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 it is technically possible to run a marathon without formal training, this claim is very misleading. Running a marathon unprepared can cause a significant physical strain on one's body. According to the Marathon Handbook and the National PTI, attempting to run without any form of practice can lead to side effects such as tendonitis and the overall stressing of muscles, loss of bone density, and increased risk of respiratory infections among other things. In more extreme cases, people can develop serious conditions like myocardial fibrosis or acute kidney injuries. Aside from the physical repercussions, it is also a mental strain on new runners. Running a marathon is a very difficult feat for people with the recommended training, so attempting one unprepared will only end up as a stressful and discouraging experience.

Sources

The Risks of Running Without Proper Training - National Personal Training Institute

Running A Marathon Without Training: ALL The Reasons It's A Bad Idea

Answer 2

The claim that you can run a marathon without training is misleading and potentially dangerous. I checked this by using a source of the running newsletter “RUN.” While it is technically possible for some people to complete a marathon without prior training, doing so carries a high risk of serious injury, dehydration, heat exhaustion, or even cardiac events. Marathons are 26.2 miles long, requiring endurance, muscle conditioning, and energy management. Without preparation, the body lacks the stamina and resilience needed to sustain hours of running. Medical experts and sports physiologists universally recommend following a structured training plan—typically lasting several months—to build aerobic capacity, strengthen muscles and joints, and prevent overuse injuries. Attempting a marathon untrained may result in long-term health consequences and should not be viewed as a safe or achievable shortcut. 

Source:

https://run.outsideonline.com/training/are-we-right-to-judge-people-who-run-a-marathon-with-no-training/

Answer 3

This claim is technically true but is very over exaggerated. Most people would be putting their health and safety at risk and could end up in the hospital. Even if you are properly trained for a marathon you could end up in the hospital though much more unlikely. 

The marathon handbook states that they have seen people posting on Tik Tok running a marathon with no training as kind of like a trend and while they were able to complete it others might not be so lucky they say "You may be able to walk a marathon or jog/walk a six- or seven-hour marathon with little to no training, but if you’re hoping to run a four-hour marathon and complete the whole way, you are setting yourself up for a high risk of injury, muscle soreness, and disappointment, if not worse." Everyone is different and some people are able to do it without training and with little pain or injury while others could be disastrous.

The hoag.oc marathon running festival states that "During the race, the repetitive impact of each stride can place immense strain on unconditioned muscles, exacerbating the risk of strain." they claim that any of the muscles in your legs could get strained if you run without training.

My last source the marathon handbook states that a former D1 athlete said "After standing up, walking out of the tent, and heading out to get picked up, I 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." Even someone who is an athlete but out of their sport and conditioning for a while had a very hard time. 

In conclusion it's technically true/ possible but it is highly discouraged and not recommended at all.

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

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

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

Answer 4

The claim that you can run a marathon without any training, although true, is extremely misleading.  In no instance is any warning or caution issued.  With countless articles from people who have run marathons without any training, I can say not one of them has been a positive experience.  Billy Bosco, a popular story of a personal trainer who tried to run a marathon without any training, released a vlog on his story throughout his marathon.  Bosco stated, "I was going to run this race without a single day of training. The next best thing I could do was prepare my body. As a trainer, I knew the muscles that would be most active. Accessories would be my first line of defense."(Bosco, 2022) Later on in his story, he talks about his first starting miles, cruising all the way up to 13 miles. When getting to mile 16, he started to encounter problems. Describing the pain as something he wishes no one ever feels, he starts listing countless injuries at the peak of the race, from blisters all over his soles to unbelievable cramps that almost took him out of the race.  As Bosco limped to the end of the finish line at a final time of 4:50, he made a final remark after the race, "Yes, it’s definitely a possibility. The risks outweigh any benefit you could gain, though. The arches of my feet could have torn, and that ligament takes a long time to recover. Any other muscle could have torn and taken me out for months. Thankfully, my body was in good enough condition to sustain the 26 miles. I would never wish this pain on anyone." This is just one prime example of a runner who didn't train, and there are countless more stories. 

https://www.austinfitmagazine.com/my-experience-running-a-marathon-without-training/

 “Securly - Geolocation Sharing.” Austinfitmagazine.com, 2025, www.austinfitmagazine.com/my-experience-running-a-marathon-without-training/. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

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Answer 5

I decided to research and find out if running a marathon is possible without training. Although running a marathon technically is possible, this is not something that is encouraged depending on natural athletic abilities. Scientific reports say that there are many risks attached to running a marathon without training. Even though it is possible, it is not the safest thing to do. Some less severe side effects from running a marathon with no training may include muscle cramps and dehydration. More severe symptoms could be a heat stroke or cardiac arrest. The sources for this information contain links to primary sources in the text. 

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

https://www.austinfitmagazine.com/my-experience-running-a-marathon-without-training/