What kind of idiot would run a marathon without training for it first? Me.

I know the horror stories. Endurance athletes fear "hitting the wall," or reaching the point where the body runs out of energy and BAM Roadkill. With no preparation, I'd most likely smash into this wall hard enough to leave a dent.

I wanted to train for the 2010 St. George Marathon, but after breaking my foot, the only marathon I could handle was on Netflix. When the marathon came, I just wanted the shirt I paid for, but peer pressure and the energy of the other 6,000 runners convinced me to try it anyway. My...