Greater Manchester MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (178 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Ian McGarry
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Tim Hines
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Thank goodness for the crowds!
In full: Brilliant support throughout from the crowds.
Good flat course with some nice bits, some dull bits and a couple of bad decisions, e.g. One switch back, a pedestrian subway and a section of dirt track.
Organisation needs serious improvement - Baggage debacle was unacceptable but has been acknowledged. No meeting area. Finishers t shirt the day before the race.
I will probably do it again though!
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Andy Whitrow
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Agree with all other reviews, terrible organisation, great marshalls,support and water stations. Never been so cold, huge thanks to Red Cross at 21 miles and the lovely lady that took us to her living room for warmth and hot drinks.
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: 3 amp
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: People of Manchester be proud!
In full: People of Manchester be proud - you were the best thing about this race! Given the weather the support from the people of Manchester was outstanding. The marshals, though too few in number, were on the whole fab & the Red Cross - who sadly I found myself in need of made you proud to be British! & there it ends. Don't want to repeat what everyone else has already said except to say the organisers need to get a grip if they want to stage a race in 2013 worthy of Manchester!
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Andrew Vincent 3
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: finishers t shirt given out at Expo SAYS IT ALL - regarded as an administrative hassle not somethign to earn. Emphasis was on getting the race organised not being successful on the day. BUT SUPPORT FAB
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Alexandra Battersby
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: The worst organised race I have ever done
In full: This was dreadfully organised. The weather did not help but the organisers cannot be responsible for that. However, they can be responsible for the lack of a designated reunion area, a lost people area, the poor communication at the end and the baggage debacle at the start and end.
More marshalls were needed in the bit through the country lanes as this would have been lonely and dangerous at the best of times but given the amount of rain and mud was downright life threatening.
I was pretty hypothermic by the end and I have to say would have stopped had there been more marshalls to help tell me where to find warmth!!
The support from the people of Greater Manchester was however, PHENOMINAL. They all deserve medals!! I could not have finished without them.
SOmehow I managed a PB but reckon I could have gone 10 minutes faster if the weather had been better. Given the weather I think the route was risky but a nice flat course.
If this was your first marathon I think you may never run again!!
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: sib1969
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: No excuse for Baggage debacle
In full: An enjoyable day, despite the weather, which was almost ruined by the disgraceful and non existent organisation re: baggage.
Course was good, although very lonely from 12 to 19. Perhaps reversing the course would mean that all the fantastic support around Sale/Altrincham would be with the runners in the latter half, and would mean that the subway could be avoided as road closure would be easier at 9am!
Stewarding was great as were all the drinks/gel stations.
Course is definitely fast, though Dunham Messy, and the 20mph headwind for last 5 miles did not help.
Least said about the baggage tent the better!
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: andyratbag
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Fabulous support from crowds, terrible weather, appalling organisation
In full: Nobody can control the weather so I'll just leave it as the worst weather I've ever had to run a marathon in, hail, rain and howling wind. The crowds were still out though and gave us amazing support. Pity the organisation of the event was so abysmal. There were very few mile markers, a distinct lack of first aid and marshals, not to mention the unbelievable mess that was baggage storage, resulting in the organisers offering a full public apology. It took 15 mins to drop my bag at the start, in the rain. I, like everyone else, stood for an hour in the rain and wind after running a marathon trying to get our property back. I felt like I'd contracted pneumonia. The organisers should be ashamed of themselves. I won't be back.
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: gramck24
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Cold, wet and miserable.
In full: Good race despite the horrible conditions. Definitely a PB potential on a good day.
Shame about some of the organisation on the day but i'm sure that will improve next year.
The Manchester support was superb given the horrible rainy conditions. Hats off you.
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Richard Gere
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I have now defrosted
In full: It's now Wednesday and can now say I enjoyed Sunday, many thanks to the people involved and special thanks to the people who came out to support on such a shitty day, I found my black rucksack amongst the sea of white expo bags with no trouble. At no time did anyone say "you must use the white bags" they told me I could. Anyone who left valuables in these things that were impossible to close then you need your subnormal heads examining. Stop the whingeing and learn a lesson from it.
Date of review: May 2, 2012
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