Having not got onto London I still wanted to do a spring marathon and this is a club favourite - now I know why!

The start is seamless despite the big event because they have masses of marshals and it starts at old Trafford it was really easy to get to and to navigate round start area - I particularly liked that there were so many proper toilets to go to (with next to no queue) as well as the portaloos (massive queues). 

Baggage drop was similarly easy, well spaced out and also no queue when I went - there were big ones later on but they seemed to move pretty quickly.

The one thing I found really lacking was start pen organisation. It’s a long walk to the pens which is fine and was clearly stated in race instructions but was poorly signed and was a free for all when you got there. No one checking your bib for right start pen but far more importantly nothing separating runners from non-runners so it was chaos. I had loads of time and still couldn’t get anywhere near the four hour pacer!

The course itself is very enjoyable with the best crowd support it was like or even better than London in some places! All along the route people were out cheering you on, giving high 5s and setting up their own aid stations - I have honestly never see so much food en route!

The course is fast and I got a pb by a surprising margin but don’t be deceived it definitely isn’t flat there are definite inclines but a lot of downhill too.

I honestly can’t remember too much of the scenery as was really focused on my race and it was quite a blur with all the cheering but remember it being quite pretty in places and some good sights. As well as the fabulous crowds there were plenty of marshals who were also helpful and cheery.

Finish line was very easy with a good flow through, got a pleasingly weighty and large medal and nice well fitting tech tee. Plenty of refreshments including a pint of alcohol free beer (not as bad as it’s sounds post run) and food in goody bag.

One irritant was the metro - was well marshalled on way in with plenty of help but organisers had been on Twitter advertising free metro travel for runners, luckily I bought a ticket because at the end coming out of old Trafford there were big queues and ticket checks so if you’d had no ticket and no money you’d have been stuck!

Would I do this again? Definitely and I totally appreciate why it is a club favourite as it is such an accessible, well organised ‘big event’!