Manchester marathon questions

[MaryTheWitch]

In the event guide, it says at the finish/in the athlete's village there will be non-alcohol beer and protein bars. Does anyone know if there will be other things available - like water, food, protein drinks?

I don't recall there being anything other than water, the "beer". I don't even remember there being food stalls to buy things from. The first time I did it they had protein shakes but I don't remember them the last time I ran (although i wouldn't have taken one if they had them). I'd pack snacks in your drop bag!

I have never been to a major event that does not have water at the finish line.

Are you using the bag drop -because you can put your own preferred post-race food in that. Typically you get freebies from companies they have deals with (such as the low alcohol beer and the protein bars, which are found at many events) and you might get other stuff too banana, flapjack, salty snack. But it does seem to vary, and I'd never count on it being the same between events

If there's a full-on post event village then there may well be food and coffee stalls

Thanks for your answers. I wasn't going to use the bag drop if I could avoid it as I'd read you need to allow an extra half hour on top of your arrival time to queue for it.

When I did it there was water and Erdinger plus some bars in the goody bag. I was gagging for a cold coke and there was nowhere to get one iirc, so if there is going to be any one supporting you, make sure they pick up your preferred snacks/drinks

@CMOTDibbler

When I did it there was water and Erdinger plus some bars in the goody bag. I was gagging for a cold coke and there was nowhere to get one iirc, so if there is going to be any one supporting you, make sure they pick up your preferred snacks/drinks

Yes I think a cold coke is what I'm going to be gagging for as well!

Last year there was just water, and the non alcoholic beer (that was horrible). I don’t remember seeing the protein bars.
Take whatever you need for the bag drop, there wasn’t really a queue there.

And good luck.

I had a bottle of Fanta and a packet of crisps in my bag. It was like nectar from the gods after hours of gels and water.

bag drop took seconds to both drop off and collect in my experience!

Water and the beer (which I quite like!)
There will be bits and bats in the goodie bag but I’m wary of relying on them being any good.

That's good to know about the bag drop. I'm now tempted to use it to stash a jacket as well.

it's only forecasting 5-10 degrees and overcast for Manchester on Sunday, you're going to need layers before and after your run or you'll get cold. Friends and family aren't allowed into the finish village and you might need to walk a way to find them if they're going to be there. I'd always leave layers and snacks because if there is people meeting you and they get held up for any reason you'll be glad of it!

@emmathedilemma

it's only forecasting 5-10 degrees and overcast for Manchester on Sunday, you're going to need layers before and after your run or you'll get cold. Friends and family aren't allowed into the finish village and you might need to walk a way to find them if they're going to be there. I'd always leave layers and snacks because if there is people meeting you and they get held up for any reason you'll be glad of it!

This is good to know - thanks so much.

Also, take a foil blanket or an old fleece / jumper you can discard to wear while waiting at the start line. It's a short walk from the race village to the start area and you're likely to be standing around for a while so keep warm and then discard your layers to the side just before the start. Last time i did ran it was still the "mass start" with only 5-10minutes or so between start waves but now they're much more spaced out the bag drop and finish area should be much quieter.