I Ran a Marathon With 2 Days’ Notice: What I Got Wrong (and the One Thing I Got Right)
In 2025, I completed a marathon with two days’ notice and no specific training.
Before anything else: this is not recommended.
As an osteopath who treats runners daily, I understand exactly why preparation matters. But this experience offered valuable insights into how the body handles extreme load—and why certain fundamentals make a real difference.
What I Got Wrong (Clinically Speaking)
From a professional perspective, the red flags were obvious:
No progressive mileage build-up
No tissue conditioning
No neuromuscular adaptation
No taper or recovery planning
This is precisely how runners develop Achilles pain, plantar fasciitis, knee irritation, hip overload, and stress reactions—the same injuries we see every week in clinic.
The One Thing I Got Right: Nutrition Strategy
The reason I finished the marathon without major injury came down to nutrition.
Adequate carbohydrate intake
Planned fueling timing
Consistent hydration
Nutrition doesn’t replace training — but it protects performance and reduces breakdown when the body is under extreme stress. It’s one of the most underestimated aspects of endurance running.
The Real Lesson for Runners
Most runners don’t get injured because they “aren’t tough enough.”
They get injured because load exceeds recovery.
Smart marathon prep includes:
Gradual training progression
Movement and mobility screening
Early injury management
Nutrition and recovery strategy
At Mixed Osteo, we help runners build resilience before pain forces them to stop.
📍 Kensington, Melbourne
👉 Book a running assessment or nutrition consult:
https://mixed-osteo.cliniko.com/bookings
📞 +61 3 4054 1621
