I’ve got a few things on my mind today!
CHEATING ATHLETES
If you’re new to my blog you probably missed this post last summer about Tour de France. I suggest you read it for a quick background. The question of that past last summer was:
Do you think Contador cheated to beat Andy Schleck? Do you think he broke the “Fair Play” rule? Or do you think there’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of the situation?
Funny how it’s back in the news. The new drama? CONTADOR IS A CHEATER. Apparently he was doping during Tour de France. Contador claims that he ate “tainted meat” (right right right) and wasn’t cheating.
“The Spanish federation has proposed a one-year ban for Contador, rather than the standard two-year penalty, after his positive clenbuterol test at last year’s Tour.”
Awesome. My opinion last summer when he won over Andy Schleck was that he was a jerk. I’m glad karma is biting him in the butt.
What makes me sad is that all these guys are amazing athletes and in such great shape. Their bodies are machines and yet they ruin the sports and tarnish their accomplishments by taking steroids and doping and cheating in other ways. I think the tennis star Rafael Nadal said it best HERE. Basically, these cheaters ruin sports for everyone.
Run a Marathon Without Training
The other article that interested me this week was about how to run a marathon without any training. Um, what?
“A few years ago Andrew Gertig ran the San Francisco marathon without any training. He finished in just 4 hours and 28 minutes… he made it through with a few Advil before the race, well-timed walking and water breaks, the periodic banana, and interesting conversations to distract from the pain.”
Really? That’s all it takes to run a marathon? I haven’t run a marathon but I ran Hood to Coast and the general consensus of people who have done both HTC and a marathon–HTC is harder. Probably because of how much time is in between each leg of the race. Basically: just enough time to tighten up and get REALLY sore.
NYC Marathon
I think that I trained for Hood to Coast improperly. I now believe I should have been running 25 miles a week to train properly. Had I not trained for HTC at ALL? I wouldn’t have made it across the finish line. I would have been broken after my first leg of the race.
I think it’s reckless and ridiculous for someone to say anyone can run a marathon without training for it.
QUESTION: What is your opinion on these issues? And if you’ve run a marathon what is your take on not training for it?
Amber from Girl with the Red Hair
I guess it depends what you consider “training” too though – someone who can run 10K in 40 minutes and runs 5 – 15K 4-5 times a week might not be considered “training” for a marathon but could probably DO a marathon if it came down to it.
Someone overweight and out-of-shape? No! I think that when it comes to ANY kind of endurance event it really depends on the person, some people are just naturally more fit than others!!
I trained hard for my marathon and it still beat the crap out of me, so I guess it really depends!
Lisa Eirene
I thought about you and Brie from Brie-fit when I read this article. I loved your marathon recaps and wondered how you guys would think about this!
Aj
Wow! If I finish my first marathon (still so excited abotu signing up…training doesn’t start until June, haha!) in under 4:30 I’ll be pleased. I’m not a fast runner by any means and my goal is to run a smart race and do minimal injury to my body. Call me a dawdler or plodder, if you will. But I plan on training. And you’ve got to be damn sure I’d have to train for average 10:14 min/miles.
That said can *anyone* *complete* a marathon? I think anyone who is reasonably in shape can complete a marathon, even if that means walking. Avon Walk for the Cure walks cover approximately a marathon in a day and people of all shapes and sizes complete that. So yes, except for those who are truly out of shape, I think anyone can complete 26.2 miles without any special training. The question though is would you want to?
Lisa Eirene
I’m sure that if someone was run/jog/walking they could complete a marathon without training but….like you I’d want to do minimal damage to my body! I don’t mind if I run slow. During Hood to Coast speed was not my focus! It was being able to RUN the whole thing!
Becky
I wouldn’t have been able to run a 5K without training, let alone a marathon. Some people are just lucky (and likely in really great shape already). Even with training for a marathon, I don’t think I’ll be able to hit the 4:30 time the guy in the story hit. People like that drive me nuts!
Lori
That Contador thing pisses me off. You just never know if an athlete is lying anymore. They always deny, deny, deny – then later come out and admit.
Too bad Andy Schleck wins the Tour this way, when he should have had it won before.
Lisa Eirene
Yeah he is just so unlikeable now!
Julie
I think some people can do anything…like run a marathon without training. In 2008, I trained HARD for a 1/2 Ironman. My dad decided to do the 1/2 Duathlon and his training was sporadic and often followed by a 6 pack of beer. He ROCKED his race and I struggled with mine. BUT…he’s a man who did hard labor his whole life and can bust through just about anything he puts his mind to simply because he refuses to quit.
For most of us regular humans out here, I think training is a much better plan 🙂
Lisa Eirene
That’s great for your dad! What an accomplishment!
I sort of half-assed my training for Reach the Beach honestly. I did long bike rides every weekend to prepare but that was it. Luckily I was in great shape from running and swimming. If I hadn’t been in shape there’s no way I could have ridden 55 miles. Running a marathon without training? No way I could! I’m in great shape but not marathon shape.
Kristin
I agree with most of the other comments: there are some people (probably men, unfortunately) who are so fit from other activity (Lance Armstrong-like) that they could run a marathon without marathon-specific training and do okay. (Although I don’t think they could do it without ANY running under their belt.) But does that mean ANYONE can run a marathon without any training? No.
Jane~ Keepingthepoundsoff.com
My comment is about the marathon training portion. The article said he walked it in 4.5 hours – about 9 minutes a mile.
When I was 17 our high school participated in a walk-a-thon fund raiser for a MDA. The course was around our city and it was 26 miles long. We started out at 8 AM and had to finish by 5pm. MOST of us were not runners or even much for walking. I know I never ran anywhere in my life at that point and I had no training. I joined with a few of my friends and off we went. Oh, and I had a 103 temperature and a horrible sore throat. (Yes, I was a foolish teenager). I gave up at 19 miles because of my throat. I needed three days to recover from the sore throat but my legs felt fine the next day. Oh to be young again. Two years ago I did a half marathon (walking the whole way) with no training except a daily 3 mile stint on the treadmill. I think I stayed in bed the next day and did not move very much for two days after that. Maybe the young can get away without training to walk a marathon. This forty something person needs as much conditioning as I can get!
Jane~
Jennifer
Running without training is an injury waiting to happen! I know I’m a beginner when it comes to running, but I can tell that the training has prevented some major injuries to my knees and feet. The farthest I’ve run so far in a race is 10 miles. I made sure I could do 8 beforehand. I’m planning to do my first half in April and I intend to work up to 11-12 miles before race day. I think an extra mile or two beyond what you’ve reached during training is OK because of the adrenaline you feel on race days. But I would never, ever, ever dream of not training for any race, much less a marathon!
Lisa Eirene
I’m with you Jennifer! I don’t think I could run a race (even a 10k) without training for it. I’d definitely injure myself. Good luck on your first half!