Thousands of runners descended on Manchester to take part in the Manchester marathon and delight in the incredible Mancunian support throughout. Two of these runners were sporting the blue and white, flying the flag for the mighty Eccleshill Road Runners (well one was actually in flourescent yellow but the wording was correct!). Having moved to October for its 2021 edition, this year’s race returned to its usual slot of the first Sunday in April, and marks the second largest marathon event in the UK and the fourth largest in Europe. With a flat route and iconic location it always receives incredible reviews. The hosts boast that the race is the flattest marathon course in the UK, with only 54 metres (177 ft of elevation). The section in the city centre has been slightly reduced for 2022 due to extensive roadworks taking place. (The amended route has been officially measured to avoid misdemeanours as have happened previously!). The event has a rich history dating back as far as 1908, the annual event has become a destination for keen runners from all over the country who are looking to bag a personal best, this year’s weather conditions provided the opportunity to do just that with a cloudy start transforming into a beautiful winter sunny day, perfect! This year’s marathon also plays host to some top competitive athletes as it holds qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games and European Athletics championship – as well as attracting 26,000 runners in total of all ages and abilities, the organisers pride themselves in welcoming all to take on the 26.2 mile challenge. The event also raises millions of pounds for charity, including the British Heart Foundation, The Christie Charitable Fund and Cancer Research UK. Last year, the event raised £7.4 million and saw around 40,000 runners come together to run for a variety of good causes. Our two seasoned marathoners, Annie Kisluk finished in 5:10:55 and David Goodyear finished in 5:02:52 Superb effort guys. Brilliant running, well done!
