On Sunday 14 April, thousands of people will take to the streets of Manchester to run the marathon.
It’s just over a month until roads will be cornered off and runners will set off on the second largest race in the UK.
Held just a week before the London event, 32,000 people will put their endurance to the test, taking on a route which goes through Sale, Altrincham and Trafford.
Sarah Jeffery, 44 from Stockport, is running for Alzheimer’s Research UK. In 2020 Sarah’s Mum, from Trafford Park, was diagnosed with dementia, and passed away on 30 March 2023.
Reflecting on specific locations, Sarah said: “To run past where she grew up may be upsetting and thought provoking, but it’ll be good to look back on.”
Speaking about the pain that come with running, she added: “Parts hurt in places you never knew existed.”
There are hundreds of charities that runners will be raising money and awareness for as well as loved ones who have passed away.
Simon Faulkes, 45, from Whitefield said: “During COVID, I lost my Dad to lung cancer. My friends told me ‘I’d be stupid not to do [a marathon] on my doorstep’.”
Now doing his third marathon, Simon urges others, along with Sarah that ‘getting your diet right is super important,’ along with ‘hill running and speed repetition’ being a key factor to healthy movement.
Gary Dixon, 62, did his first marathon as a bet and is now looking at Manchester being his 80th marathon as an official pacer, running 314 marathons in total.
Gary says: “How difficult it is to train on your own, having a training plan where you are building up your mileage, your endurance.”
“At least 80% is mental because the moment you let your mind tell your legs you’re getting tired, that’s when you are battling against your head and actual body,” Gary added.
If this is your first marathon, there may be questions that you have about elements you want to perfect. One of the 41 official pacers, Gary says: “The two things that are essential in running is the right footwear and breathing.
“I didn’t know 25 years ago, I should’ve been running in a neutral shoe that is right for my feet.”
A key area about the 26.2 mile run is not burn your legs out in the first few miles and as many first time runners will want past advice from runners who have ran before and reached the finish line.
As runners complete the race, they won’t only be sweating, aching and exhausted, but also have the satisfaction of putting on their finishers t-shirts.
Creator Meha Hindocha said she wanted to ‘implement the skyline, building and architecture, in addition to the runners and the supporters’.
The locations integrated into the t-shirt are Longsight, Deansgate Towers and Trafford, the cricket ground and football ground.
Featured image credit: Stuart Grout via Flickr
