The most common question I get from people back home is: What's China like? My website: http://www.owendennis.com China blog: http://www.owendennis.com/blo...
Assuming you can run 2 miles now at a nice easy pace (conversational), within 20 weeks you should be able to train up to being able to finish marathon distance at that nice easy pace (between 10 and 12 minute miles) or approximately 4 to 5 hours.
How Long Would It Take For a First Timer. My first marathon result was 4:50. A first time marathon is not about result it is about to finish the race. The official time to run a marathon is usually below 6 hours. As long as you can run the whole race under six hours, than you will be in the list of runners who have succeeded to complete the marathon.