Races with medals worth running for Rock’n’Roll Liverpool Marathon
For a race series that has made its name partly on the back of the music it serves up on its routes, it must have been a no-brainer for the Ironman group (the company behind Rock’n’Roll) to open up a franchise in the hometown of The Beatles, Echo and the Bunnymen, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and, er, Atomic Kitten. The marathon is part of a weekendlong festival of races, the other options being a one-miler, a 5K, 10K and a half marathon. The start and finish are both next to water: the gun goes at the Royal Albert Dock and the finish line is on the Kings Parade Waterfront. In between is a speededup tour of the sights of the city (we reckon it’s one of the best races you can find that has a route designed to squeeze the last drops out of the available landmarks). There is Pier Head, the Royal Liver Building, the Beatles statue, the 5.2-metre Superlambanana (a statue that is half lamb and half banana – go ahead, Google it), the Cavern Club, the John Lennon statue and the stadiums of Everton and Liverpool football clubs. Regardless of which distance you do, you’ll receive a hefty, brightly designed chunk of metal.