#ManchesterMarathon2019 James and George and Naomi and Victoria.

We are just back from the Manchester Marathon - a huge event with over 20000 runners. It could have hardly been more emotional!

First of all - the event itself. It doesn't always rain in Manchester! The run starts in the Trafford area close to the Manchester United ground and using some of the facilities of Lancashire Cricket Club. These aren't platitudes - it was a very well staged event - well supported and organised. Running events of this scale present massive logistical challenges but the spectators were great - even when being squeezed into the metro, Mumbai style, trying to get to the best observation points around the course. There were a few fancy dress runners - but nothing like London. The participants seemed to be the widest cross section of age and abilities but they were there to run a marathon. It was a tremendous watch and of course a diabolical emotional roller coaster.

Why was I there spectating? Probably over a year ago my daughter Victoria and Naomi her friend and training partner chose Manchester to run their first marathon. My son James (who has run 3 marathons before) wanted one to aim at in 2019 so Manchester made sense from a family point of view for James to run Manchester as well. James's previous best time was 4 hours 8 minutes. The plan was for James to train to try to get under 4 hours. That all sounds straightforward enough!

Victoria and Naomi are young mums with busy lives. Neither had running pedigrees. From a standing start they had built up their distances and ran 3 half marathons before stepping up their marathon training. They did a 20 miler together. Vicky overnight got a knee swelling and eventually ended up in hospital for several days. Vicky has ulcerative colitis and has to take strong drugs which affect her immune system. The knee infection spread rapidly and became serious. This happened at a crucial time in her marathon preparation. It was obvious Vicky could not run Manchester - it was too soon. But Naomi could and obviously Vic wanted to support Naomi all the way.

And then there is James. Here are links to 3 blogs I have written before about James's marathon journey. It puts Manchester in some perspective.

http://davidshoulder60onwards.blogspot.com/2015/04/parismarathon-2015.html

http://davidshoulder60onwards.blogspot.com/2016/04/brightonmarathon2016-james-shoulders.html

http://davidshoulder60onwards.blogspot.com/2017/04/londonmarathon-from-spectators-point-of.html

So Vicky's entry became available and there was already hotel bookings. James's twin George is an experienced runner but running is not his main thing. However the opportunity had now presented itself for George to pace James and George was confident he could get around the course in 4 hours without specific marathon training. George has always set James's training programme and between George and I we act as good cop bad cop regarding James's training - we alternate the roles! Everybody wants the best for James but no one more than George. Their bond is a twins bond. James runs without timekeeping - to be honest he is not too worried about time but at the same time loves to get a PB. We all agreed it would be fantastic for James to get under 4 hours - and that he had the potential to do it - but pacing was the key. That's why George ran Manchester - to help James - for no other reason.

We had dinner together on the Saturday night at the Trafford Centre following a gentle afternoon at Mardis Gras (Wetherspoons) - also with two of Naomi's longstanding friends there to support - Lucy and Anne-Marie. (The Grand National was on - won by Tiger Roll.)

Sunday morning was an early start. The race start was 9.00 am and we need to use an Uber and then the metro to get there. The morning was cool - but still and dry. Perfect really. The atmosphere was tense as always. Hearts were with Naomi. She was very nervous - the usual self doubts - about preparation etc. Amazingly meaningful hugs a wet eyes before the start. She had worked so hard and no one knew that more than Vic.

George had his usual gallows humour - the Shoulder family are strong on taking the P - but it is all underscored with a tremendous bond. George is a bit pessimistic about James's chances of getting under 4 hours because he will have to run under his normal pace and do it for 26 miles - a massive ask.

Vic and I leave the 3 runners to find their pen. They are scheduled to start 30 minutes after the elite runners. So it is back to the Metro for us to Sale for the six mile mark. We meet up with my youngest son Rich and his partner Andy and Naomi's friends Lucy and Anne-Marie. There was a brilliant choir outside Sale town hall. They sang fantastic pop songs for all the time we were there. We saw the elite runners come through and then a full on stream. George and James come through - big smiles - all seems ok. Naomi comes through - she is aiming to break 5 hours. She is running well. Big smiles. All looking good.

Back to the Metro but the rest of Manchester has the same idea. A mega crush - but all good natured. Trains are very frequent. We get to the 15 mile mark at Timperly and find a good place to view. It is a gentle hill.

It is a fantastic heart lifting spectacle as marathons are. All that amazing endeavour. All the hard work. The weather is warming - runners passing us still have 11 miles to go! They look much different from the cheery faces at the 6 mile mark - but optimism, grim determination and fantastic support is there to be seen.

George and James come through. James is labouring - George looks serious. In all his life whether we have been walking, bike riding or running James has always been a bit behind - but always the same distance behind. He has often said I have little legs I can't keep up and he would never concede he was actually running the same pace as in this case George. A few years ago on the IOW Randonee or maybe the Walk the Wight he revealed his clever strategy. He said "if I catch up you lot will go faster!" so he makes it his business never to quite catch up - ha!

This made it very difficult for George. Of course he didn't want to push James at a pace he could not manage but at the same time he had to push. Apparently James grumbled - swore - and James told me later when he saw us at 15 it was when he was feeling at some of his worst.

We wait for Naomi to come through. The ladies particularly are very emotional to see her. Naomi is all smiles - she is going well. It is lovely to see.

So then it is back on the Metro to the finish at Old Trafford. The crowds are obviously massive - a carnival atmosphere - the elite runners have long finished. We get a good view about 200 metres from the finish and wait. What a great spectacle as the runners know they are almost there. The spectators are great. The number bibs have Christian names on - so you shout encouragement particularly to the ones that are struggling - and most are. It is warm. Mega respect for everyone.

We are not sure exactly of the boys chip start time - but the clock is running down. I am convinced they are not going to do it. And then they appear - George just a few yards ahead of James almost running backwards so he can encourage James. James is struggling - doesn't really acknowledge us - hopefully he can see the finish. We think it is too late. Wow it is a hard watch. Rich has the chip monitoring app on his phone. We wait. It comes through. They get over the line together 3 hours 59 minutes 47 seconds - they make it by 12 seconds! The fam hug and cheer with relief. Definitely tears. I rush off to meet the boys because I have their bag. The rest wait for Naomi to come in.

It takes me a while to get to the agreed rendezvous point but a phone call comes through - James is in the medical centre - George says he is ok but needs treatment. It turns out James lent on the rail right after the finish - and they have spotters to help runners who seem distressed. Apparently he was disorientated and he was whisked away for treatment. George must have felt terrible - that he pushed too hard. When I get there James had been fully assessed. He was overheated and they worked to get his temperature down. He could hardly communicate. After half an hour or so it all comes good. The Doctor and nurse were really great. There was a very professional team there and loads of people being treated. It was a hot day.

Eventually we meet up with Naomi - she is all smiles - tired but elated. She looked in a good state to me and she was. She had just broke 5 hours - a great achievement. Everyone is emotional - Vicky is so pleased for Naomi. It is a great place to be - all that effort worth it. They have achieved what they have set out to do. The overwhelming feeling is respect and regard for everyone. Their goals were personal to them and now they have achieved it they have memories for life. That is a powerful thing. It is wonderful for James and for George something equally fantastic. What an amazing thing for the twins to achieve together.

Victoria is now even more determined to get back on track and to run a marathon. She will. There is talk of the Paris marathon next spring. Our family will be a 100% behind her but boy will it be an emotional day. xxxxx