Race date:  Sunday 20th May 2018

Report by Tom Halloway

A 10k race to forget, with over 20,000 runners lining up in the City centre at 13:00 for the start of the 10k in very hot conditions.

Lining up with the likes of Mo Farah was a little over whelming, but the only thing I had on my mind was get myself on the TV cameras in my Steel City Striders vest.

Going into the race full of confidence after a mid week 5k PB. Readjusting my plan for the weather just wasn’t an option and hitting sub 34 was all I wanted.

Before the race there was a minute silence for the year anniversary of the Manchester bombings, followed by “Don’t look back in anger” by Oasis blasting from the speakers. Very emotional start to the race.

The gun went and the elites also went far into the distance, I relaxed into my rhythm and hitting the first mile in 5.09. I had over committed myself which I would later pay for. Through 5k in 17.30 it was going to be a tough final 5k. The weather got me along with my early pace.

The final 5k was painful, as I approached 6k the arm sleeves came off and I just dug in to finish with 36.58. I think this is a personal worst and really disappointed with the end goal. As I reflect on the performance and set my June goals.
I will now run the Northern league 5000m, Loughborough 3000m, and the media city 10k in June,where I hope to point this race behind me.

Matt Connell also ran, and added “The race was my first Great Manchester Run and it’s the most organised event I’ve taken part in so far. My short running journey is about to reach its second birthday and I was keen to get under the 40 minute milestone.

The starting pens open an hour before the start which poses an interesting dilemma: good starting position or good warm up. I chose the former which seemed the lesser of two evils. The starting pens are tight, and even stretching was hard with people on top of you.

The race is nice and flat with lots of support along the way, along with lots of elite runners to gaze at as they return back as you head out towards Old Trafford.

I finished in 40:46 after starting way too quick, I got to see Mo Farah and Tom Halloway at the start so it was well worth the suffering to come”

The first man home was David Weir of Weir Archer Academy in a scorching 21:28 with first lady the unattached Tirunesh Dibaba in 31:08.

6 Striders took part with PBs for Matt Connel and Charlotte Maddox: