I sat idly at my desk, scrolling through various social media apps, feeling sluggish and unmotivated. I had a six-mile run scheduled for that afternoon, but my brain was already constructing excuses to bail. I opened YouTube and noticed one of my favorite creators, elite Norwegian rock climber and popular vlogger, Magnus Midtb酶, had a new upload. Something instantly seemed off upon inspection of the title thumbnail. He was running.

In it, Magnus gazed painfully into the camera. A long, desolate road stretched far into the desert behind him. The video was titled, I tried to run a marathon in the hottest place on earth *without training.*

I watched perplexed. Why is Norway鈥檚 best climber running a marathon? To his 1.77 million subscribers, Magnus is known for his engaging climbing content and training techniques with a few novel experiences thrown into the mix, most of which center around rock climbing. While he is an incredibly fit individual, he does not produce running content, nor does he discuss any previous running experience on his channel. I鈥檓 not surprised that Magnus could cover 26.2 miles. I鈥檓 assuming as a professional climber he still tends to his cardiovascular fitness in some capacity.

So why does anyone care if Norway鈥檚 best climber can run a marathon without training? Aren鈥檛 weighted, one-arm pull-ups impressive enough?

鈥淚n the last two years, I鈥檝e probably run four times,鈥� Midtb酶 stated as he sat on the invisible finish line in the dark.

His friend laughed and asked, 鈥淲hat gave you this idea?鈥�

鈥淏ecause it was a good title,鈥� said Midtb酶. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 a whore for views.鈥�

In recent months, I have found myself down a rabbit hole of fitness related content on YouTube. The algorithm has led me down a relatively healthy path; I could have suffered a similar fate to my sister, who now recites anti-vaxxer rhetoric after watching one too many videos about optimal parenting techniques.

However, I couldn鈥檛 help but notice more and more suggestions of popular YouTubers running marathons without training. Last year, Nate Buchanan of , which boasts 3.5 million subscribers, documented himself from the city of Marathon to Athens, Greece, without training. Natacha Oceane, 1.62 million subscribers, has two separate videos of her as well as without training. As a hybrid athlete and previous Ironman finisher, Oceane likely has the most running experience of any of the accounts mentioned in this article.

Recently, Michelle Khare, 3.68 million subscribers, took on her 鈥�,鈥� running a marathon through Death Valley with only four weeks of preparation. Is Death Valley just over there wondering why YouTube is so obsessed with them?

Khare鈥檚 channel is known for her attempts at 鈥渙ur world鈥檚 most difficult lifestyles and professions鈥� with her series, Challenge Accepted. At the beginning of the video, Khare tells her head coach and exercise physiologist, Chantelle Robitaille, her four-week goal. Robitaille鈥檚 eyebrows raise, and responds that twenty weeks is her typical recommendation to get someone prepared for this type of experience. When Robitaille asks for Khare鈥檚 reasoning for attempting such a feat, she responds that she鈥檚 turning thirty in four weeks.

With the help of a Brooks sponsorship and a team of experts, including professional runners Scott Jurek and CJ Albertson, Khare does accomplish her goal and more. As she crosses a balloon archway finish line, she emotionally decides to push further, completing鈥攜ou guessed it鈥�30 miles. At the end of the video, the music swells as Khare finally stops running, finding a large embrace from her crew team. The video then transitions to an iPhone swirling into view as Khare says:

鈥淚f you want to go on a running challenge of your own, but don鈥檛 know where to start, I just uploaded a new beginner’s running program on my app, MK Fit.鈥�

Damn. I鈥檝e been influenced!

What the Experts Say

Although these aforementioned creators are quick to point out their lack of running-specific fitness and preparation, they rarely emphasize the cumulative years of fitness work that is likely allowing their bodies to survive such feats. Is not providing this disclaimer a disservice to their audience? Do these creators hold any responsibility to their less-trained audience members who might attempt a similar feat and experience harm and chronic injury as a result? Can we strike a balance between clickbait and inspiration?

鈥淎 marathon training block will look very different depending on your experience, goals, and relationship to running,鈥� says . 鈥淕enerally, the more fit you are, you can get away with being less prepared.鈥� However, this typically comes at a cost.

RELATED: How Much Will a Gap in Training Hurt Your Race?

Most training plans advise beginner and intermediate runners to have at least 16-20 weeks of consistent training in order to develop a strong aerobic base and build the mental strength needed to get to the finish line. A solid training block increases the odds of overall success, plus it helps provide a more enjoyable experience during the event itself. Unfortunately, a long training block doesn鈥檛 make for the sexiest YouTube video.

Surprisingly, there is little conclusive research as to what factors are actually predictive for injury. However, there is to suggest that if you have had a previous running related injury in the last 12 months, you are more than 50 percent likely to have an injury again, and a 20 percent chance that it is in the same area of the body. McNurlin also states, 鈥淪udden changes in mileage also come up in the . Big jumps are going to increase your risk of injury.鈥�

is a physical therapist and running performance coach based in Salt Lake City, Utah. When asked how he would approach a client wanting to tackle a marathon distance with less than four weeks of training, he responded: 鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to try to cram four months of training into one month.鈥� Instead, Picard suggests increasing mileage slowly and consistently, despite the lack of time. 鈥淵ou need to know you鈥檙e going to be undertrained and just try to survive the race, if that is your goal.鈥�

Despite the risks, both clinicians emphasize the innate resiliency of the human body. 鈥淲e can do stuff we鈥檙e not prepared to do because humans are incredible,鈥� McNurlin states. 鈥淏ut sometimes there are limitations.鈥� Picard argues that the risks may also be less visible. We tend to only post the highlights as opposed to sharing any negative outcomes that may have occurred as a result.

What Non-Influencers Say

Unsure if this trend was limited to YouTubers looking for engaging content, I reached out to my own running network to see if anyone else had tried to run a marathon without training. Kevin Nguyen, from Dallas, Texas, signed up for his first marathon on a whim because of an episode of How I Met Your Mother, where Barney agrees to run a marathon with one day to prepare.

鈥淢y sister offered to pay for my registration and one month of free rent if I did it,鈥� said Nguyen. 鈥淚 was cramping the whole time and, at mile 25, I almost gave up.鈥�

The choice to not train will almost always present with higher amounts of unnecessary suffering, fatigue, and prolonged recovery. The event then becomes a matter of survival. Is the misery worth the effort? Despite the negative emotions during the race, Nguyen found the experience surprisingly motivating. 鈥淪ince then, I鈥檝e actually trained for and run 10 full marathons or longer,鈥� he said.

Heather Sapiro, from Salt Lake City, signed up for her first 50K without training, when her best friend from high school asked Sapiro to join her. Due to external factors, Sapiro was left with only a couple of weeks to train.

鈥淚 figured I could make a good attempt and probably finish. It was more about spending time with my friend.鈥� She had studied the course, made sure she was comfortable with dropping, if necessary, and didn鈥檛 place any additional goals for the race. 鈥淚 ended up having such a positive experience,鈥� Sapiro said. 鈥淚鈥檓 planning to sign up for another and actually train this time!鈥�

For several others, the experience of running races on little to no training was a way to push themselves past any preconceived notions they had about their abilities. Photographer and filmmaker Alex Kereszti, who admitted growing up with a deep hatred for running, found a new passion and community after completing her first 50K on minimal training. She also documented her experience on .

鈥淧ersonally, I鈥檓 inspired by these videos,鈥� Kereszti said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 less about the actual act, and more about seeing people try something outside of their comfort zones and push through hard moments.鈥� However, both Kereszti and Sapiro, noted that these creators with larger platforms should have a responsibility to acknowledge their privilege and potential risks.

鈥淪ocial media in general is very clickbait-y,鈥� McNurlin says. 鈥淏ut it doesn鈥檛 have to be so sensational. A lot of able-bodied people can probably do this and find success in it. I would argue there鈥檚 perhaps just as much risk to staying on the couch.鈥�

The internet is full of contradictions, and we must therefore weigh the costs and benefits for all of our decisions, not just our athletic ones. And while experts of training science confirm that running a marathon with minimal training is generally ill-advised, success can still be found without executing the perfect training block.

In an effort to serve an algorithm, social media often traps its audience into cycles of comparison, coercion, and consumerism. But sometimes it can also provide authentic community and inspiration. After watching these videos, I am more eager to lace up my shoes and find my own challenges to grind through, without placing so much pressure on myself. Thousands of comments on these videos echo a similar sentiment, and I can鈥檛 help but consider that a net positive.

Perhaps we can all take a skeptical note from these influencers, for as long as the risks have been carefully considered, we can push ourselves to do hard things鈥攅ven the ones for which we鈥檙e not perfectly prepared.

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