somehow an influencer came up on my feed and I was interested enough/foolish enough to read on…
She got a slot…and waited until the last minute to do 12 weeks training…it looks as though she had no other running experience…she got up to a 32km training run…but was already broken on race day..
i thought about investigating further such as how she built to 32km and whether she did it the week before…but it is actually a bit cringeworthy…
i wonder whether she has woken up with stress fractures?
It must be quite hazardous on course with all the outstretched arms doing selfies and vloging.
I saw one clip of a guy “let’s see what it feels like to run a marathon off no training” - so that was his hook. Didn’t watch on, no idea if he had any ‘fitness’ background.
Did hear a commentary that fastest growing age-group in distance running in young women. Probably boosted by either watching or trying to become a creator. In two minds about it. If it gets people out and running, then maybe I’m just an old git and should let it be.
FTFY
fair point…
i did an IM off no training (bar two swims for safety)…but have a stack of historic endurance to fall back on. It was not a pleasant experience…
I see a lot of women running in the parks in London. A lot of the big run club groups that I see that I guess are driven by social media have a large proportion of women in them.
Is a running group a new way of meeting new people?
it’s never a pleasant experience!
Although I guess the DOMS after an untrained marathon feels next level
Junior FTs and their friends mostly seem into running and fitness. I think they just enjoy it & see it as a form of self care almost
yer my first London in 2011, lets say I have no recollection past about 16 miles (the tunnel where the drummers are) until 20miles when I stopped for a porta potty and struggled to even get going again.
(I tore a calf muscle running for a train, a day after the 15k Southern XC Champs, and didn’t run again until 2 weeks before VLM, and a week out ran 10miles and thought WCPGW) went through halfway in 1:59 something and ended up 4:50 something.
My first London Marathon (2002) was done off a load of rowing training but very little running.
I think I did 2 or 3 runs per week, mostly less than 10km at a time, and maybe a 20km and a 25km run.
I felt great to Tower Bridge and then I really didn’t 
My feet fell apart and I pushed on through sheer bloody mindedness (and bleeding feet 
) to a 3:31 finish, which wasn’t too bad for a 95kg rower
Welcome to the modern world…
Young people dont go clubbing or drink much. I know people who have left run clubs as they’re just a dating scene.
I mean is that not what pubs and clubs essentially were up until about 5-10 years ago? I think anywhere with young ish fit people who have a shared interest will always have this affect. Blimey the gym dating dramas I’ve come across…
To be fair, rowing clubs were great for meeting members of the opposite sex. That’s where I met Mrs W and I think in the last Henley 8 that I rowed in, more than half of the crew ended up married to other people from the club.
Some of the women’s novice squad were very open about the fact that they were only there to meet men
Rowing clubs have bars and the bar profits are what pays for the equipment, so you are doing your bit for the club if you are drinking in the bar after training and going to club parties
the club Mrs FB rowed for had a number of married or partnered to other club members
Had to read that a few times to make sure everything was above board
I guess not much is new under the sun
Only a complete idiot would do that.
In fancy dress.
Pushing a wheelchair.
Before social media existed so there’s no kudos or evidence.
Apart from that interview on ITV.
i did my first marathon aged 14 with my elder brother over the North Downs and Headley…
oh and we came 1st…
Fairly sure I was last.
Hmmmmkay
I get being proud to complete the distance but at 3.4 km/h why not actually train? Thats slower than my 7 year old walks at.