Manchester Marathon

By Elaine McGeachy

As you all know, a marathon story begins 4-6 months before the actual race.  Getting to the start line is a feat.  Getting to the start line non-injured for me seems to be impossible.  2023 was challenging for me – various setbacks along the way but in the back of my head I really wanted to put the marathon demons to bed and set my goal time of sub 3.40.  I don’t really know why but it’s a goal of mine and I felt, at one point, that it was realistic. 

I got myself back out regularly running in December and started a 16 week programme at the beginning of January.  There’s something comforting to me about following a plan, I like the routine.  I also find the satisfaction on completing each session and trusting the process.  I wasn’t hitting the paces I’d like but each session was getting complete as the mileage and intensity ramped up over the weeks. 

Unfortunately by week 10/11 during a cut-back week on holiday, I started to get a lot of pain in my forefoot and second toe.  I felt I could run through it but it wasn’t pretty and it made greater pain for walking after.  I noticed my bunion had grown bigger too and was struggling to fit into any of my trainers or shoes.  After ruling out a stress fracture, the podiatrist diagnosed me with a plantar plate tear.  A new injury I had never heard about and spent researching online for hours how to miraculously fix it overnight.  The podiatrist strapped me up and advised me to get wide fitting hoka trainers with custom orthotics.  Oh and rest. I took 1 day rest (I know!) and went out for my planned 19 miler.  The taping and painkillers helped but it was still sore.   

I carried on with the training with hopes of a PB gone.  Despite all the contraptions I bought and sought other medical help, the pain continued to get worse.  After another cut back week in mileage, with some more rest days, I had a half marathon on plan.  The best I could muster was a 5k parkrun in the middle of a 13 miler.  And even then it was slower than the previous month’s 5k attempt.  By the next day I could barely walk.  I was forced to rest and cross train.  Hopes of even doing the marathon now was possibly over. 

I know I should have just ended the marathon journey there but I think I felt I had a point to prove to myself.  That I could still do marathons.  I had already completed around 11 weeks of hard training, would that still get me through? 

At the last minute I made the decision to give it a go.  If I had to pull out somewhere on the course, at least I tried and there would be no regrets.  We arrived at our hotel late Saturday afternoon with 2 toddlers to be told that there was no booking and all the Manchester hotels were full.  I think the world was trying to give me another message but I ignored it and we managed to secure a room for the night. 

The start line was terrifying and emotional. I made peace that I might not get round the course.  But I was delighted and grateful to give it a try.  My nerves got the better of me and I under-fuelled.  I couldn’t eat my race breakfast I planned.  I managed to force down half a banana and take a shot of coffee, armed with 4 gels and some electrolyte tabs. 

I planted a smile on my face and committed!  Let’s just go out at a decent pace and see what happens, maybe I’d surprise myself.  The first 8 miles went past quickly and was enjoyable – the course was flat and busy with not many sites to see until Old Trafford.   I was hoping to catch a supportive glimpse of my boys at this point but we missed each other. Pain was holding out and I was on to Plan B of aiming for a sub 3.50.   

Unfortunately I was disappointed to hear the day earlier that London Marathon have changed their Good for Age for my age group to 3.45.  I knew that was out of reach for me today. 

I settled into the race and tried to enjoy it, taking in the support along the course which was sporadic but fantastic in places.  The city centre’s atmosphere was electric!  By half-way I knew despite the pain increasing that I wouldn’t let myself quit.  Then because of my too big shoes to accommodate my weird feet I got a stone in my shoe – in the ‘good’ foot!  I tried to shoogle it out.  I stopped to take the shoe off but still couldn’t get it.  Another ½ mile I stopped again, this time sock and shoe.  But it now embedded into my foot creating a blister.  Oh well, just get on it with it, the pain in the other foot was now a welcome distraction from my other pain!! 

Let’s get this straight – Manchester is not completely flat.  I wasn’t expecting some of the long inclines or the wee sharp ones in the city, ooft!  But you were rewarded with some downhills so I suppose it levels out.  There was some very long straights with very little people and in my head I was crying for them to cheer me on.  I knew I was starting to lose the mental battle and I started to slow.  Seeing the other runners starting to pull out, cramp up but battle on kept me going.  Seeing people running for charity and hearing some of the causes of why they were running was very humbling. 

Water stops were every 5k and found myself stopping by to walk at them by 30k.  Under-fuelling kicked in and I had consumed my gels with over 6 miles to go, dropping one at mile 18 wasn’t helpful.  As we looped back round the start/finish line area again I picked up my energy a little, completely thanks to an angel in the form of fellow Campbeltonian Fiona Cook who glided past me with a glowing smile and a Maurten’s gel – thank you Fi!  Fiona went on to get a well deserved PB – well done! 

My motivation was short lived and found the cramp creeping up on me and I attempted a painful jog/walk from mile 22.  The support from this point in the course was utterly fantastic. If those random strangers weren’t there shouting on me I probably would’ve gave up.  Marathons really do give you renewed faith in humans supporting other humans – the kindness of the people all around was just wonderful.  The crowd were roaring at parts of the course and I plodded on, roaring to myself too to keep going.  3.50 thoughts long gone and on to goal C sub 4 also gone, now I just wanted to survive and get it done.  Why do we do this?  Why did I think this was a good idea?   

By mile 25 I finally clapped eyes on my boys, just as my legs were really starting to go but with some encouragement and buggy running beside me I picked it up to ‘run’ all the way to that elusive finish line.  I did it.  4.09. It may not be the time I wanted but I completed another marathon.  At this moment I really realised and remember how hard marathons are.  A bit like child-birth though, that feeling fades but I’m trying to hold on to it as the last few miles were a real struggle for survival. 

Would I recommend Manchester?  I’m not sure I would but I don’t know if my experience was tainted with injury.  Pros – easy to get to, no expo, guaranteed places, some good support from public in places, transferrable places and relatively fast course.  Cons – quite congested, boring compared to big city marathons, finish line and getting away was chaos – hard for spectators to get in and even harder for runners to get out!  Next year it’s on the same day as London…  Will some of you be on the start line?