At the end of 2008 I had gotten a friend tied into doing a walking marathon with me for May 2009.
She was coming off the sofa (although relatively fit) and I was coming off an Ironman.
I think doing that marathon was the best thing for me. Training for it, made me go do a lot of local running races that I never would have done. It made me face my fear of running and fear of distances.
I basically did a walk/run combo for my training and for the marathon. As did she. It worked out great for both of us.
Anyways, I think if you take the time to focus on just running you will see that it's not all that bad.
I know for me, the marathon training was NOT miserable. I was shocked! I thought I would hate it. Sure, at times it was hard... the 16-18 mile days were not easy... but it wasn't completely miserable either.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside thoroughly used-up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW WHAT A RIDE!!!!"