Event preview: ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015
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The ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon in Trafford takes place this Sunday 19th April and promises to be a day filled with sporting extravaganza and a celebratory festival atmosphere for runners and spectators.
The ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon is the UK’s flattest, fastest and friendliest marathon, and with a British-only prize fund and three time bonuses the organisers have attracted a top quality British field to race in Greater Manchester. Well-known names in this year’s field include Paul Martelletti, Ben Fish, Paolo Natali, Tom Cornthwaite, Andy Norman, Ian McBride, Eoin Callaghan, Tom Charles and Michael Kallenberg. In the women’s elite field the contenders for the 2015 title include Samantha Amend, Gemma Connolly and Georgie Bruinvels.
The race was voted the UK’s Best Marathon by The Running Awards 2014 and it also won the Most Improved Race at the Runner’s World Personal Best Awards last year. Renowned for its outstanding crowd support and unique entertainment around the course, the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon starts and finishes near the Manchester United Football Club in Old Trafford. A total of 12,000 entries were taken for the 2015 race, and many runners will be raising money for charity including the official charities Cancer Research UK, The Christie charity and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity.
The ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015 will be started by athletics legend Dr Ron Hill MBE and ASICS ambassador Mara Yamauchi. Dr Ron Hill has also secured an outstanding relay team comprising former Manchester Marathon winners. Steve Kenyon, who holds the fastest time at a Manchester Marathon, Bashir Hussain, Jackie Newton and Ron Hill will be forming the Champions Relay Team and joining the running crowd on 19th April.
The race hub is based at Old Trafford Football Stadium (E2 car park), with the start of the race under the Trafford Arch on the A56 at 09:00 and the finish on Sir Matt Busby Way. The route takes in the Trafford Quays area, Media City, Sale, Brooklands, Timperley, Altrincham, Urmston and Stretford. The 2 Leg Half/Half and the 4 Leg Team Relays start at 09:30 and the start of the wheelchair race is at 08:55.
Race day key timings:
- 07:00: Race village opens including baggage storage, changing marquee, toilets and catering area
- 08:00: Capital FM Marathon Roadshow starts
- 08:15: Warm up in Capital FM and ASICS stage zone in the race village
- 08:30: Runners leave the race village to assemble in the start area
- 08:55: Start of the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015 wheelchair race
- 09:00: Start of the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015
- 09:30: Start of the Team Relays (Half/Half & 4 Leg Relay)
- 11:15: First runners finish the marathon on Sir Matt Busby Way
- 13:00: Prize giving / Podium for 1st, 2nd & 3rd male and female
- 15:00: Last runners finish the marathon
- 17:00: Race village closes
The race brochure with all the race details and maps can be downloaded from the website, www.greatermanchestermarathon.com .
The ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon is not only renowned for having the flattest marathon route in the UK and one of the fastest in the world, but also for being the friendliest marathon with huge crowd and community support. Runners will be able to vote for the ‘Best Entertainment’ and ‘Best Supporting Community’ after the race, with a £500 cheque awarded to the winning groups by the organisers.
Lots of great entertainment is provided around the course and includes Rock Choir, Sale Brass Band, Gorse Hill Studios, The Brook DJ, Frank Sidebottom’s Army, Little Belpers, Loose Change, Wellington Street Stompers, Manchester Fire Service, Café 56, Tomahawks, Trinity Methodist Choir, Loud and Proud Cheerleading, Bhangracise and a range of DJs. Capital FM and a team from ASICS will provide entertainment and motivational support to the runners at the halfway point in Altrincham, and teams from ASICS will be in action at key points around the marathon route to hand out clappers to supporters, cheer on the athletes and encourage spectators to get involved.
There will be a couple of world record attempts happening at this year’s race, including Ollie Dawson attempting to set a world record for the “Fastest marathon dressed as a minion” and Steve Edwards running the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon as part of his world record attempt to “Run 1000 official marathon races in the fastest average finish time.” The ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon will be Steve’s 680th marathon.
Race Director Simon Hill said: “The ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon is just days away now, and we are looking forward to delivering another fantastic event for runners and spectators alike. The race sees huge community support with thousands of supporters lining the streets of Greater Manchester, and we are proud to be referred to as the friendliest marathon.
“There is a great field of British elite runners on the start, and we would like to wish all the runners the best of luck in their marathon challenge on Sunday.”
ASICS is the title sponsor for the Greater Manchester Marathon. Other sponsors and partners include Myers Lister Price Solicitors, Metrolink, Runners Need, Polar, Jabra, Myprotein, ERDINGER Alkoholfrei, TWJ Partnership Accountants, Hotel Football, BEST WESTERN Cresta Court Hotel Altrincham, Trafford Council and Virgin Money Giving. 102 Capital FM is the Official Broadcasting Partner whilst Runner’s World and Athletics Weekly are Official Media Partners for the race.
Entries for 2015 are closed but pre-registration for the 2016 race will open the day after the race.
Please visit www.greatermanchestermarathon.com for further race details, and to download a two for one Metrolink voucher which allows supporters and spectators to get around the course and cheer on the runners at various points throughout their marathon challenge.
Keep up to date with the latest event news on social media;
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Gtrmanchestermarathon
Twitter: @Marathon_Mcr #RUNASICSMCR
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