The Manchester Marathon is a long-distance running event in Greater Manchester, England. It was known as the Greater Manchester Marathon until the word "Greater" was dropped beginning with the (cancelled) 2020 edition of the race. The most recent marathon was held on 19th April 2026. The race was first held in 2012. It is claimed that the race is the flattest marathon course in the UK, with only of elevation.Greater Manchester Marathon website – general information The 2013, 2014 and 2015 Greater Manchester Marathon times have been declared invalid after the course was found to be too short.
History The first marathon in the Manchester area was run in 1908 and started and finished at the Saracen's Head pub in Warburton, although at this point the run was only . The first marathon to be run over 26 mi and 385 yards (42.195 km) was the race in 1909, which started in Sandbach, Cheshire and finished at the Fallowfield Stadium in Manchester. A marathon has been run along various routes in the Manchester area intermittently throughout the years with various start and finish points. Until 2012, the last marathon to be held in the city was in 2002, with the Great Manchester Run superseding it as the major running event in Manchester.BBC News | First marathon set for Manchester in a decade
The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all entries automatically remaining valid for 2021, and all registrants given the options of transferring their entry to another runner for a 10 GBP fee or obtaining a refund minus a 5 GBP administration fee.
Similarly, the 2021 edition of the race, originally scheduled for April, was postponed to due to the pandemic.
Course The current course starts on Trafford Way, near to Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium and finishes on Oxford Road, close to All Saint's Park.Route Map Previous routes have finished at Old Trafford cricket ground and passed a number of famous Manchester landmarks, including the Old Trafford football ground.Greater Manchester Marathon – General Information It works its way through Chorlton, Hulme, Old Trafford, Stretford, Sale, Timperley, Altrincham, Urmston, Salford, and Manchester City Centre.Greater Manchester Marathon – Route Map
The 2013, 2014 and 2015 route was subsequently found to be short of the correct distance.
From 2020, the route changed to allow the inclusion of a loop through the city centre.
Invalid races The 2013, 2014 and 2015 Greater Manchester Marathon times have been declared invalid after the course was found to be too short in 2016. Subsequently, UK Athletics do not recognise times from those races. The error was corrected in time for the 2016 marathon. The Association of UK Course Measurers (AUKCM) said an accredited measurer had ridden the course in 2013 but indicated there had been an error in the calibration of the bicycle wheel. Marathon courses are measured out using a bicycle fitted with a counter to calculate distance by the turning of the wheels.
Winners Key: Course record
Ed. Year Date Men's winner Time Women's winner Time Rf.14202619 AprYohan Lidove2:15:19Naomi Robinson2:36:5612202414 AprAdam Clarke2:16:29Charlie Arnell2:37:14 11 2023 16 Apr Ignas Brasevicius 2:16:27 Naomi Mitchell 02:31:27 10 2022 3 Apr Jonny Mellor 2:10:46 Becky Briggs 02:29:06 9 2021 10 Oct Matt Crehan 2:18:26 Anna Bracegirdle 02:40:17 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic 8 2019 7 Apr Aaron Richmond 2:21:34 Jenny Spink 2:35:19 7 2018 8 Apr Shadrack Tanui 2:21:19 Dani Nimmock 2:38:22 6 2017 2 Apr Patrick Martin 2:22:37 Georgie Bruinvels 2:37:03 5 2016 10 Apr Steven Bayton 2:22:34 Kelly Crickmore 2:48:04 4 2015 19 Apr Paul Martelletti 2:17:47 Georgie Bruinvels 2:37:21 3 2014 6 Apr Andi Jones 2:16:59 Emily Wicks 2:38:26 2 2013 28 Apr Dave Norman 2:20:19 Issy Menzies 2:42:24 1 2012 29 Apr Dave Norman 2:24:50 Rebecca Johnson 3:05:26
Prizes Past Prizes prizes of equal value were awarded to men and women as follows (2025 not confirmed):
1st prize £2,000 cash 2nd prize £1,000 cash 3rd prize £750 cash 4th prize £300 cash 5th prize £200 cash
Elite wheelchair athletes 1st prize £1,000 cash 2nd prize £500 cash 3rd prize £375 cash
See also List of marathon races in Europe
Notes
References
External links