Benny Blanco ran a half-marathon untrained, sore for a week after
Synopsis
Music producer Benny Blanco ran a half-marathon on zero training — convinced by a late-night dare from friends, fuelled by Sour Patch Kids and a Fireball shot at 2:30 am, and left bedridden-sore for a week. He told Jimmy Fallon he is already eyeing a full marathon, this time possibly with actual training.
Key Takeaways
Benny Blanco completed a half-marathon (~ 14 miles ) with no prior running training, as revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon .
He was dared by friends the night before the race and did not realise it was a half-marathon until he was already running it.
The race took place at 2:30 in the morning ; Blanco said his last run before this was a middle-school fitness test.
He credited adrenaline, Sour Patch Kids, a Fireball shot, and 'sheer will' with getting him to the finish line.
Blanco said he was 'very sore for a week' after the race and felt like he was 'lifting 800 pounds ' getting out of bed on day two.
He has not ruled out a full marathon, but acknowledged he would need to actually train for it.
Music producer Benny Blanco, husband of singer Selena Gomez, has recounted with self-deprecating humour how he completed a half-marathon with zero prior running training — powered, by his own admission, by peer pressure, adrenaline, a bag of Sour Patch Kids, and what he described as 'sheer will and resilience.'
How It Happened
Blanco made the revelation during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, telling host Jimmy Fallon that a dare from friends the night before the race was all it took to sign him up. 'My friends backed me. They said, you can't run a marathon tomorrow. And I was like, of course I can,' Blanco said. He added that he did not even realise it was a half-marathon — roughly 14 miles — until he was already running it, though he insisted the distinction did little to diminish his sense of achievement.
The Last Time He Ran
Blanco was candid about his lack of athletic background, telling Fallon that his most recent run before the race was during a middle-school fitness test. 'The last time I ran was in, like, middle school, when they make you run the mile, and you, like, walk, and you get, like, a 15-minute mile,' he said. He also noted the unusual timing of the event — he ran at 2:30 in the morning, which he described as another first.
Shots, Snacks and Survival
Blanco described the race-day atmosphere as a key factor in keeping him going, including strangers handing out snacks and, reportedly, alcoholic shots along the route. When Fallon suggested the offerings were water, Blanco laughed and firmly disagreed. He credited a Fireball shot — among other things — with helping him cross the finish line, before ultimately attributing his completion to 'sheer will and resilience and not wanting to die.'
The Aftermath — and a Full Marathon Tease
The physical toll was significant. Blanco said he was 'very sore for a week' after the race, recalling that getting out of bed on the second day felt like 'lifting 800 pounds.' Despite the ordeal, he has not ruled out attempting a full marathon, though he acknowledged that proper training would be essential — something he conspicuously skipped this time around. 'I think they train for the half marathon, but… I think it would have been a better idea if I trained,' he conceded.
Whether Blanco ultimately laces up for a full 26-mile race — this time with a training plan — remains to be seen.
Point of View
But it also carries an unintentional cautionary note: completing 14 miles without preparation carries genuine injury risk, and Blanco's week of soreness is the mild end of what untrained long-distance running can do to a body. Entertainment coverage will focus on the laughs — and there are plenty — yet the clip's viral reach means the implicit message ('I just did it and survived') may travel faster than the medical reality. Worth noting in passing, even in a light feature.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Benny Blanco really run a half-marathon with no training?
Yes. Blanco confirmed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that he ran a half-marathon of roughly 14 miles without any prior running training. He said his last run before the race was a middle-school fitness mile.
What motivated Benny Blanco to run the half-marathon?
A dare from friends the night before the race pushed him to sign up. He told Jimmy Fallon his friends told him he could not run a marathon, and he impulsively insisted he could — only to discover on the day that it was a half-marathon.
How did Benny Blanco feel after the half-marathon?
Blanco said he was 'very sore for a week' after the race. He described getting out of bed on the second day as feeling like lifting 800 pounds.
What helped Benny Blanco finish the half-marathon?
Blanco credited adrenaline from the crowd, a bag of Sour Patch Kids, and reportedly a Fireball shot handed out along the route. He ultimately said 'sheer will and resilience and not wanting to die' got him across the finish line.
Is Benny Blanco planning to run a full marathon?
Possibly. Blanco told Fallon he is considering a full marathon but acknowledged that unlike the half-marathon, a full race would require actual training. He joked that someone warned him he would 'die' if he tried it untrained.
