Yes, this review might be nearly 5 months late but I need to get back into blogging.

So here is my reflection on my 2nd marathon.

When and where?

27/05/25 – Manchester area

Start: By Old Trafford Football stadium

Finish: Outside Manchester University on Oxford Road

The Route

We kicked off on Bridgewater Way near Old Trafford. We headed towards Castlefield but before we got there we turned back towards the start.

We carried on back through and past Stretford and just a really long straight road for ages. Fortunately the route was full of cheering crowds, the support was fantastic.

If this was a quieter run it would have been boring.

Anyway, eventually we arrived in Altrincham for the halfway point. There was a supposedly scary hill just before the halfway point. And yes, it is uphill but it was absolutely fine.

The only issue with Altrincham is that there were a few narrow points. The crowds were great but it was really tough to run on the narrow road.

Luckily we were soon running out and headed up to Sale.

This was insane. It felt like a finish line, full of screaming crowds it was absolutely buzzing!!

I also had a friend give me a Lucozade Sport which ended up being a life saver.

I’ve probably missed a few areas on this recap but honestly, it was very samey. You don’t sign up to this race for the views…!

As we left Sale we headed back on Chester Road which we went down earlier. It was lovely to see runners on the other side. It is a very busy race but it is managed very well.

So we dipped into Stretford and through Chorlton. Again the crowds were amazing.

Water stations were around every 3 miles which early on in the race was fine, but as we got towards the end with the weather people were struggling.

In Chorlton the lovely people of Manchester had unofficial water stations, the community really came together. Of course there were also the much needed hosepipes and sweets given out throughout the route. I just remember this so clearly and it meant so much.

As we waved Chorlton goodbye we hit Hulme. This was the final countdown. The finish line was nearby.

It was some of the side and back streets of Hulme and I was probably really tired at this point (the professional photos confirm this) but I was a bit meh. After the high of Sale and the warmth of Chorlton, this was a bit underwhelming.

As we had run through the city, my GPS did log the course long. So my watch buzzed 26 miles but I hadn’t even turned onto Oxford Road yet.

When I finally turned onto Oxford road it was actually a long chuffin way still. Ages away.

The crowds were screaming, again absolutely packed. And there it was. That beautiful finish line. A relief.

Race Conditions

After months of training in snow, ice, rain and cold temperatures… race day was an unpleasant 20 degrees.

I obsessively checked the forecast and went in knowing it was going to be hot.

I know for some this isn’t warm, but most of my training runs were in the single digit temperatures.

It was unfortunate but I went in prepared.

It was fine and the road surface was pleasant to run on.

My Performance

With the hot weather in mind, I had to manage my expectations going into the race.

I was on track for a sub 5hr marathon, my training had gone very well and other than a calf niggle half way through training, everything was on track.

I have done so many races and long runs now that I understand how my body reacts to hot weather. In the past I’ve suffered from heat exhaustion, overheated and even panicked.

So my priority on race day wasn’t so much the time, but to get the run done safely.

I took my own water with electrolytes and took a spare sachet with me to put into a bottle if needed later on. I put on factor 50 sun cream just before setting off. I may have gone in an earlier wave because I couldn’t cope standing around cooking… ahem.

I set off calmly and in control. My aim was to run relaxed and in control.

It was going well, but as the temperature rose as the day went on it would become a struggle.

I don’t normally check my watch on race day as it messes with my head, but I did check it at Altrincham. I knew at that point it wasn’t going to be a PB haha.

But that’s OK. I was running, I was boiling but I was OK. I was also taking on water at every water station. Water that hasn’t been cooking on your back really hits the spot. I also made sure to pour some on my head, neck and wrists.

I was also really lucky as at Sale, my friend had got me a bottle of Lucozade Sport. This ended up arriving at the perfect time as from mile 21 onwards, I was unable to take on anymore water. My body was rejecting it.

I think I drank so much water my body was just like will you just bloody give it a rest?!

So the Lucozade Sport kept me going.

I ran the first 20 miles but I then had to walk. There is no shame in walking, although I do always think it is better to run it all.

As I had my ‘please don’t collapse’ hat on, I knew walking at this point was the sensible thing to do.

I’d also burst a blister at some point. So yeah, all fine.

I walked a little then started running again. When I walked, I had time to look around me.

It looked like a zombie apocalypse. People were stumbling and collapsing everywhere. It was quite frightening. Again, huge shout out to the wonderful people of Manchester. They were so caring and supportive.

As I walked and ran along, whilst my foot was hurting from the blister and I couldn’t drink anymore water… there was never a point where I thought ‘I can’t finish this’.

Throughout the whole race I had this calm and confident feeling, knowing I was going to finish the race. It was never in any doubt.

Mile 22 my hip went. It wasn’t anything serious (and actually went as I finished), it was just a long time to be running and my body was just like can we stop mate?

A marathon is no joke, I often say you can’t fake a marathon. Without doing the training that I had done, I wouldn’t have been ready. If I hadn’t prepared for the hot weather, I’d have likely collapsed or dropped out.

This was the first race in hot weather that I hadn’t felt seriously unwell or upset.

As my watch logged the route long, it was bloody annoying seeing my watch say I’ve finished when I still had ages to go.

Also there was a ‘Finish cheer station’ or something just before we turned onto Oxford road. What was the point in that? It was such a long (or felt it, shush) stretch to the finish line. Too soon to be celebrating.

I overtook the 3hr 30 pacer, which will be the only time I ever do that. He looked defeated and broken.

I was just relieved, finally. It’s almost over.

That being said though, I did enjoy it. I had prepared well despite the conditions. I entered the race with the correct mindset and found pleasure in what I could do.

Through the training I taught myself lots of handy tricks to get through when I got overwhelmed with how much there was left.

It was a good do really.

Would I recommend?

Definitely. It is a well organised race and it is flat.

I realised I didn’t mention it was flat, but it’s Manchester so it’s a given surely?

It isn’t as scenic as the lovely Loch Ness but it does have absolutely wonderful support. Some long dull stretches but the crowds make up for it. I didn’t really feel bored until I got into Hulme, which was near the end hahahahaa. So done by that point clearly!

I probably won’t do it again as there’s so many marathons out there, but it is a perfect one if it’s your first.

Time: 5hr 10mins