Manchester Marathon heroes
ELATION and exhaustion were etched on the faces of runners as they crossed the finish line of the Asics Greater Manchester Marathon.
Whether in it to win it, smash their Personal Best time or raise money for charity, all 13,500 runners could feel justly proud as they completed the feat of endurance. Among them there were plenty of inspiring stories, including paraplegic athlete Claire Lomas, who will complete the challenge over a number of days wearing a bionic suit.
The M.E.N. also entered its own team of runners as part of our We Stand Together campaign, which aims to promote peace and tolerance across Greater Manchester.
It included reporters Rebecca Day and Charlotte Dobson, who were raising money for homelessness charity The Booth Centre. The pair eventually finished in a time of four hours and 55 minutes.
The route – the flattest and fastest in the UK – took runners past landmarks including Old Trafford before making its way through Stretford, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.
There was a party spirit in Altrincham with street bands busking and a 90s dance group.
Kenyan athlete Shadrack Tanui won the race in a course record time of 2:21:17, while Great Britain Danni Nimmock was the first female finisher with a time of 2:38:24. Stuart Bloor won the wheelchair race, crossing the finish line in 2hrs 26m.