Manchester Half Marathon Sunday 13th October
Report by Rod Cooper
If you’re not keen on grass, hills and mud then this race is for you. 13.1 miles of Mancunian tarmac starting near Old Trafford (football) and finishing at Old Trafford (cricket). As it’s in Manchester it’s likely to be rainy and cold, and it didn’t disappoint there, with 15,000 soggy runners at the start, including two Ripon Runners (Chris and me).
Sounds like I didn’t enjoy it. Well you couldn’t be further from the truth. It was great. I have never seen such support, and this was our twelfth race in our A-Z of Halves. Clearly it was fairly standard weather and it didn’t put the crowds off. So much noise and encouragement, from the start right to the end. Four official water and gel stations, and loads of unofficial ones. Bands, choirs, and even residents’ own radios and speakers.
The course is flat and fast, perfect PB territory. I achieved my second Half Marathon PB of the year coming in at 2:08:41 beating Exeter Half by 17 seconds, and Chris was really close to beating hers, finishing in 2:42:48.
At the end there was a great medal, and plenty of Erdinger alcohol-free lager and Soreen for all. Highly recommended.