The 1 %
According to statistics, less than 1% of the world's population has ever completed a marathon.
How hard is it to run a marathon?
It will take you six months to a year of training and focus if you start from scratch.
Finishing the marathon is already a big deal but ...
Depending on your time goal, preparation will be a totally different beast to tame.
If the goal is to cross the finish line, six months of training, simply running three times a week, will be enough.
You will suffer but you will cross the line after 5 hours.
If you want to finish in 4 hours and 30 minutes (the good "noob" time), you will need a good program, a training plan and 3 to 6 months of good training.
If you want to do it in 4 hours, it starts to get serious and you will have to be very focused in your training or you will miss the target. You won't be able to skip sessions and will have to start thinking about every parameter to reach that mark.
If it's 3:30, be prepared to add workouts, pay attention to your diet, and fully commit to that goal.
There will be different types of workouts, long runs, cardio runs, strength training...
It's not training anymore, it will be a lifestyle if you want to have a chance.
If it's less than 3 hours,
Only 4% of finishers are able to reach it and everything will have to be planned.
If it's under 2 1/2 hours, we're entering the realm of the world's elite, if you've ever seen Eliud Kipchoge train, they do over 100 miles a week.
If you want to get to that level, it's a year of intense training with over 100 miles a week.
What I'm trying to tell you?
A year of hard work can get you into the top 20%.
Then it's the level of commitment that will keep you climbing or not.
There is a glass ceiling at some point and you won't break it without proper training.
You won't reach the top if you don't train like the best.
Once you're in the top 20%, there's no more magic, there's no more noob, if you want to advance, you'll have to train like a beast if you want a chance to be the best.
You will be competing with people who are competent and know what they are doing.
This is where the separation between men and elite occurs.
This is where a man can turn into an elite being.
The elite man continues to climb to the top of the hierarchy.
The man settles down because "enough is enough", he does not want to suffer anymore and is happy to get there.
What do you want ?
Your level of commitment tells you everything.