If you’ve been on social media this week, chances are you’ve seen the viral video of a California man finishing the San Diego Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon with absolutely no training.
@mizifbaby plz note the lack of lower body movement 🥲 #marathon #marathontraining #rocknrollmarathon #surprisingmyhusband #husbandprank #firsttimemarathoner
♬ original sound – 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬💕
His wife, apparently fed up with his bold claims, signed him up just 24 hours before the race after he insisted he could “totally run a marathon with zero prep.” She said she doubted him for good reason, as he never works out, doesn’t go to the gym and said he only needed a day’s notice, so he could carb-load. To her surprise, he finished in five hours and 58 minutes, just under her arbitrary six-hour goal.
The video of his finish has racked up more than 10 million views on TikTok and lit a match under what’s fast becoming a bizarre new trend: the untrained marathon.
@mizifbaby I’m never going to hear the end of this 🙃 Logan didn’t train, has no running experience, and NEVER works out 😂 when he said he could complete a marathon everyone thought he was crazy because even walking 26.2 miles is tough… Well he proved us all wrong 🥲 Congrats Loggy, im quite literally shocked #marathon #marathontraining #rocknrollmarathon #surprisingmyhusband #husbandprank #firsttimemarathoner
♬ Back In Black – AC/DC
Even former NFL players jumped on the challenge this week. In my mind, the untrained marathon is the latest example of the internet’s obsession with extreme stunts for clicks, where chasing impressions is seen above common sense or physical safety. And while running 42.2 kilometres on a whim may make for a great viral headline, it’s extremely risky for your body.
Remember that How I Met Your Mother episode where Barney Stinson bragged he could run the New York City Marathon without training—then actually did it? Here’s a reminder that it was fiction. Reality will be worse. In this viral California man’s case, his wife has uploaded additional TikTok’s of him struggling to even get out of bed in the morning.
Running a marathon without training puts serious strain on your muscles, joints and cardiovascular system. At best, you’ll need a full week of rest followed by another week of light recovery. Without training, your risk of injury skyrockets, which can sideline you for months with issues like stress fractures, often caused by overuse.
Marathon training exists for a reason. It prepares your body to withstand hours and hours of sustained effort. Skipping that buildup is like trying to squat twice your weight without lifting in years—reckless. So, before you sign up for an untrained marathon for views, make sure you ask yourself if it’s worth hobbling through the next few months.
