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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17456672

I would recommend not clicking that link if the sight of Jedward makes you ill!

And this blogger explains how he completed a marathon with no training:
http://andrewgertig.com/2011/01/how-to- ... -a-runner/

I think it's ridiculously irresponsible to attempt a marathon with no preparation and training! And I'm not sure I'll ever do a marathon, even though I'm eventually planning to do a half. I'm only half crazy, after all!

I got to week 8 of this program and then did a marathon. My verdict is that it's possible but you need your head examined if you do it that way! 6 hours after I started I reached the finish feeling more mentally, emotionally and physically drained than I ever have in my entire life (also a little euphoric that I'd finished).

It was monumentally stupid to do a marathon with that little training. I lost about 1/4 of the skin on my feet through blisters and one toenail (came off a month afterwards). It took me 2 months before I was able to get back running and I had to start right back at week 1.

On the other hand, marathons are an amazing experience and I'm doing it again this year. . But I'll be fully trained by then (Dublin marathon at end of october).

I would recommend doing a marathon at least once in a lifetime to everybody, but not without training properly even for walking it. Most marathon training programmes are 16 - 18 weeks and assume you are at 5k or preferably 10k level to start with.

Wow, congratulations on finishing! Definitely something to be proud of!

But oh my gosh, at week 8 you couldn't even convince me to do a 5k run!

Just the thought of it scares it

I think there is a huge difference between running a marathon with no training and walking most of the way which is what some of the z list celebrities are guilty of.

Would be a fantastic achievement to have run a marathon, but at the moment by first goal is 5k in 30 minutes, then a 10k, then a half marathon and maybe just maybe finally a full marathon before I collapse in a heap

One step at a time though, need to get 5k completed in 20-30 minutes before I can think of all that other crazy stuff.

I'm with neil!