Greater Manchester MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (178 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: RoJo
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Unfortunately the race was ruined for me by the baggage area - it's one thing to tell us bags are left at our own risk but to chuck them around the tent and in the end being unable to find mine whilst suffering from freezing conditions was appalling!
In full: Great marshals on the course though and fantastic support from the Manchester crowd :)
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Magnetman
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great support but shocking organisation and hideous weather
In full: The people of Manchester did the City proud by turning out in numbers in horrible weather. Despite the weather the course still had PB potential.
As mentioned by others the 'race village' was a shambles in particular the baggage area where my wife waited over 2 hours in freezing conditions soaking wet only to be told her bag had been lost. Not surprised when most bags had been dumped outside the tent to try and compensate for the inadequate provision which had been made. If this race is going to continue a lot of lessons will need to be learned from this year.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: paul mellor 3
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: baggage = a dangerous disgraceful farce
In full: The people of manchester were fantastic; huge crowds lining course and offering support in aweful weather. Marshalls and aid/drinks stations superb. Course ok but spoilt by weather. Was happy to take 11 mins off pb.
BAGGAGE A DISGRACE! How can you leave soaking wet runners stood around in those conditions? Total chaos. Bags thrown out of tent into rain with labels missing and contents strewn over muddy field. After 40 mins I gave up and abandoned my clothes and belongings in fear of exposure to cold - half hour back to hotel on tram in soaked vest and shorts!
Whoever gave a permit for this farce (UKA / ARC) needs to take a serious look into its failings
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: PhilJ
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Quick course, organisers completely underestimated the task.
In full: Quick course with great crowds most of the way round.
Organisation completely unacceptable:
£5 to post race numbers out on top of entry fee;
Marshal outside the official cricket club car park didn't know where the entrance was and told us to park wherever we could find;
not enough signs in race village;
bag drop off completely unorganised, told to leave bags out in the rain to make start of race;
bag pick disugusting. Bags in no order, organisers panicked and deserted the tent to leave freezing cold runners (some physically shaking) to organise the bags.
Looks like a company trying to make money out of an event and scrimping on the necessities.
Unfortunately I will remember the race for the joke that was organisation at the end, rather than a decent flat course.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Amanda McGuinness
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Thought the public support in such awful conditions was great. The marshals were great too- in patches - guy with the sunflower in his hat was great but poor poor poor orginisation..heavens! The parking???!! Luckily we were able to park really near - saved ourselves money by parking in residential road and were able to leave our things there thank god as from the look of the baggage area my heart went out to the poor runners who had to queue there- what a disaster!! I understand totally that this a new event but in that event the organisers should have tried a hell of a lot harder to make sure they got it right. Got the feeling some staff couldn't give a toss too. This is my home town and I was so looking forward to it but feel they have let Manchester down. Final moan - please get rid of that subway bit at the end...what was that all about??
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Steve Kellett 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Course, support, and the marshalls were fantastic, shame about the organisers
In full: Where do we start. The organisers going the Xtra mile to post your number out for 5 pound - grrr. Directions for parking, not great, glad I spotted a marshall motorbike, so I followed and could park on a local residential road - didn't fancy the 10 pound charge at other options they gave.
Baggage drop off ridiculous, queue was horrendous at the start, and was told to leave your bag in the rain for it to be collected. The marshalls and the support round the course were the stars of this event - without them it would have been a very bad day.
Once you've finished you expect to be able to collect your bag without drama, but well over an hour to get your bag is not acceptable, and the Xtra mile staff, didn't want to go the Xtra mile to help, which you would have thought they would especially in the conditions.
Saw people having to go for medical attention as they were so cold waiting for their baggage.
I certainly will not be back.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Flimby
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In full: I didn't run it due to injury 2 months ago. No chance of getting ANY money back. The info says my money will have been spent up front but the papers claim the organisers have raised 1 million for charity!
Could defer for £5 6 weeks before race day.
Then the cheek of asking for a further £5 to post race pack out (no mention of this in origional blurb)
Wouldn't have anything to do with this incompetant lot if they paid me to enter it!!!!!
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Happyrunner
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very bad organsiation
In full: I did not run this race but transported three runners. We lost our way...Parking was near the start but had to walk a long way to the park to leave luggage AND then go back to the start. No one around to direct people. Not well signposted. No one to tell people how to get to metro. Very limited catering faclities. Grass was a sea of mud along with changing tents and well the baggage tent was appauling and toilets not suffient. What a disapointment for runners at the end to have to experience these muddy dirty cold conditons after all the hard work they put in on such very very wet day. The runners said the course was good and well supported by the public and marshalls and good amount of refreshments. The end was orangnised and had some structure to it. A shame everything else let this race down particauly because of the price people paid to enter. Unless I know it is going to better next year I would not consider entering it. If organisers want to compete with London, get it right!!
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: todmel
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Baggage tent chaos unforgiveable
In full: Baggage tent: why were there not separate areas by runner number, as at London, for drop-off and pick-up? Toilets: either not enough in race village or poorly positioned not sure which (although there were plenty at race start), but so many queueing in village for loos led to mad scramble to drop off bags only minutes before start. Route: serious bunching in places, too narrow for numbers running, and having to run up steps from that subway at end was not good. Post-race: some people seemed to be on the verge of hypothermia because of the weather conditions and were having to queue in a desperate attempt to find their bags. Runners' bags were heaped outside the tent in the rain, some bag contents getting rained on or were in the mud. Maybe a harsh review, maybe organisers unprepared for those weather conditions. But disappointing overall, especially for the price. On a more positive note, the support on the route from the public was fantastic.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: pinkstars
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good and quick route with great support ruined by bad organisation at the end
In full: The bag drop was a disgrace and dangerous in the weather conditions. Needed treatment for hypothermia - collapsed after being made to stand in the freezing cold for ages to reclaim my bag containg warm clothes, keys, money to get home etc. Medical tent was packed out with others in the same situation. I know the organisers can't control the weather but they can make sure runners aren't forced to hang around in cold wet kit at the end. Sort it out organisers!
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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