← MBNA Chester Marathon & MBNA Chester Metric Marathon
This was my 2nd MBNA Chester Marathon. I can't speak highly enough about this race.
The race had full marathon or metric marathon (26.2km) options. I ran the marathon.
Information was plentiful in the build up with plenty of emails.
Race numbers were posted out.
There was a really good pre-race atmosphere. The course had to be changed late on due to flooding. This must have been a nightmare for organisers but they changed the start & finish and it all worked out perfectly. Full credit to them for this.
Race started at the race course & went through the picturesque city centre before going into the countryside, nipping over the boarder into Wales before returning to racecourse for the finish. There were a few hills to tackle but overall, this is a very fast course.
It was a nice, scenic run. Chester as a city is quite stunning with character everywhere.
Crowd support was fantastic with plenty of locals coming out to cheer on the runners.
Water stations were plentiful with water, gels & energy drinks on offer.
During the final 6miles or so, the metric & full marathon runners merged to finish together.
Finishers received without doubt, the best finishers top I've ever had. It was a long sleeved running top. Bright, smart & perfect for autumn running- full marks there. There was also a buff, trainer/utility bag as well as plenty of treats.
There was also pre and post massage options. Only downside was the baggage deposit/collection. There were long queues for this. I know organisers have vowed to improve this for 2020.
In summary -
What a fantastic event. Excellent value for money. Organisers had a few unexpected issues to tackle due to flooding but they did an amazing job.
See you in 2030.
