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Greater Manchester Marathon
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ha ha Too much information
Setting off................. All the best Athletes
By goodness you all deserve those medals. Well done for whatever time you got, in some of the worst running conditions I have ever seen! I have only just about thawed out!
Thanks especially to all the marshals & spectators. It was hell out there!
Just warmed up with a nice warm bath (and big bag of peanuts). Sofa, sleep and rugby/footy beckon for afternoon and pub tonight.
Hello all. That was fun wasn't it?! Will write more later as had a few adventures. Came in under 3.15 (I think/hope), beat the 3.15 pacer anyway. The baggage storage was a disaster - awaiting multiple complaints on here about that.
Where did you get gun time?
Well done all, did it in 3h 27 which I'm so pleased with (first marathon I collapsed and finished in 4h59). Motored first half then struggled in that wind and rain. Wasn't that stretch from Dunham to Umston horrible? My splits for the last 8 miles were terrible! Marshalls and fans deserve medals too.
Much of it was well organised, plenty of water stations, start smooth, BUT:
That bag collection was an effing disgrace. Stood outside with all others freezing for 20 mins, then went round the back and had a hoke through the 4000s pile, which was about 4 high and just totally mixed up. Gave up after 15 mins, lucky I had my girlfriend to take me home. I'm gonna contact them tomorrow but doubt I'll get my clothes back. That no-one took responsibility for it, that the army had 2hours to get them in order and arrange a sensible type of pick-up and then left it to become some kind of free-for-all is a joke, I really pity those who had keys, phones, wallets etc in their bags.
I had keys and phone in mine but managed to find it, when I left all the army guys were stood in a big group near the exit smoking fags and having a laugh. I can only assume they weren't meant to be managing the baggage hand back. I think it is a disgrace considering how easy it is to have a system of tables which have number ranges so that bags can be found quickly at the end. What was there to stop anyone stealing bags? there didnt even seem to be anyone from the race organisers there?
Found gun time: 3.14.04. Totally chuffed with that. So... I can get a GFA in London next year?
I also gave up on bag - it was total chaos and I was too exhausted and cold to deal with it, infact thought I was going to die so just walked off home. Couldn't contact missus as phone in bag so just hoped they had gone home (hadn't arranged a meet with them as they weren't coming, but then they did). Home about 15 minute walk away which was so hard, and got there and of course they're not there, and my keys are also in my bag. Stood outside for 10 minutes wondering what the hell I was going to do, then fortunately a neighbour rescued me.
Luckily for me my partner got my bag for me, just found it outside in a pile ready to get soaked, some bags were open with their contents strewn everywhere. Also - anyone could just take any bag they want. It was a total farce and kind've ruined an otherwise well organised event.
also - you're not going to believe it but I fell off bike on the way this morning. Knackered back wheel a bit and bruised my ribs and hurt my leg. Thought I wouldn't be able to run at one point. But being brave the little soldier I am I did of course.
The weather was so bad for 2nd half, I wanted to stop/slow, but the weather kept me going as I just wanted to get it finished and get inside and warm - which make the baggage fiasco even more frustrating.
Well done to all that finished. It was a pleasure meeting Woody, how did you get on?
I'll be back next year and hopefully I'll fair better.
afternoon all, please excuse typing think I have frostbite !!
Well what a day ... excellent support out on the course especially given the conditions, going through some of the areas was truly deafening so a big well done and thanks to all spectators and marshalls out on the course.
Am really really happy as managed to get a sub 4 (3:57 according to Garmin, gun tim is 3:59 so just waiting for chip times to go up), which was my dreamland target , and given the conditions I am super chuffed !
The course was good, but there were a couple of bottlenecks that need sorting where the drinks areas had encroached on to the course (especially first one on that upward bend).
Round Dunham Massey was fun in the mud, although again a little congested at places due to it being narrow and me running just in front of sub 4 where there was a large body of runners.
Overall a very good race, however the baggage was an absolute disgrace, I can't even begin to understand what they were thinking, and if the organisers had dared come out of wherever they were hiding I don't think they would have escaped alive.
But still I now have a nice shiny sub 4 so all is good with the world.
I managed to get round in 3 53 which I'm well chuffed with crowds were fantastic as were the marshalls
But the baggage area... well
I was lucky and managed to get my bag by luck which seemed to be the system employed today. 100's of shivering runners kept waiting in that way is very poor.
Well that was a bit tasty wasn't it!!!!
Well done to everyone especially the first timers.
Don't let today put you off that was the worse conditions I've ever raced in.
After London my plan was to just take it easy but looking at the weather I thought I'd try and get round sharpish, gun time 2.57.01 but was well under that off my chip time.
I got to the baggage and it was chaotic when I got there, so can only feel for the later runners.