Running News Daily

British duo win Manchester Marathon

British duo impress at the 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon

Sunday saw over 32,000 runners take the streets of Manchester to cover the 26.2 miles on one of the flattest courses in the UK.

On a day helped by perfect weather conditions, Adam Clarke from Aldershot, Farnham and District AC took the elite men’s title after completing the marathon in 2:16:29.

It was a comfortable race for the 33-year-old as he soared ahead from the leaders at the 18-mile mark, completing the race with a lead of just over two minutes.

The Brit has been training alongside his partner, Charlotte Purdue, who was recently named in the first wave of Olympic marathon selections for the British team ahead of the Paris Games.

Behind Clarke was Marshall Smith from Ashford AC who finished second with 2:18:22 as Alexander Teuten from Southampton AC took bronze clocking 2:18:37.

Charlie Arnell, from MK Distance Project, made her marathon debut as she was the first woman through the finish with 2:37:12. The Brit ran 77:27 at the Bath Half Marathon in March.

Arnell finished almost five minutes clear of Melissah Gibson from Ealing Eagles Running Club (2:42:09) who finished in second with a great run considering she ran 100km just over two weeks ago at the Sri Chinmoy 100km in Perth.

Gibson, who completed 16 marathons last year, finished second at those trials which booked her a place on the IAU World 100km Championship team set to compete in India later this year.

Finishing in third behind Gibson in Manchester was Anna Lawson from Clapham Chasers, clocking an impressive PB of 2:43:32 having not started with the elite field.

Arnell finished almost five minutes clear of Melissah Gibson from Ealing Eagles Running Club (2:42:09) who finished in second with a great run considering she ran 100km just over two weeks ago at the Sri Chinmoy 100km in Perth.

Gibson, who completed 16 marathons last year, finished second at those trials which booked her a place on the IAU World 100km Championship team set to compete in India later this year.

Finishing in third behind Gibson in Manchester was Anna Lawson from Clapham Chasers, clocking an impressive PB of 2:43:32 having not started with the elite field.

Among the notable figures joining the mass field of participants, the event also saw multiple world records set.

Almost impossible to miss were a group of six participants, Marcus Green, Rich Bidgood, Hugh Tibbs, Nick Wright, David Mills and James Bewley dressed as a caterpillar, setting a world record for the fastest marathon in a six-person costume (2:57:31).

Christian Howett ran the full marathon in a pair of crocs, finishing in 2:58:54 which saw him claim the world record.

Mark Armstrong: Why I'm pulling out of the Manchester Marathon

It's the column that I really didn't want to write, but unfortunately I won’t be running the Manchester Marathon this year.

I’ve had to take the difficult decision that due to my calf that I won’t be able to toe the start line in little over a week’s time.

Yet another test run ended with the same discomfort by around 4K that I’ve been experiencing and it’s time to accept that I’m just not going to be ready to do myself justice.

There is of course disappointment and frustration; to some extent I’ve never felt fitter and if my calf was intact then I’d be confident of setting a new PB there.

I needed to stop trying to force this recovery. Hopefully, it’s a relatively minor injury, but it needs time and some concerted work without the impact running has to make it better.

To my mind I’ve got April to really get on top of it before easing back into things in May and kicking on with the rest of the year.

I’ve tried to be proactive and listed all the races I want to run in 2024 with the emphasis obviously on getting to the Berlin Marathon start line in September in the best possible shape.

I’ve learned so much from this training block already and it’s been nice to surprise a few people with the progress I’ve made. 

I’ve run times I’ve never thought I was capable of at 10K and half marathon distances but I also have to accept that at this stage my body doesn’t always cope particularly well with a high volume of running.

That’s obviously relative to everyone but I’ve found that once I get to around 40-45 miles per week in my training that my body starts to complain.

But that’s okay - I can work with that - it doesn’t mean I can’t achieve the goals I’ve got, notably a sub three-hour marathon. It just means I have to be a bit more strategic in how I get there.

I’ve grown to really enjoy the strength and conditioning side of things and I’m more than happy to get on the bike to supplement my training. The heart and lungs don’t know what exercise I’m doing so I’m confident I can build fitness there.

Running is just one part of the build towards a marathon goal; strength and conditioning, nutrition, sleep, stress levels are all other factors that can impact what your body is capable of.

Rather than feel envious of my running friends on the way to the marathon start line, I feel inspired in the knowledge that one day in the near future it will be my time to produce a marathon run that I can feel proud of once again. A run that I can look back on with my children to demonstrate that if you put your mind to something then you can achieve goals you never thought possible.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where people want instant gratification and patience is a dirty word. You can’t expect to be good at something straight away; there are always going to be setbacks when chasing something you really want, tests that will make you question how much you really want something.

But building resilience is a key life lesson - tough times don’t last, tough people do.

That’s why I’m focusing on coming back fitter and faster…

With very strong calves…

Manchester Marathon: Seven Tips for marathon week preparation With Steph Kessell

Event week is fast approaching, which means excitement and nerves are running high!

So, what should you do the week before the adidas Manchester Marathon to make sure you succeed and – most importantly – enjoy the challenge?

We spoke to Team GB Olympic marathon runner and professional adidas athlete Steph Kessell, who shared her 7 tips for marathon week preparation.

So, grab your notes and don’t miss this great advice from Steph!

1. TAPER

“In the final week, your overall training volume and intensity should have dropped to less than 50% so you can get to the start line of the marathon feeling fresh and raring to go. Your last higher intensity session should be 4-5 days before the marathon and include some marathon paced intervals, but not many of them!

2. SLEEP

“Sleep is the most important recovery aid. Hopefully you have been getting plenty of sleep throughout your training block but during this final week prioritise early nights and aim to get your 8 hours. It is common to not sleep very well the night before the challenge but don’t stress! If you’ve been able to sleep well in the build up then this won’t affect your event. If you can’t sleep, try to stay in bed and relax; this is still good rest and recovery”.

3. HYDRATE

“You want to go into race day feeling hydrated, as dehydration has a negative effect on performance, even if it’s not that warm outside! Carry a water bottle around with you to remind you to drink regularly aiming for at least 1.5 litres a day (NHS guidance). If you have some electrolyte tabs handy then take one daily as well as the evening before the event to ensure you are extra hydrated!”

4. PREP YOUR KIT

“If you haven’t worn your event day kit for a run yet then this is your final chance to test it out. You want to feel comfortable, wear the right amount of layers and avoid chafing. From sports bra, socks, heart rate monitor, race belt or hydration pack, try everything that you plan to wear on the big day, so you can feel confident on the start line.”

5. PLAN YOUR STRATEGY

“At the start of event week write out a plan for the event day. What pace will you start at (or do you plan to join a pacing team to reach your target time?) When will you take on fuel? Where are the water, gels and toilet stops?

When you have planned this out in advance and read over it again and again before the day, then it will help you feel more relaxed, in control and confident. A detailed plan can be a good distraction from the nerves as it gives you something to focus on. Break it down into 5-7 stages and take each part as it comes.”

6. CONSIDER YOUR TRAVEL ROUTE 

“Another one that will help ease your nerves! Don’t leave it until the morning of to decide how you are going to travel there. Plan out your route and leave plenty of time to get there. A leisurely start to the day will be more pleasant than a last minute frantic dash trying to find the bag drop and loos! 

7. STAY WARM

“Marathons often require an early start which means it can be cold. To combat this, bring a top or jumper you want to donate to charity to keep you warm at the start line. At the adidas Manchester Marathon, you can keep wearing this until the end of the start chute where you will see signs to show you where to donate it as you get close to the start gantry – just make sure that you don’t drop it too early!”.

Mark Armstrong: Mind games and tapering for Manchester Marathon

For those training for a spring marathon taper time is almost here.  

Tapering typically involves significantly reducing the intensity and distance you run in the final two to three weeks of training. 

Time for a much needed break for your body from the hard training of the past few months. It also involves a huge mental battle gearing up to the big day... Have I done enough? Do my goals need adjusting? Am I even fit enough to run this race?  

This mental game is even tougher when you are hit with illness and have injury niggles during your block and that is what has happened at Armstrong HQ in the past few weeks at a key phase in both mine and my wife Alison’s training blocks.  

Training at a key time has been disturbed, runs rescheduled or abandoned. Marathon paced sections that should have built confidence (and fitness) substituted for easy runs or bike sessions.  

Thankfully, the virus I had after the Cambridge Half Marathon has gone and I’m feeling a lot better. However, the calf that I tweaked towards the end of that event is still grumbling. 

I’m having to be very careful on runs and build it back up again, which isn’t ideal, but I’m at least grateful to be able to run again. 

What that means for the Manchester Marathon in just over three weeks’ time, I don’t know. 

I explored the possibility of deferring my entry but I’m not quite ready to admit defeat yet.  

I know the fitness I built at the start of the year is largely still there; I just need to get my body in a position to execute a decent race. 

I’ve had to temper down goal times a little but perhaps that’s a good thing. I’ve over-reached before and it hasn’t ended well – one of those occasions being at Manchester in 2018!  

I’m trying not to lose sight of why I entered this training block, namely to build fitness and make better life choices and I have already walked away with new 10K and half marathon PBs during this block.  

I am also aware of others who have had to make the tough decision that a spring marathon is a step too far if they want to stay in the running game.  

There is a noticeable relief for those runners who have chosen to defer or target another race. To those in that position, the training done to this point is never wasted, all those training runs are banked, more positive decisions are made surrounding nutrition and recovery and I know all too well that being out for months with an injury, particularly over those glorious summer months, is too steep a price to pay for one marathon.  

For those doubting whether you have done enough, now is the time to look back at that training diary and celebrate your successes. Those tough runs you completed when you didn’t really have time in horrible conditions; don’t give missed sessions any kind of thinking time. 

I also try to recognize that thought processes aren’t always rational during the taper. This is the period when we are most tired and our brains are trying to keep us safe and in our comfort zone. Anyone that has run a marathon before will tell you - ‘Maranoia’ is real. 

The excitement, nerves, an unhealthy obsession for checking weather forecasts, discovering niggles you hadn't previously noticed and avoiding anyone with so much as a sniffle within a five-mile radius. It’s all part of the process and we are in the final stages now.  

Good luck to those running Wymondham 20 this Sunday. This sold out event will see many of the 600 runners completing their final long ahead of the marathon.