RunLiverpool Marathon 2011

I would like to thank Alan and his team for a great event. I cannot even begin to think about the logistical nightmares of arranging such an event in a major City entre so thank you for having the vision, courage and patience for taking the challenge on.

There are always going to be teething problems with any new event - I would agree that the park PA system was poor and the green start coral was packed out - not everyone could get in at the 'official' start time. The pens need to be bigger (especially as there seem to have only been 5200 finishers rather than the expected 8-9000) and gaps closed up just before the start. I personally had no problems or complaints all the way round. Great support and marshalling. Loved the drumming band coming out of the tunnel - certainly helped the last bit of the climb - was quite surreal coming back into the daylight. The 'worst' part of the course for me was Princes Park at 23 miles - bleak with little support. However, loved coming down UPS 24-25 and the finish. Agree re full hands in the finishing shute. I dropped my T-shirt into a puddle before I even got it on trying to hold everything. A special thank you to the lady handing out the foil blankets who was putting them on the athletes tying a knot in the cape to stop them blowing away. The course is a little tougher than other big city marathons but there are unique features - how many people get to run under the Mersey? Did anyone notice the position of the timing mats - 10K - most norther part of Wirral - 1/2 way - in the Tunnel - 20 miles - middle of the park - no chance of anyone taking a short cut!!

Thank you again Alan and the rest of the team - well done!! You all deserve an immense amount of credit.

Big Al 123 wrote (see)

Just remembered that a brass band were playing the Rocky tune on upper parliament St, that tickled me and lifted my spirits. I had to smile as I couldn't have felt any further from the "invincible" Rocky!!

Ooh I loved that, coming down parliament street, knowing there was just under 2 miles to go

"getting stronger"

I you've ever been lucky enough to run the NYC marathon, the highlight is coming out of a dark, quiet bridge, with no spectators, onto First Avenue in Manhattan to be greeted by thousands of cheering New Yorkers.  It makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!

Well, coming out of the tunnel on Sunday was 10 times as exhilirating as this.  Like running out onto the pitch at Goodison on matchday and summiting Alpe d'Huez in the Tour de France all rolled into one!

Don't change the course too much.  It has everything. 

Judging by most people's times and taking into account the wind (It's always like that in New Brighton!), the tunnel and the undulations, this could be marketed as BRITAIN'S TOUGHEST CITY MARATHON.  A friend even reckoned it was tougher than Snowdonia !

(BTW, Wallasey and Birkenhead are not small towns.  I heard somewhere that Birkenhead is the biggest town in England and bigger than many cities.)

Big thank you to Alan and everyone who helped to make Sunday so memorable.

My wheels fell off at around 15 miles and I ended up finishing in 4 3/4 hours. I'm still beating myself up over it, don't know why it all went so wrong, but I guess I basically underestimated just how much respect this distance deserves.   

As a first timer, before the event I wasn't sure whether this would be my first and last marathon.  A few minutes after finishing (ok, maybe more than a few minutes)  I was 100% determined to come back next year and hopefully put right the errors I think I made.

Don't think I'll ever forget the brilliant support around the course.  Complete strangers shouting out my name was such a lift.

Paul 22 - sorry mate for possibly blanking you at the finish. I was a bit cream crackered.

Can't wait until next year. Congratulations RunLiverpool, job well done. I'm now a Liverpool Marathon addict.

Did this marathon as my first one, only 6 weeks of training due to an injury filled year. 4.51, not too impressive but really didnt care this time around. UPS really hurt and i was really trying to seperate my mind from my body from miles 18-24. The last 1.5 miles to the finish was awesome and made it all worthwhile.

Loved the whole experience, support was amazing from spectators, marshalls, volunteers and fellow runners, thats what really made the day for me. Would have to echo a few recent posts about the PA system, i was in the blue pen and had no idea what was going on, it was quite confusing for us all back there...

My legs still hurt but i will be back next year for sure now i have tactically set a PB i can beat

Dear all - with the benefit of hindsight the concerns raised will be remedied next year!! I am aware!!

Keep those drums at tunnel exit though - that was awesome!

LOL...I am on that video too!

  Alan, really, there was nothing that bad about it at all.  The start wound me up, but it wasn't your fault......I would do it again, for sure......You even made the weather agreeable!

This was my first marathon and have not stopped talking about it yet. Absolutely loved it from start to finish, mile 23 I had to walk for a mile but came in at 5hrs 15 and am delighted. Again coming out of the tunnel gave me a real buzz and my 3 beautiful children and family were just around the corner. Well done to Alan and all the team you did a fantastic job and am already thinking about doing it again next year. My husband and I came from Pembrokeshire to take part. What an experience!!

Ruth - (and the rest of you) you can relive the experience! have a look at the video on www.run247.com it's really good.

The hard work continues for Alan and Yvonne judging by the amount of phone calls and E-mails they got when I called in to see them today. It may have ended for us when we crossed the line but it certainly didn't for the RL team.

I found out today that Alan likes doughnuts so if you call into HQ make sure you buy him a bag.

First posting on this thread, just in case RunLiverpool wade through all of this, here are my comments:

1) Great event, although possibly biased by the fact that I had a great run. Course was varied, plenty to keep the interest, flat, little wind, and the weather unbelievably perfect after hte forecast 2 days previously.

2) Route was brilliant - tunnel was fab, particularly liked the Sefton Park bit - very pretty, far nicer than (for example, an industrial estate) and a chance for the skilled spectator to watch his/her runner six times - at the stage of the race when support really makes a difference!

3) Entertainment was awesome, as were the crowds - partic good idea passing by the finish at mile 14 - must have really boosted the crowd numbers.

4) Loved the downhill at 24/25 - thought the uphill at 16 was early enough that it didn't cause any harm.

Suggestions for improvement (apologies if already mentioned, can't face wading through 5000 posts):

Sefton Park - more signs, more marshals, fewer numbskulls wandering around the course with their dogs as if it is a public park

Princes Park - more signs - felt very lost and lonely in there, no one else in sight. And that road out of Princes Park - just looked like a normal street, thought I had wandered off the course...  on the other hand well done to the bike marshal who kept me right (until he punctured)

Anyone with he courage to put on an event liek this - closing city centre roads incl the tunnel etc - deserves masses of credit for taking a chance - I'll be back down again.

Stubee - I'm turning into a doughnut!! Must get out more...

MC2 - thank you for the comments. All will be considered fro 2012. I have a wish list...

someone wearing an ipod in that video

Alan i'd like to re-iterate what has been said before, dont change the course at all, especially the downhill leading to the finish!

I think the course is 6 miles too long personally.

Blimey it was a marathon just reading back on the thread!

Mostly positive comments but no surprise that people weren't happy with the delay at the start. I didn't mind the delay as such but what I did mind was not being told what was going on and why as it made me anxious. I have to agree with whoever said that the PA system was badly sited and inadequate but even so, why didn't the marshalls tell people in their respective pens what was happening?

We couldn't find the first aid tent and so didn't meet people at the start and as we'd left home before a pub for afterwards was finalised we didn't meet up there either. Instead we met up with some old friends in Spice on the Albert Dock for a wonderful curry and a few drinkies

However, I met loads of lovely people en-route.

Hannah, just shout "hi Redhead" if you spot me again, loads of people did!
Ulen, thank you! Now I know who the unknown runner was
Stubee, glad you did OK.
FRC nice to meet you briefly.
Apologies to those I haven't mentioned. I am getting confused between RW and Fetch!

I knew before I started the run that my hopes of a pb were unrealistic as I'd developed a very sore throat on the Thursday and felt grotty on the journey up on Friday. However I was pleased to maintain my pace until about mile 16 when I decided not to push any more. Quite early in the race I found an old forum chum who was suffering, probably due to the heat, and I waited with him until a medic came to his aid. I hope he was able to continue.

I loved the stretch round New Brighton and the tunnel was an amazing experience - those drummers, OMG they were awesome!

I know what people mean about the park section - when we entered Princes Park a guy behind me said "Are we still in that f***ing park? Please just give me a nice industrial estate to run round!" which really made me laugh. But my little family of supporters thought it was wonderful 'cos they got to see me 4 times without having to walk for miles and the sight of them brought a tear to my eyes (but in a happy way if you know what I mean).

Marshalls and volunteers at the aid stations were lovely. I got hugged by several

My favourites though were the guy on the bike (the dishy one) who kept saying "this is deja vu Redhead" each time he saw me and the guy at the top of UPS on the way back down who shouted "come on girl, speed it up - I want mi dinner!" PMSL at that one

Thank you to all the lovely people who made a point of saying hello to me during the race. I am humbled to think that you follow my blog or lurk here on RW and I hope you had a good race.

Overall I think it was a great first running of the event and was a credit to Alan and his team. Excellent work everyone

Probably the last post for me for a while as I'm gonna have to move on to the the next fix, especially as this is definitely my first and last marathon (no reflection on the race just not built to go beyond 13 miles).

I just want to get back to the reason I have been on here so much the last few weeks. Each and everyone of you has helped me along the way and it was real pleasure thinking of some of the tips during the run.

Having organised large scale international events Alan I have to say you have done an amazing job. There is always going to be room for improvement and there is always going to be people who will be over critical and overanalyse every last bit of an event but ultimately as the first one this was a superb achievement.

Thanks for the marathon memories!

ML2 - I'm pleased you enjoyed the day and happy that you chose RLM as you one and only marathon event. Your comments are very much appreciated by all the team and not just me!