365 at Manchester 2021

Having lived around Manchester all my life I see myself as a Mancunian and consider the city as my home. I’m very proud of this city, it has great footballing and musical heritage. Whilst growing up here I have spent many hours shopping in the Arndale and I love the city’s quirky areas like Affleck’s Palace on Oldham Road. I studied for my degree at Manchester Metropolitan University and spent many an evening exploring its wealth of bars and clubs. During my younger days whilst embracing the Manchester House music scene, I often frequented Piccadilly records, Beat Street records and Eastern Block records as I built up my prized house record collection. I used to enjoy evenings out with friends at many of the city’s night clubs, including Home, Generation X, the Board Walk, Man Alive and of course the internationally well know and legendary Hacienda, aka FAC51. Some of these places are now resigned to the history books but have left me with wonderful memories. Even the Hacienda has been transformed into an apartment block. Even now I enjoy the noise and the buzz of this city. I still enjoy to odd club night at places like the Warehouse Project and the Albert Hall or the odd concert at the Arena, Apollo or Manchester Academy, we are blessed with some fantastic music venues across Manchester. Dare I mention football? I have supported Manchester City all my life and that was tough going when I was a teenager, thankfully I’m enjoying it a bit more of late. In all I have many things linking me to this wonderful city and I feel like it is in my blood.

All that said, technically I’m not a true Mancunian, as I was born to the east of Manchester in Glossop, which is actually just in Derbyshire. In my defence, I only lived there for a few months before moving to south Manchester and later on to Worsley where I grow up.

I felt like 2021’s Manchester Marathon was a special race and I kept changing my mind as to what was the correct running kit for me to wear. I wanted to wear an Astley & Tyldesley top but felt I needed to do more. I especially wanted to wear my local club vest as I knew members would be out on the course at mile 10, manning the drinks station and others were actually running and I wanted to show may support to my club and friends. It then came to me, Manchester bee colours of black and yellow. I have and A&T top of these colours and I also have shorts, trainers and even a Garmin the same colours. Sometimes I probably over think my running kit and probably no one realised to reason for my colour theme.

The start was a little confusing with all the waves of runners starting at different times. I had to make sure I was going the right way to be in the right place at the right time. While I was making my way to the correct pen at the start, I bumped into a few running friends which was nice. I’ve never known so many people running this marathon, it was very exciting and wonderful for the city to be attracting such numbers and from all over the country.

Finally, my race started on the wide dual carriageway of Chester Road, under the huge TV gantry that spans across the width of the road, near Man United’s football ground and on this year’s new course we headed into the city centre. I thought it was fabulous that we were able to run right into the heart of the city centre, past the Town Hall in Albert Square and along Deansgate. We then ran back out of the city into Old Trafford before heading south back down Chester Road towards Sale and Timperley.

A couple of miles in, I couldn’t believe who I bumped into, it was my very old running friend Stuart from Swinton Running Club, we trained and ran together on my very first marathon back in 1996. I hope Stuart doesn’t mind me reminding him of how long we have been running. We ran together for several miles, it was great to run and talk, it was like old times and I really enjoyed the time running with him. Sadly, Stuart got a stitch and started to slow a bit and I had to reluctantly leave him after about 8 miles.

Next up was the drinks station at mile 10 which was being manned by my running club. There were that many runners that even after 10 miles we hadn’t thinned out much and I could see the hoards of runners were putting my friends at the drinks station under some serious pressure. Even so I could see they were doing an admirable job and it was a great boost to get their cheers as I passed. I feel I must thank all the volunteers at all the water stations, without all of you the event wouldn’t be possible and you were all brilliant!

Shortly afterwards and still on Chester Road the course goes under a large road bridge which is the M60 and under it were some DJ’s set up playing some proper deep house music on a wonderful sound system. I absolutely loved the House beats being played by these DJ’s, it took me back to my clubbing days at the Hacienda. I felt like I could have stayed under the bridge, listening and danced into the night and forgetting all about the marathon. I got this treat twice as we ran out of the city past this point at mile 11 and returned back towards the city and the finish at about 20 miles.

During previous Manchester marathons I have praised the crowds especially in the Altrincham town centre. This year the crowds were much more numerous at many places along the course, cheering and shouting even banging wooden spoons on pans. This all created a fantastic atmosphere, by far the best I’ve ever seen at a marathon outside London in the UK.

I have a lot of history with this marathon and it is very close to my heart. It was the first marathon I ever ran back on 13th October 1996. In those days the course took us from Heaton Park in the north of the city and finished in Wythenshawe Pack in the south. We had a lovely crisp sunny day that day. I can remember it so well, Yuk-Lam was there to support as I set off and my parents were there at the finish with Yuk-Lam. I remember at the finish saying “Never again” so don’t believe everything I say! I ran for Swinton Running Club at the time.

Then on 28th April 2013 I ran my 100th marathon, again at Manchester. This time finishing outside Man United’s football ground, to be met by Yuk-Lam, the kids and my friend Phil. Shortly afterwards I had the proud moment of being presented with my 100 Marathon Club top by fellow 100 club members and friends Jim and Kevin, what an incredibly special day.

This year was once again a special number, it was my 365th marathon, which might not instantly mean anything to you but it is equivalent to a full year of marathons and a land mark I have been quietly looking forward to achieving. Not the same fuss as some of my other marathon landmarks but has given me a quiet inward glow for finally reaching this accomplishment.

I had run 9 miles the previous day with my old School friend Richard, up and around Anglezark reservoir and Winter Hill so I knew I wasn’t on fresh legs and had no intension on pushing today’s marathon. My plan was to do a reasonable time but also enjoy running Manchester in some lovely cool and sunny weather, almost perfect running conditions. I ran steady and well for over 20 miles of the race but as I got into the last 5 miles I could feel the tiredness in my legs and contently slowed my running ever so slightly to keep it relatively comfortable to the finish of the race. Even so many runners around me seemed to be struggling and slowing much more than me and I was able to still enjoy overtaking many runners in the last few miles. This included my very good friend Adam who with only 1 mile to go soon became into my sight and I was quickly running along the side of him. We had a short natter, his calves were causing him issues but he was still smiling and he knew he wasn’t far from finishing. One more left turn and the finish gantry was in sight. The crowds were amazing, so much noise and atmosphere, absolutely wonderful! My arms went in the air as I showed my appreciation to the crowd and I motored over the finish line in 3 hours 41 minutes 23 seconds.

Thank you Manchester, until next time!!!