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Manchester Marathon 2022

1 lurker | 27 watchers

Nelly Apr 2022 12:01pm, 5 Apr 2022 4,304 posts	0 Nelly Anybody entered for 2023 yet? With adidas as the headline sponsor next year. I have said it for a number of years now, but given I have now lost my streak of Manchester marathon's, I am very seriously considering not entering next year.
larkim Apr 2022 12:35pm, 5 Apr 2022 17,581 posts	0 larkim I doubt I'll be entering, quite happy to leave Manchester "done". Just in case they move the results, this link takes you to the full results outside of the "frame" that the official results page links to. Slightly easier to use on a mobile etc. results.sporthive.com
Benny Tempo Apr 2022 12:46pm, 5 Apr 2022 405 posts	0 Benny Tempo I'm not sure whether I'll enter next year, I'm glad I've done it but I think Chester was better, it seemed to lack something that Chester has got, it felt a bit over-hyped and I felt a bit lost in the crowd. There's also something very strange about starting a marathon to Blue Monday, don't get me wrong, it's a great track, but marathon music - ??!! I liked the banging techno sound system under the bridge though if there had have been one of those at every mile marker I'd have easily gone sub-2:30 🤣🤣 I enjoyed it though, it was well organised and the volunteers were great, great support along the route from the spectators. I think I'd like to do a smaller event though, I'm doing Chester again this autumn
larkim Apr 2022 1:05pm, 5 Apr 2022 17,582 posts	0 larkim If I was Manchester, these are the few things that they could polish up:- - foil blankets at the end (it was bitterly cold when I finished) - I get the sustainability thing, but a goodie bag just to hold the SIS bar, the new t-shirt, the medal, the can of Erdinger, the bottle of water etc would have been really helpful - it's a long way between finish line and bag drop! - the photos company should be location tagging all their photos, and providing them with the time they were taken at - fix the timing mat so the half-way split is correct! - take a bulldozer to Altrincham so it is flatter (I'd trivialised that short climb before the race but it looked like a mountain when I came to it!) - the online "certificate" is really very rubbish indeed (not that I'd use it, but really they could have put in a bit more effort!) - a bit too much time allocated to get runners into the start area - better signage as to where most of the toilets were (I was early into the cricket ground and there were huge queues for the cubicles that are part of the cricket ground, but loads more portaloos hidden away on Warwick Road) I agree about feeling a bit lost in the crowd Benny, especially compared to Chester, but for me that at least made it feel different to Chester. Though I do have a soft spot for Chester as it is my local event and is well organised. I'm hopeful of getting allocated a London place this year so will be interesting to compare and contrast.
Forrest Jooligan Apr 2022 7:11pm, 5 Apr 2022 257 posts	0 Forrest Jooligan I’d agree with most of your points larkim I also spent ages queuing for the paltry dozen toilets by the bag drop - gobsmacked to see dozens in the start pen. I think the mat was correct but the results show it in the wrong place btw. Altrincham was savage especially with the poor road surface then cobbles. Mind you Chester has some far scarier lumps eg: Farndon. Positives - more gels from earlier than London, far less course congestion thanks to lower numbers & the wave starts, much easier logistics: travel, bag drop, numbers posted out etc.
Mr. Grumpy Apr 2022 7:27pm, 5 Apr 2022 131 posts	0 Mr. Grumpy The toilets outside of the stadium enclosure weren’t convenient for using if you still had a bag and your warm clothing to drop off though, as the one way system made it quite a way to get out of the enclosure and then back again to drop off your belongings before getting entry to the start area. It wouldn’t have been as bad if it was warmer though, but it was an uncomfortable wait at the start in the cold if you didn’t plan on having some old warm clothes to discard before your wave start.
jda Apr 2022 7:49pm, 5 Apr 2022 12,311 posts	0 jda They did flag up quite clearly in the info that having chuckable clothes might be a good idea though. In previous years my wife has been able to take my last minute stuff as I jump in the start pen (and give it back to me at the finish rather than having to rely on the bag drop) but she wasn’t there this time. Toilets at the start was great. All big races should do that. Must have saved those few bushes from gallons of piss.
STOOSH Apr 2022 10:08pm, 5 Apr 2022 3,364 posts	0 STOOSH I'm in for next year as a deferred entry - lets hope i can actually get myself in shape for it ( both mentally and physically) or it's going to add to my list of do not make it to the startline!
Mr. Grumpy Apr 2022 11:40pm, 5 Apr 2022 132 posts	0 Mr. Grumpy Yes, definitely a plus having the toilets in the start enclosure, although last year they were even closer to the start line itself. And having the start staggered in waves made actually accessing them a lot easier.
Benny Tempo Apr 2022 11:50am, 6 Apr 2022 407 posts	0 Benny Tempo Totally agree with all the points about Manchester. People were queueing for the portaloos near the bag drop when there were toilets in the cricket stadium you could be in-and-out of!