Wow what a huge event this was. Absolutely fantastic with around 12,000 taking place in the half and full and the 6k on Saturday. Sheer bedlam on Sunday as thousands lined up in their 16 Corrals/Pens to be released at minute intervals in the half starting at 0900 hrs. Then in 8 Corrals for the marathon at 10.00 hrs. Oh and by the way there was also a Fun Run. All of this took place in Albert Dock right on the Mersey water front where the crowds were just huge and a live rock band saw us all off.
I’d forgotten how hilly the marathon course was-especially in the 1st half as it meandered through the city, past Everton FC but not Liverpool FC at Anfield as last year for some reason. Large sections were off road but on the paths in superb parks-again with live rock bands every few miles doing their best to keep Liverpool awake-and they did I bet. At about the 8 mile mark we were at the highest point and below us were Liverpool centre, the docks, the Mersey and across the water Birkenhead. Fantastic views in all directions and then the gentle descent down again to the Albert Dock area for the 2nd half.
This was also accompanied by live rock groups every few miles giving their all and much of this half was in parkland areas and again all roads were fully closed to traffic. However the ups and downs continued with regularity but the atmosphere was so great that the hills almost seemed good fun. Well almost anyway especially when I passed Dave Goodwin walking up one at 16 miles-sorry Dave more hill rep training on my next Wed training night!
Eventually at 22 miles we were on the Mersey Promenade and it was a flat finish with the river on our left all the way home and what a glorious final stretch that was-again with bands, drink stations galore (as with the whole course) and crowds cheering us on.
Then at 25 miles Dave Faulkner and Lee caught me and we chatted our way home to finish together as a Massey Trio to the screaming Massey Mob who had lined the finish to see us all in. Many thanks everyone.
Then a huge goody bag, an even bigger medal, T shirt and a huge Encore Medal (as a thank you to those who did it in 2014).
Then I registered for 2016 and also booked our Ibis Hotel again-just 150 yards or so from the start and finish area.
Full Marathon Massey times:
Mary Connolly 5.08.48
Dave Faulkner and Lee 5.11
Dave Phillips 5.12
Dave Goodwin 5.17
Marie O’Connor 5.43.56
Tiffanie Slatford 5.45.50
Kelly Boyd 6.19.23
Half Marathon Massey tmes:
Leon Coppola 1.36.21
Chris Ramadhar 1.44.43
Darren Chambers 1.48.09
Cathy McKeown 1.52.11
Richard Sale 1.54.03
Steve Damms 1.56.02
Andy Cutting 1.56.03
Rachael Brock 2.01.23
Cathy Keay 2.01.59
Natalie Deven (pb) 2.04.39
Lisa Young 2.06.43
David McKay 2.13.57
Angela McKay 2.13.57
Daniel Connolly 2.15.26
Mylene Feeney (pb) 2.19.33
Nicola Ellis (pb) 2.25.25
Geoff Bellingham 2.29.51
Anne Marie Paszkiewicz 2.33.39
Jane Damms (pb) 2.40.57
Emma Cutting (pb) 2.40.58
Race report by Dave Phillips