Liverpool Rock and Roll marathon 2018

Melanie had never been to Liverpool and as she wanted to visit the city we entered this event. I was less keen on doing a road marathon, but the reports of it were good.

As a boy I used to live in Bromborough on the Wirral, but I didn't remember too much of Liverpool. It looks like they have done a lot of recent development work on the riverside.

I went to the Expo on the Saturday and collected my number whilst Melanie did a bit of shopping (her number had been posted). On the Sunday morning we arrived in plenty of time. The forecast was for a hot day with only a light breeze.

Once we had checked our bags into the enormous Exhibition Centre we sat down to wait for the start out of the sun.

We had already seen where the race corrals were - they weren't checking who was in each one. We started in Melanie's as I had been assigned one further forward.

We couldn't see the start but there seemed to be some delay, but finally we started to move forward. The organisers were starting each corral in minute intervals (there was a chip attached to our number) and this all worked well.

Finally twenty three minutes after the start time our corral got to the start line and off we went.

We gradually headed north and there were gentle uphills. Luckily there was more cloud than had been forecast, so although it was pretty hot and close it was not overpowering. The following photos were all taken by Melanie.

At the northern most point we went round both football grounds, I had never realised they were that close. 

There were lots of bands playing on the route which helped keep us going

Stanley Park separates both football gounds

Then on to Anfield and actually into what is apparently a new stand - we could just see the pitch and you were allowed to queue to have your picture taken with the pitch in the background, but the queue was too long.

Back into Stanley Park and we started to work our way mainly downhill back to the riverside

There was another slightly steeper drag upwards which we walked to try and preserve some energy. Then into what I think was Rupert Lane Recreation Ground where we had some good views of the city and the river

More downhill to the riverside with a detour to go past the Cavern Club (the organisers had made sure the route went past plenty of the tourist attractions)

Lots of people supporting in this area including some people we know (there were quite a few we knew who were running or spectating)

After running close to the start/finish area, which was pretty hard as it seemed to be getting warmer and it had felt a long first half, we came to Chinatown.

Past close to the Cathedral, then Princes Park 

and on to Sefton Park where we were to spend quite some time zig zagging round the park.

We did leave the park for a while for an out and back leg to Penny Lane where this truck was playing the song all day ....

There were a couple of drumming bands on the route which you could hear from a long way away.

Then it was back into Sefton Park again and finally out on to some undulating roads. Then at about mile 21 the clouds went away and we felt the temperature rise significantly. Just after this a spectator or one of the organisers, I am not sure which, was offering half an ice pop. Wow, that was lovely and we made our way down via Otterspool park to the riverside. 

This bit was familiar to me as I had completed a marathon up and down the promenade in 2011. I knew this bit would be hard and I was struggling now. I was walking as much as I was running and Melanie was having issues with her ITB band with the constant change between running and walking so she ran on (and finished five minutes ahead of me with 4hr 40min).

There were lots of crowds at the finish and I rather foolishly started to speed up. I crossed the line and had to lean on the railings for a while. Melanie was limping as well when I found her. Whilst she was getting changed, I had an attack of cramp in my left calf which was very painful - I haven't had that for a long time.

We met up with a few friends afterwards by the music concert that was taking place close to the finish. Entry to the race included a free beer afterwards and at the finish we got a medal, tee shirt, banana and crisps.

If you like well organised road marathons where the route takes in lots of the attractions and parks, then this is for you. The support is pretty good (I can only think of London and Vienna being better in my limited experience of road marathons). It isn't flat but definitely runnable. However, I do prefer quieter trail events where you are out in the countryside.