Another Manchester Marathon Race Report

[R4inbow]

Adding into the many race reports for Manchester!

This was my second marathon, but following my poor attempt at Loch Ness last year, it kind of felt like the first I was aiming to run. Last year I gave up on my training and generally fell out of love with running. I was talked into doing the marathon anyway, by a good friend who was doing it for charity, together we completed in just over 6:30. I'm very proud of that achievement, but for me it didn't quite feel like I've run a marathon. I'm not meaning to belittle anyone who does marathons in that time, as I've come to realise it's a great achievement. I think it was more that I didn't do the training and not my finish time that made me feel I had not done a marathon.

So I signed up for Manchester with three goals and the runners world 5 hour marathon training plan:

- To do all the long runs exactly as my training plans and to consistently do the other 2-3 runs largely as in the plan

- To finish in 4:45 if all is going well

- To finish in 5:00 if not going so well

Training went great this time. It was definitely tough and there were several naps on a Sunday afternoon, but I can definitely say I achieved my first goal, so very happy there. My second 20 mile run was a local race, which I did in 3:35, this was hillier than Manchester and on quiet country roads, so I felt well on track. Even though from mile 16 it was hard going and at the end I was so tired I didn't realise until I got home that I hadn't even looked at my medal, never mind put it on.

So on Sunday I set off with the 4:45 pacer, feeling very happy everything had all gone to plan and excited for the race. He did the first mile or two slightly quicker than I had planned, but I trusted that he knew what he was doing and it felt great. In fact 18 miles felt great, it was a party, we sang along to Sweet Caroline. I was taking gels exactly as planned, everything was working. Saw my husband and mother in law and gave them a massive hug.

Then came mile 18. I felt sick, tired, my back hurt and my legs didn't want to move. The biggest of these issues was the feeling sick. So I walked a bit and watched the pacer and everyone I'd been running with disappear into the distance. I considered giving up, but my husband had bought me the hoodie and I couldn't wear it if I didn't complete the race, so I kept going forward for a hoodie 😂😂😂

5 or 6 miserable miles passed, passing entertainment that had packed away which was a bit depressing. The crowds however were amazing, still cheering hours after the first runners, they really made all the difference.

Then I saw the 5 hour pacer, a couple of miles from the end. I had a chat with him, he was on track to finish at about 4:59. I started a little ahead of him, so if I kept with him a 5 hour marathon was still in track. It turns out I could still run and actually the last mile was ok. 4:58:22 I finished, over an hour an a half faster than my last one!

So, still room for improvement, but I'm really happy with the day. The hoodie is amazing, well worth the effort!!!

I think the graph sums up my run perfectly. I've put back my idea of the backyard ultra, I think I might have another go at a Marathon. Currently looking at Chester in October.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations to you R4inbow on completing the Manchester Marathon in under 5 hours, you should be very proud of yourself, yes, you deserve that hoodie from your husband, good luck with your training for the Chester Marathon in October, from now on a 5K run for you will be like a run in the park, do you run at parkruns on a Saturday?

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks 😀

I love parkruns, I'm running or volunteering most Saturdays. But I think they're as hard or as easy as you want them to be!

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to R4inbow]

Yes I agree with you, some runners say a 5K is as hard as running a marathon, lol, certainly that runner wasn't me🏃🏾

[RunWillie Marathon]

Well done R4inbow 😍

I would love to run a marathon one day and hope also to be able to do it in 5hrs. Thanks for sharing your experience ❤️🏃‍♀️

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to RunWillie]

Thank you!!

I hope you get there if that's what you want to do. It was a lot of work, but so worth it.

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to R4inbow]

I’m not ready yet but hope to be one day R4inbow 😍

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

That’s interesting. In her report, T mentioned that she struggled towards the end and I too found the last 10k to be a real struggle.

It’s really unfortunate that the entertainment was packing up whilst the course was still open. That and the other problems you were having must have taken some real strength of character to overcome. So, well done for an excellent run!

Has your husband bought you a Chester Marathon hoodie yet?

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to SkiMonday]

That's a very good point, I'll have to make sure he's got it ordered 😀😀

[nowster Metric Marathon]

What I want to know is why you haven't claimed your Marathon badge here. 🤣

PS. Well done! As I mentioned elsewhere there seems to be something odd that happens at the 18-19 mile (30km) mark.

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to nowster]

Thanks, yes I'll have to do that!

Just looked, it appears to have been done already. Thanks whoever did that magic!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to R4inbow]

Oh ha, sorry! That was me, and I was about to leave a comment to let you know but something came up 😂

Very well done and huge congratulations!!!! xxx

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to roseabi]

Thanks!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wow! Well done!!! That's a fabulous time in my book, and I really admire your determination for those last 8 miles, amazing!I've signed up for the Chester metric marathon in October, I think thats part of the same event isn't it. I've been wanting to do it for ages 😊

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Yes, I think they're both part of the same event. It does look a good one, I always see people running with the nice tops afterwards.

Might see you there 😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to R4inbow]

It's the 40th year too so there seems to be a lot of effort going into the merchandise 😍

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Even better! I also saw they had a couple of training runs in the lead up to it, which is such a good idea.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to R4inbow]

I've seen those but it's too far away for me. I lived in N Wales and went to Uni in Manchester, so it will be nice to go back to Chester for the event, but it's too far for me to go for the training runs - I agree, they look to be a great idea though. Let me know if you decide to enter 😊

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Many congratulations and well done to you! It says a lot about your determination and strength of character to get through those “five or six miserable miles”. You should be very proud 🙂

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you, I am. Although looking back things never seem quite as bad as the did at the moment 🙂

[GTFC Marathon]

Really well done. Marathon running is tough and it was so lovely to hear that you kept going to find that positive outcome. That's still an excellent time. You absolutely earned that top!! Fabulous 🌟🏆

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to GTFC]

Thank you!!

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Congratulations 👏 🎊 💐 🥳 .I can't imagine running a FM let alone go under 5 hours.Where that hoodie with pride!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

I have nothing but the utmost respect for anyone who runs a FM and beyond. That was an incredible achievement R4ainbow. That’s a long time to be struggling, but your grit and determination got you there. Amazing! 👊👏⭐️🏅🏆

I agree, packing up the entertainment before everyone has finished (within reason) is really poor. The people in the slower waves need it all the more. 🙄

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks. It was a bit disappointing with the entertainment, especially given I was an hour ahead of the cut off. But the crowds in that stretch really were amazing, so I can't complain. There were a few stretches where they were cheering like it was the finish, calling out people by name and saying how great they were. They made all the difference.

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Well done you. I am in awe of you folk who do a marathon, and it’s really interesting to see your pace throughout. Definitely wear that hoodie with pride! 😊😊😊

[00marks Marathon]

Well done on completing the marathon. It is such a major achievement to finish you should feel proud. The crowds were really encouraging.

[misswobble Marathon]

Yay, great job, well done 💪😀👏🏅🥳 congratulations 🎉

Planning another one already! 👊✊

[Betj Half Marathon]

Congratulations on a great run and amazing strength and resiliance in keeping going. What a great story of your journey😀😀👍

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Congratulations on your marathon!🎉 Well done.👏👏

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done on completing your marathon - a great report and you clearly had the grit and determination to dig deep and hang on in there when it got hard! I can only sit at the side in awe ( a half marathon is far enough for me!😂).

[Cmoi Marathon]

Belated congratulations R4inbow on your second marathon!

[Tasha99 Marathon]

Absolutely love this! Super well done and you got the sub 5 too! I am completely in love with my hoodie! I’m getting another next year too!

[Katnap Marathon]

Well done! I did see some of the tail enders coming through and cheered them over the line while wearing my own finisher's medal 😎