We Need to Talk About What Happened at Manchester – Review of the Manchester Marathon 16th April 2023

 

Warning: This article contains distressing content due to vivid descriptions of poo

It’s been 5 years since I last wrote on this blog (5 years!!!), which fell a week after my wedding and SO MUCH has happened since then.  In summary, I’m still married, the #MileShyClub grew a bit bigger, I ran the entire city of New York, there was this thing called covid and I had a boob job! 🤣

Seriously though, my husband is amazing. 🤣

So, I originally set up this blog to promote my writing and it all got out of hand with the beginner running club, the #MileShyClub, going from one little Sunday running session to 11 clubs, with more on the way. So, I quit my day job 4 weeks ago and I’m in that place where I’m throwing caution to the wind and following my dreams.  Otherwise known as being unemployed.

I “ran” the Manchester marathon last month.  Usually, I write race blogs in the immediate days afterwards, but I wanted to get as far away as possible from thinking about that race because it was my worst marathon ever. That’s right! Because I’ve run 6 marathons now and haven’t learnt any lessons and keep signing up for more! Leeds marathon is this weekend!

So, I have to decompress about Manchester to get my head clear for Leeds.

I’d done all the right things in the run up to Manchester.  I’d followed my training plan to the nth degree, I’d been in the gym twice a week since October 2022 and even forked out for a Personal Trainer.  I ate healthy and drank protein shakes daily.  I even gave up alcohol for a couple of months. I got personal bests in training races – Trimpell 20 and Trafford 10k. Yet, on the day, it all fell apart.

Arriving at Trafford cricket ground, I spotted that I had a missed call on my phone from Coach Rach. Connecting, she put me on video call with a guy she’d just met who recognised the MileShy tshirt Rach was wearing.

“JANE! OH MY GOD JANE! It’S DANNY!”

“Danny! Hi! How are you doing?!”

“AMAZING! Are you doing the marathon?!”

“Yeah! Can’t wait!”

(The line got a bit fuzzy at this point)

“I’ll see you at the end! It’s my 10^th!”

“Awww good luck!”

“Yeah! You too!”

We hung up and I paused.  Who the hell was Danny?!

I bumped into Danny at the end of the race and it suddenly dawned on me.  Danny is a fellow runner, who blogs about his running exploits.  He interviewed me 5 years ago with the little line, “hopefully we’ll meet for a little run sometime” and there we were meeting face to face for the first time. You have Danny to thank for reconnecting me to the blogging world – he’s so inspiring!

Anyway! Back to the race. I’d arrived in plenty of time and handed in my bag where there was no queue.  I then went to queue for the toilets. I didn’t really need to go, but after 40 minutes of queuing and realising I was going to miss my wave, I then needed to go pretty badly. I couldn’t believe how long it took to get to the loo.  By the time I’d finished, run through the crowds of people at the start to try and get to the 4:15hr pacer – I’d missed my wave.

I didn’t think this impacted me much on the day, but in hindsight, it probably did. 

At the start, I bumped into MileShy runner Dina, who was running in memory of her Mum.  I cannot tell you how gorgeous Dina is inside and out! She hugged me and wished me luck. I left her as I spotted a 4hr 15 min pacer in the distance.

Finding “my people”, I hovered with the 4hr 15 min crowd and then we were off! 

The start felt cramped so I slowed and took my time.  At a 10 min mile pace I felt super comfortable, so upped it to 9:45 min mile which I’d planned as my race pace. Then I heard someone shout up ahead as someone had fallen. I hate it when people fall, because I know if they don’t get back up, I’ll stop to help.

He got back up.

Then another guy took a tumble.

He also got back up.

Runners started to point out the raised kerbs that were on the road and not easy at times to spot.  Running round Hulme and Old Trafford, it was only a matter of time before I saw someone I knew from MileShy Old Trafford and Kate gave me a big shout out!

Feeling good, we got to the city centre on Deansgate.  I made sure that I mentally prepared for the slight slope on the Mancunian Way on the return. But instead of coming straight back on Deansgate, the route turned right up past Albert’s Schloss towards St Peter’s Square.  It was uphill and threw me. But I got through it and coming back on Deansgate I smiled for the camera and gave a shout out to a MileShy runner on the opposite side (Colin). 

It was about here that I mentally started to struggle. I couldn’t understand why and I still don’t have a decent explanation as to why.  There is no why I suppose. I initially thought that maybe because I was so focused on running the Leeds marathon I’d forgotten to mentally prepare for Manchester, which was always meant to be a training run.

By about mile 6, I was seriously considering stopping.  As those negative thoughts entered my head, I kept batting them away.  Suddenly, I saw toilets, and decided, for the first time ever at the Manchester marathon, to stop to gather my thoughts and “slap the negativity out of my head”.

“You don’t want to go in that one,” a guy said to me as I put my hand on the toilet door.

I shrugged him off.  How bad could it be?

The scenes that followed have haunted me ever since. I have never, ever, seen anything so disgusting in my life. I mean, what was the point of that toilet?! Seriously! It was PYRAMID SHAPED!

I kind of forcibly threw myself to one side and gripping on to the outside of another toilet told myself not.to.be.sick. I could have totally taken out at least 5 runners there and then. But I knew I had a stomach full of porridge, bananas and peanut butter on toast that was going to get me round.  Without it, I wouldn’t last 20 miles.

My “pep talk” to myself didn’t work and I forced my heavy legs back into the race. By this point, Colin had overtaken me and he was walking. He told me he was jeffing (run/walking a race), and I joined in, as I figured my race was over and I just wanted to do what I could to help others and get round.

Feeling a tad bit better thanks to Colin, I resolved to continue running.  With just under 20 miles(!) to go, I wanted to push on.

I then bumped into a runner wearing a MileShyClub tshirt I didn’t recognise, which gave me a boost.  Her name is Abby and her Mum was running alongside her doling out gels.  It was Abby’s first marathon so it was great to give her some cheering on route.

Telling myself to focus on getting to mile 9 where my husband might be, I then saw Jan and Paul which gave me an amazing boost as I didn’t know they’d be out supporting.  I was so chuffed, I ran right into the coffee shop in Stretford where they were sitting and hugged them both!

I saw MileShyClub Stretford runners out in force – Carol near her house, a bunch at Stretford Public Hall and a few near McDonalds. I hugged them all. I then bumped into Michelle where I had a cry. She pulled out a teddy bear and told me that Jonathan was with us which motivated me to go on.

Just before mile 9, you have to run under a motorway bridge and there is a DJ with the most humongous speaker system who plays the most amazing dance tunes.  I was looking forward to seeing him but when I arrived, they’d stopped the music as a paramedic was attending to a collapsed runner.

I saw my husband at mile 9 and told him I was close to quitting but “I’d see how I’d go”.  Alice told me to get a move on and Sam tapped her watch saying, “What time do you call this?!”   

I just told my legs to keep going.  A bunch of MileShyers were at Park Road relay point which gave a much needed boost. Going into Timperley I ran past the scout hut where a friend of mine had worked at for many years.  Her funeral procession had stopped there last year on the way to the cemetery as a sign of respect.

I saw Ann from Rock Choir who had messaged the night before to wish me good luck and had told me she’d be singing for me in rock choir when I passed.  When I saw her – she’d finished – and I yelled at her to start singing!!! (it got a lot of laughs) 

I began stopping a bit more leaving Timperley, to stretch out my legs which were feeling it. The 4hr 30 min marker passed me as I approached Altrincham. The support in Altrincham was the best I’ve ever seen it.  Someone should really open up a beginner running club there.

Seriously, coming through the centre of Altrincham, spectators just held out their hands for high fives and came close to the runners – I am sure it wasn’t really allowed but it was epic – it felt like a constant stream of high fives!

From Altrincham, I knew I had to get to Brooklands Road.  Friend Nick was waiting there with a hug which he was obliged to give! I also saw Charlotte who had made a sign for me, and that was a massive boost! Natasha filmed me walking so I started running and I heard her voice (literally) for the remainder of Brooklands Road!

At the end of Brooklands Road, there was a whole bunch of MileShyers out in force and gosh, I so needed that boost coming into Sale.

When I got back to the motorway bridge, the DJ had his music back up and that was a good moment.  Everyone started dancing, even though it hurt!

I passed MileShy runner Bev coming onto Edge Lane.  Afterwards, she told me that she’d nearly cried after seeing me because all I could manage to say to her at the time was a whisper of “Hi Bev” and she could tell I was in a dark place.

It’s true I’m scared of failing. And perhaps that’s what got to me that day. Once I’m in a race I’m in it.  I’ve never not finished. I will get to the end.  Even if it kills me. And maybe I’m just too scared to go to that place in my head where I don’t finish. I had cognitive behaviour therapy years ago to help with my diagnosis of Generalised Anxiety Disorder and yes, to cope with fear, you have to face it in small bits. You’ll know from reading earlier race reviews of mine that my anxiety has been a massive issue for me at the start of races in the past but in the last 5 years this has definitely improved.  As I sit here writing this, knowing that the Leeds marathon is 48 hours away, I’m calm.  That is massive progress for me.

Running (and walking) with a couple of miles to go, I saw a guy in a Lifeboats charity vest, a charity MileShyClub had raised funds for, for our Jonathan who we lost last year.  I followed him and thanked him as I ran past.

I then came up to a guy who was wearing an all-in-one white triathlon suit who had had an accident of great proportions which was dripping down the back of his legs.

For the last couple of miles, I started counting to 100 in my head and repeating it. I read somewhere years ago that Paula Radcliffe uses counting to focus when running and it has often helped me.  It’s good to just focus on the numbers.

Using the counting method, I managed to run the last mile. By this point, I was verbally counting the numbers so I could hear my calm voice, which was reassuring.  I managed a sprint finish on the final straight and could hear the announcer cheering me in.  I might not have had a good race, but the finish had to be good.

I finished in 5 hours 10 minutes something. I honestly, have put it out of my head.  I do remember though that it was 45 minutes slower than the previous year where I’d got a personal best of 4hrs 25 minutes.

I could feel tears coming after passing the finish line.  As I walked to the medals, a voice said,

“Oh! Hi Jane!” as if it was the most normal thing and we’d just met in a coffee shop.  It was Melody, one of the daughters of MileShy Coach Dennis. She was handing out medals. 

I think I bumped into Paul from MileShy at the end. He wanted to take my photo but I remember him handing me back my phone because he didn’t want to take one of me having a meltdown!!! I also bumped back into blogger Danny who was chuffed at completing his 10^th (10^th!!!) marathon.  Well done Danny.

With Leeds being the focus, and only 4 weeks away, making sure I started recovery immediately after the race was key.  I collected my bag, took paracetamol, ate protein balls and had a sports massage.  I was so exhausted, I lost my bank card in the sports massage tent.

I can’t expect every race to be amazing.  Some races will be like this.  Which is why the good ones are always the more special and worth celebrating.

Roll on Leeds.  In light of my experience at Manchester, the only goal I have at Leeds is to enjoy it.  Wish me luck!