The three frontrunners in the men's race at the 11 mile mark, in 1 hour 1 minute.
With torrential rain, floods in drought areas and 60mph winds battering the whole of the UK today, it was an unfortunate day to reinstigate the Manchester marathon...(I just took one hurried photo before retreating to somewhere warm and dry for coffee, and this is that photo taken 30 mins ago, uploaded!).
Update 30 April: Dave Norman (centre) was the winner of the men's race, in 2 hours 24 mins. His father was evidently an Olympic athlete. Andy, left, finished in 2 hours and 26 mins and Carl, right, in 2 hours and 37 mins. An amazing effort by all who took part in such awful conditions.
After a 10 year absence, Greater Manchester has a new marathon. Today, 8,000 people are hoping to run 26.2 miles around the borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester. Starting and finishing in Longford Park the course heads south through Sale, Timperley, Altrincham, Bowdon and Dunham Massey then loops back via the Partington sports complex where some of the lucky(?) Olympiads are training this summer. Next it's through Urmston, Carrington and back to Stretford. A Herculean effort for all involved...
The Greater Manchester marathon website gives a nice potted history:
"The first Manchester Marathon was run in 1908 starting and finishing at the Saracen's Head pub in Warburton. This was a 20 mile (there was no established distance for a marathon then) run organised by Salford Harriers.
The first ever amateur marathon to be run using the now established marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yard distance was the Manchester Marathon in 1909. This marathon started in Sandbach and finished at the Fallowfield Stadium in Manchester.After a 14 year gap, the Manchester marathon returned and kept the same course from 1923-28 and 1931-36. This route started and finished at the Fallowfield Stadium passing through Cheadle, Timperley, Altrincham, Hale Barns, Styal and Gatley.
From 1969-73 the Maxol marathons started from Manchester Town Hall and finished at Old Trafford football stadium. Manchester Marathons were run from 1981-85 then from 1996-2002. Now the Manchester Marathon's back in Trafford, the sporting heart of Greater Manchester, to offer the North West a truly magnificent personal challenge."
(Manchester Marathons 1908-2002, Ron Hill & Neil Shuttleworth)
Hmm, I imagine that the Commonwealth Games stadium and the velodrome at Eastlands, and the aquatics centre in the city centre would have an issue with that last claim...Me too.
Running a Marathon in the rain, sound tough. Good luck to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI like that "hoping to run" - the weather is dreadful indeed but great of you to grab a quick photo for us - as my late father always said it is actually easier to run a marathon in the rain than in hot sunshine but perhaps not something as horrendous as today's weather. People are also saying that this is the wettest drought in living memory!
ReplyDeleteGlad you took this one. Pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteFor me, these people are real heroes.
ReplyDeleteMy husband does this type of racing and I cannot imagine doing it!
ReplyDeleteOh well done Chrissy, isn't it always the way, it's almost as if Mother Nature is up there playing jokes on us. Beautiful weather when it's nice but not essential, and then BAM a downpour when you'd really like it to be dry. Good on them for going ahead,can't stop for a wee bit of rain haha!
ReplyDeleteI feel cold and drenched just looking at this shot. Good capture Chrissy.
ReplyDeleteYikes! That's no fun. Lois Anne has run a couple of marathons and a number of 1/2 marathons and I remember a very cold, windy, and rainy 1/2 marathon in Palm Beach. I took our Golden Retriever and waited in the car. I got out into the elements for the awards ceremony. I caught a bad case of bronchitis. Stupid me. I think Lois Anne was fine.
ReplyDeleteYou did well to venture out at all. I haven't! But for a runner I think rain is preferable to hot sun.
ReplyDeleteGreat capture... I admire those who can run...
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