AngerGlidesWhy not run two marathons a day and complete in in half the time? I just looked it up and it says that it takes 2 hours for the best athletes to complete a marathon. What will he be doing for the rest of the time?
This is the problem with non-runners trying to figure out why big miles are so hard. On paper (or the computer screen), it looks so simple. It looks like anyone can go out and do a marathon a day, or 50 miles a day, or whatever. This seems to be what Nick is caught up in. In reality, actually doing it is tremendously difficult.
Humans are not built for traveling long distances. Our bodies break down, and any time long distances are stacked day after day, this gives the body no time to recover. Blisters and wounds become a big deal when they are given no rest. Shin splints can be a huge issue (and I'd guess that without wearing shoes, Nick will suffer shin splints more than most).
The idea of running a marathon a day for a year is ludicrous, especially for a non-runner. Very, very few people have accomplished this feat. A guy named Ben Smith ran 401 marathons in 401 days a few years ago, to raise money for anti-bullying. He was successful, and raised $250,000. Here's a link to an article on him:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-running-blog/2016/oct/05/man-set-to-complete-401-marathons-in-401-days-in-bullying-fundraiser (by the way, didn't anyone ever tell him that running away is not the answer to bullying?)
I am someone who truly understands what Nick is up against, and as such am so certain of his failure. I've personally maintained a mileage average of well over a marathon a day for more than a month. I know what his body will go through, and why it will break down and he will fail.
In running, a good recreational runner's marathon time goal is sub-4 hours. The sub-4 goal is essentially the mark of a "proud" marathon versus just completing a marathon. Elite runners can easily run sub-3 marathons, and the best in the world run closer to the 2 hour mark. It should be noted that even in a sub-4 marathon, one can still walk occasionally.
When simply walking on the road, 4mph is a reasonable speed. As such, if Nick "walks" a marathon a day, he should be able to finish his daily marathon in 6-7 hours. However, even walking for this distance each day will break his body down. Any sustained physical effort, especially without any recovery days, requires significant attention to nutrition, as well as rest and recovery. It sounds like he has literally no idea what he is going to eat, or where he is going to sleep, or even how this whole thing will be possible.
The effort he is undertaking would be a significant accomplishment for a professional runner with a dedicated support team. He's looking for all this grand funding and press. He has not gotten any because it is simply a ludicrous idea. If he somehow ends up finding success, and manages a marathon a day for a few months, sponsors and donors will appear. As it stands, he is simply a small flame, barely registering, and will soon burn out and fade away.