Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think marathons in cities cause too much mayhem?

254 replies

Bottlew · 25/04/2025 13:18

There is a full marathon in my city on Sunday. They will start to close the roads 5pm on Saturday and it is impossible to drive anywhere.

My neighbour is immobile and relies on carers. All his visits are severely delayed and it means he ends up sitting in his faeces and urine for hours and hours. He won't get his meals till a lot later. There is access given for carers, emergency services but this still ends up in a lot of delays.

I know it brings in a huge amount of income for the city but the disruption is terrible particularly for those who are vulnerable. It means I don't get to visit people in need because I can't drive anywhere. Public transport doesn't work as I often have a lot of shopping etc.

OP posts:
Softleftpowerstance · 25/04/2025 13:22

It is one day. No one is prevented from leaving their house or having a carer or anyone else visit.

SallyD00lally · 25/04/2025 13:22

If he has to sit in his own shit and piss for hours and hours, his carers need reporting.

Diversions are announced way in advance and as you say, there's special access for them anyway.

Truly awful for that poor man.

SallyD00lally · 25/04/2025 13:24

Also, if you need to bring shopping to people in need, why can't you do it a day or two before the diversions are put in place?

andtheworldrollson · 25/04/2025 13:24

No it’s cars and traffic that cause the mayhem

DivergentTris · 25/04/2025 13:27

As indicated by the previous posters, these events are planned in advance. Therefore, his care needs to be planned in advance, if this is not happening, then it is down to the care team, not the marathons.

I work in the emergency services, in an area severely affected by a massive half-marathon. We all plan ahead as to how we work on those days to take care of people's needs in case of an emergency, it's perfectly doable.

Ginmonkeyagain · 25/04/2025 13:28

There are two marathons this weekend in the UK, London and Manchester. Both on Sunday. I would find it hard to think either route would completely cut off car access to residential roads.

If by any chance that os the case there will be access for medical and essential needs.

skippy67 · 25/04/2025 13:29

YABU. It's one day, which is on the calendar months in advance. Planning is key!

Brefugee · 25/04/2025 13:32

Softleftpowerstance · 25/04/2025 13:22

It is one day. No one is prevented from leaving their house or having a carer or anyone else visit.

so the part of the OP that explains exactly how her neighbour's carers can't get through was invisible to you?

Ginmonkeyagain · 25/04/2025 13:32

They usually reopen the roads by mid afternoon anyway.

SallyD00lally · 25/04/2025 13:33

I really hope that elderly man has someone to advocate for him.

Have you reported his carers OP?

I've recently been through hell with my uncle's 'care' company and they're now in special measures.

But as he has no wife or children, if I hadn't fought his corner no-one else would have.

toomuchfaff · 25/04/2025 13:34

Softleftpowerstance · 25/04/2025 13:22

It is one day. No one is prevented from leaving their house or having a carer or anyone else visit.

My neighbour is immobile and relies on carers. All his visits are severely delayed and it means he ends up sitting in his faeces and urine for hours and hours.

it would seem OP disagrees...

SallyD00lally · 25/04/2025 13:36

toomuchfaff · 25/04/2025 13:34

My neighbour is immobile and relies on carers. All his visits are severely delayed and it means he ends up sitting in his faeces and urine for hours and hours.

it would seem OP disagrees...

Show quote history

Then the OP needs to report the carers who very much are allowed access and are informed of any diversions well in advance.

spring252 · 25/04/2025 13:37

YANBU OP, I've planned to visit a couple of cities, had no idea there was going to be a huge event that shuts half the streets (and no advance knowledge as not local) and then it has been hell trying to get anywhere. There seem to be more and more every year.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 25/04/2025 13:38

What are you proposing, no more marathons in cities? That doesn't sound great, does it?

Deerrobin · 25/04/2025 13:40

Big cities have one, possibly two, max marathons a year (and possibly a few smaller/shorter races). They’re planned well in advance with plenty of notices. The situation you describe with your neighbour is caused by poor planning by the care services, not the event, your anger/energy would be better directed in that direction surely.

annlee3817 · 25/04/2025 13:41

Ginmonkeyagain · 25/04/2025 13:28

There are two marathons this weekend in the UK, London and Manchester. Both on Sunday. I would find it hard to think either route would completely cut off car access to residential roads.

If by any chance that os the case there will be access for medical and essential needs.

Shakespeare marathon in Stratford upon Avon too, but there are usually people on hand to manage anyone that has to come along those roads and clear space for them

toomuchfaff · 25/04/2025 13:41

SallyD00lally · 25/04/2025 13:36

Then the OP needs to report the carers who very much are allowed access and are informed of any diversions well in advance.

Show quote history

The carers will be impacted by the traffic, access and other issues, meaning they are delayed to all their visits that day.

Reporting the carers doesn't help the neighbour in the immediate who is waiting attention.

OP is a neighbour, they may not have the contact details of the carers or be acknowledged as an advocate of the neighbour.

Reporting carers isn't like ringing the police - there's no blue lights to make sure someone's getting there urgently to assist the vulnerable neighbour.

SallyD00lally · 25/04/2025 13:46

toomuchfaff · 25/04/2025 13:41

The carers will be impacted by the traffic, access and other issues, meaning they are delayed to all their visits that day.

Reporting the carers doesn't help the neighbour in the immediate who is waiting attention.

OP is a neighbour, they may not have the contact details of the carers or be acknowledged as an advocate of the neighbour.

Reporting carers isn't like ringing the police - there's no blue lights to make sure someone's getting there urgently to assist the vulnerable neighbour.

Show quote history

You don't have to tell me about reporting carers, as I said earlier I know.

However, the OP knows enough about this elderly gentleman to know he's apparently had to sit for 'hours and hours' in his own shit.

So it's not a stretch of the imagination that she might know the care company, or at least be able to ask him.

Being impacted by traffic when you've been made aware of diversions long in advance, is no excuse for this sort of neglect.

Poor man.

Charlotte120221 · 25/04/2025 13:46

So you’re talking London or Manchester.

London marathon- there are no roads that close at 5pm the night before except the Mall…. Some areas are difficult to access for part of Sunday but nowhere is impossible.

Manchester is a smaller event so the disruption won’t be greater. DD lives there- near the route- and the communication has been really good.

YABU. If your neighbour is really bring treated this way someone needs to complain. It’s not the marathon’s fault

Ablondiebutagoody · 25/04/2025 13:48

Rather than driving to people in need, can't you help your neighbour?

Gymmum82 · 25/04/2025 13:50

If it’s London or Manchester YABU to suggest public transport doesn’t work. London has the best transport system in the U.K. which is plenty good enough to not need a car and Manchester is also more than accessible via the various trams and buses which are reliable and rarely not running (yes I know it well as I used to live in Manchester and didn’t drive)
It’s one day, plans can easily be made to avoid the disruption and you can get by without using your car in a major city for one day

SallyD00lally · 25/04/2025 13:50

Ablondiebutagoody · 25/04/2025 13:48

Rather than driving to people in need, can't you help your neighbour?

He might not want a neighbour doing his personal care though.

Ponderingwindow · 25/04/2025 13:52

people really don’t grasp that even with access granted carers and essential services will be delayed by the process? No amount of planning can take away time held at checkpoints getting permission to pass.

SallyD00lally · 25/04/2025 13:56

Ponderingwindow · 25/04/2025 13:52

people really don’t grasp that even with access granted carers and essential services will be delayed by the process? No amount of planning can take away time held at checkpoints getting permission to pass.

It's not going to take 'hours and hours' though.

The care company should be planning in advance so that during this once a year event, vulnerable people aren't sitting in their own shit.

deeahgwitch · 25/04/2025 13:56

In Dublin the marathon in October and the Women’s Mini Marathon on the June Bank Holiday - where most women do it for charity always takes the route that blocks us in for the day.
Sometimes I whinge and grumble about it but then I cop myself on and think
of all the money those women are raising for good causes.
You do have to plan the days and I do wish they’d vary the route but ………..