diff --git a/src/dehacked.c b/src/dehacked.c
index c92fc3412..031ba39d8 100644
--- a/src/dehacked.c
+++ b/src/dehacked.c
@@ -9933,9 +9933,10 @@ struct {
 	{"TC_DASHMODE",TC_DASHMODE},
 
 	// marathonmode flags
-	//{"MA_INIT",MA_INIT}, -- should never see this
+	{"MA_INIT",MA_INIT},
 	{"MA_RUNNING",MA_RUNNING},
 	{"MA_NOCUTSCENES",MA_NOCUTSCENES},
+	{"MA_INGAME",MA_INGAME},
 
 	{NULL,0}
 };
diff --git a/src/doomstat.h b/src/doomstat.h
index f407d7add..05512df9b 100644
--- a/src/doomstat.h
+++ b/src/doomstat.h
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ typedef enum
 {
 	MA_RUNNING     = 1,    // In action
 	MA_INIT        = 1<<1, // Initialisation
-	MA_NOCUTSCENES = 1<<2  // No cutscenes
+	MA_NOCUTSCENES = 1<<2, // No cutscenes
+	MA_INGAME      = 1<<3  // Timer ignores loads
 } marathonmode_t;
 
 extern marathonmode_t marathonmode;
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index e6a6d851c..b46e9cfc0 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -2167,6 +2167,10 @@ void G_Ticker(boolean run)
 	UINT32 i;
 	INT32 buf;
 
+	// see also SCR_DisplayMarathonInfo
+	if ((marathonmode & (MA_INIT|MA_INGAME)) == MA_INGAME && gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
+		marathontime++;
+
 	P_MapStart();
 	// do player reborns if needed
 	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
@@ -2183,8 +2187,13 @@ void G_Ticker(boolean run)
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				// Costs a life to retry ... unless the player in question is dead already.
-				if (G_GametypeUsesLives() && players[consoleplayer].playerstate == PST_LIVE && players[consoleplayer].lives != INFLIVES)
+				// Costs a life to retry ... unless the player in question is dead already, or you haven't even touched the first starpost in marathon run.
+				if (marathonmode && gamemap == spmarathon_start && !players[consoleplayer].starposttime)
+				{
+					marathonmode |= MA_INIT;
+					marathontime = 0;
+				}
+				else if (G_GametypeUsesLives() && players[consoleplayer].playerstate == PST_LIVE && players[consoleplayer].lives != INFLIVES)
 					players[consoleplayer].lives -= 1;
 
 				G_DoReborn(consoleplayer);
diff --git a/src/m_menu.c b/src/m_menu.c
index f07bbf703..8e9bb87fd 100644
--- a/src/m_menu.c
+++ b/src/m_menu.c
@@ -485,9 +485,11 @@ static consvar_t cv_dummycontinues = {"dummycontinues", "0", CV_HIDEN, contlimit
 static consvar_t cv_dummymares = {"dummymares", "Overall", CV_HIDEN|CV_CALL, dummymares_cons_t, Dummymares_OnChange, 0, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
 
 CV_PossibleValue_t marathon_cons_t[] = {{0, "Standard"}, {1, "Live Event Backup"}, {2, "Ultimate"}, {0, NULL}};
+CV_PossibleValue_t loadless_cons_t[] = {{0, "Realtime"}, {1, "In-game"}, {0, NULL}};
 
 consvar_t cv_dummymarathon = {"dummymarathon", "Standard", CV_HIDEN, marathon_cons_t, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
 consvar_t cv_dummycutscenes = {"dummycutscenes", "Off", CV_HIDEN, CV_OnOff, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
+consvar_t cv_dummyloadless = {"dummyloadless", "Realtime", CV_HIDEN, loadless_cons_t, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
 
 // ==========================================================================
 // ORGANIZATION START.
@@ -919,8 +921,9 @@ enum
 // Marathon
 static menuitem_t SP_MarathonMenu[] =
 {
-	{IT_STRING|IT_KEYHANDLER,  NULL, "Character", M_HandleMarathonChoosePlayer, 100},
-	{IT_STRING|IT_CVAR,        NULL, "Category",  &cv_dummymarathon,            110},
+	{IT_STRING|IT_KEYHANDLER,  NULL, "Character", M_HandleMarathonChoosePlayer,  90},
+	{IT_STRING|IT_CVAR,        NULL, "Category",  &cv_dummymarathon,            100},
+	{IT_STRING|IT_CVAR,        NULL, "Timer",     &cv_dummyloadless,            110},
 	{IT_STRING|IT_CVAR,        NULL, "Cutscenes", &cv_dummycutscenes,           120},
 	{IT_WHITESTRING|IT_CALL,   NULL, "Start",     M_StartMarathon,              130},
 };
@@ -929,6 +932,7 @@ enum
 {
 	marathonplayer,
 	marathonultimate,
+	marathonloadless,
 	marathoncutscenes,
 	marathonstart
 };
@@ -3909,6 +3913,7 @@ void M_Init(void)
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_dummycontinues);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_dummymares);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_dummymarathon);
+	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_dummyloadless);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_dummycutscenes);
 
 	quitmsg[QUITMSG] = M_GetText("Eggman's tied explosives\nto your girlfriend, and\nwill activate them if\nyou press the 'Y' key!\nPress 'N' to save her!\n\n(Press 'Y' to quit)");
@@ -6910,6 +6915,11 @@ static void M_RetryResponse(INT32 ch)
 static void M_Retry(INT32 choice)
 {
 	(void)choice;
+	if (marathonmode)
+	{
+		M_RetryResponse(KEY_ENTER);
+		return;
+	}
 	M_StartMessage(M_GetText("Retry this act from the last starpost?\n\n(Press 'Y' to confirm)\n"),M_RetryResponse,MM_YESNO);
 }
 
@@ -10430,7 +10440,7 @@ static void M_Marathon(INT32 choice)
 		mapnum++;
 	}
 
-	SP_MarathonMenu[marathoncutscenes].status = (mapnum < NUMMAPS) ? IT_CVAR |IT_STRING : IT_NOTHING|IT_DISABLED;
+	SP_MarathonMenu[marathoncutscenes].status = (mapnum < NUMMAPS) ? IT_CVAR|IT_STRING : IT_NOTHING|IT_DISABLED;
 
 	M_ChangeMenuMusic("spec8", true);
 
@@ -10490,6 +10500,8 @@ static void M_StartMarathon(INT32 choice)
 		cursaveslot = MARATHONSLOT;
 	if (!cv_dummycutscenes.value)
 		marathonmode |= MA_NOCUTSCENES;
+	if (cv_dummyloadless.value)
+		marathonmode |= MA_INGAME;
 	M_ChoosePlayer(char_on);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/p_tick.c b/src/p_tick.c
index 7ea6edb2d..0f8440960 100644
--- a/src/p_tick.c
+++ b/src/p_tick.c
@@ -755,6 +755,9 @@ void P_PreTicker(INT32 frames)
 
 	postimgtype = postimgtype2 = postimg_none;
 
+	if (marathonmode & MA_INGAME)
+		marathonmode |= MA_INIT;
+
 	for (framecnt = 0; framecnt < frames; ++framecnt)
 	{
 		P_MapStart();
@@ -797,4 +800,7 @@ void P_PreTicker(INT32 frames)
 
 		P_MapEnd();
 	}
+
+	if (marathonmode & MA_INGAME)
+		marathonmode &= ~MA_INIT;
 }
diff --git a/src/screen.c b/src/screen.c
index 04dd73c46..e7ff9e735 100644
--- a/src/screen.c
+++ b/src/screen.c
@@ -640,10 +640,13 @@ void SCR_DisplayMarathonInfo(void)
 		entertic = I_GetTime();
 		if (gamecomplete)
 			flags |= V_YELLOWMAP;
+		else if (marathonmode & MA_INGAME)
+			; // see also G_Ticker
 		else if (marathonmode & MA_INIT)
 			marathonmode &= ~MA_INIT;
 		else
 			marathontime += entertic - oldentertics;
+
 		// Create a sequence of primes such that their LCM is nice and big.
 #define PRIMEV1 13
 #define PRIMEV2 17 // I can't believe it! I'm on TV!