Race report by Dave Phillips.
Well what a week end. Around 22k runners descended on Scouse land for the w/e with the 5k on Sat, the half and full on Sun plus the 1 mile race for kids.
Without doubt the marathon has to be one of the best in the UK. The course starts at Albert Dock (4 mins walk from our hotel), goes through the city to the highest places above the town and all on closed roads. Stunning views over the Mersey to Birkenhead and beyond. At the top we passed Everton FC and then Liverpool FC where the course went inside the stadium and under the stands. Loads of runners took selfies alongside large pictures of footballers on the walls and many popped onto the pitch for more photos. Well done Anfield-wrong shaped ball for me but it was unique.
Then through a huge park and eventually back to the town centre past the Cavern Club and off for the 2nd half.
Again this was largely through parks, wooded areas until eventually onto the promenade for the last 4 miles alongside the Mersey.
So with about 60% in beautiful rural parks, tracks and off road paths this was fabulous. Plus of course the dozen or so live bands and groups playing along the route justified its name as the Rock and Roll marathon.
It was great at about 20 miles when we ran up Penny Lane to the non-stop Beatles music of the same name.
But oh the heat again-a real killer but we are getting used to this now I reckon.
The end eventually came into sight at the huge Arena at Albert Dock where there was free beer, a huge medal, crisps, sweets, drinks and goodies galore-in fact as many as you could take away. Plus if you ran last year as I did you got an enormous “encore medal” as big and heavy as any medal anywhere,
Then we met in Dave and Anne-Marie’s hotel at the finish for the usual banter and beer. Great fun.
So well done Liverpool and roll (and rock) on next year.
Massey time:
Dave Phillips 6hrs 10 mins. 494th full so getting there even if slowly.