other runners. For some reason, I don't see much on road races of shorter distance. But it may also be because ultra races are usually in the woods or trails where you rarely see runners, so you may want to cherish them. I tried to say "good job" with a thumbs up or pointing my index finger to the sky to boost them up. 

I stopped maybe 8 to 10 times to ask if the runner is doing Okay, if I see them in the struggle bus. They usually say "I am good, I am good". I gave salt tablets to three runners to help them out with cramps. It is so rewarding to connect with other humans. 

He must really like Cats (cat t-shirt)

A big part of the Chicago Marathon are the spectators. You get between 1.5 and 2 million people. And the energy is electrifying. There is not a single moment in the race that you are lonely. All kinds of funny signs, costumes, drinks, snacks, music, bands, and cheering runners. Many runners have their names written on their t-shirt. "Goooooo Katieeeeeee", or "Steveeeeeeeee, almost thereeeeee". It's really fun.

My family and a friend came to cheer me at mile 14.5. It was really fun to see them, take a couple of pictures. It lifted my mood. I saw my coworker Nick at Miles 2 and 9. I saw my running friend Megan at mile 8. I saw our friend Andrea at mile 25. Apart from this, met a ton of running friends before the race, on the course, and after the race.

Nick at mile-2

A special mention to my PATH Projects buddy Flo. He had come in from California and was in the first corral, fast guy. I met him before the race and it was really fun to meet someone who you had been talking to virtually for a while. 

Met with Flo from CA, PATH Projects

BACK TO THE RACE:

Mile-18: Right Quads cramp

Mile-21: Right Hamstring cramp

Mile-23: Left Calf cramp

Mile-25: Left Quad cramp

Reaching the Finish Line, almost there

It feels like my body was shutting down on me. I had significantly slowed down but did not stop to walk. As an ultra runner, there is one thing you learn. Adjusting to the race. I learned it by running thousands of race miles that you just need to adjust your race strategy in run time (pun intended) and keep moving. Stopping can only make it worse. I felt a slight cramp on my right bicep around mile 26. I was like, 'I am almost at the finish line. I just need to hustle it to the FINISH.'

Getting excited for the finish, 800 yards to go

MUSIC:

I had put on music early on in the race but only in one ear. I had a playlist of mostly Bollywood songs with some other favorite pop songs. For some reason, in the last mile of most of my races, the shuffle gets to the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song "ceiling can't hold us" from The Heist:

"Little bit of humble, little bit of cautious...

We will fight until its over...

So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us...

Yeah, I am so damn grateful...."

THE FINISH:

I pushed it through the Finish Line. I was delighted to have finished this race. Super content and happy. I can say, despite the physical cramping, mentally I thoroughly enjoyed the race. This is one of my favorite races. 

Obligatory Superman pose 

GOAL ACCOMPLISHED:

I had only one primary goal: to enjoy the race. And it was accomplished. I expected the lack of training will show up at some point, it did without fail. I had no cramping when I finished. No limping. I was able to walk to the train station normally, go up and down the stairs and walk back home. I may have put over 5 miles on my feet just walking before and after the race. 

Finished - Cheer Squad

NOW BACK TO THE QUESTION:

How to run a marathon with no training?

NO, not recommended. Someone might take this as a challenge and run a marathon with no training, which is fine. It is definitely possible to run with less mileage training, as long as you follow a plan, do significant cross training. 

I believe the reason I was able to run this marathon was my previous experience and will power to push it through. 

Don't do what I did. Train and run your race, whether it is a 5k, 10k, half or full marathon or more. You will be rewarded.

BEST WISHES!

Back on the train, now to shower, eat and Zzzzz