Launch of ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015: The UK’s flattest, fastest and friendliest marathon
The official launch event of the 2015 ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon in Trafford took place yesterday (15th July) on The Lawns at Spinningfields, Manchester, with the date for the 2015 race confirmed as Sunday 19th April.
Photograph: Runners use their lunch time break to sign up for the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon at the launch of the event.
Race Director Simon Hill launched the 2015 race and officially announced the date, race details and opening of registration in front of official sponsors and partners, representatives of the official charities, media and key figures from Trafford Council including Leader of the Council Cllr Sean Anstee. Dr Ron Hill (handicap 21.3) and ASICS ambassador Mara Yamauchi (handicap 9.3) were also at the launch to pledge their support for the race.
Mara spoke of how she would predominantly select her marathons on the course profile and, with the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon in Trafford being the UK’s flattest, fastest and friendliest marathon and one of the flattest in the world with only 54m elevation gain, it makes for a perfect first time marathon as well as a PB or qualifying time opportunity.
The ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015 also incorporates team relays, giving runners who don’t want to cover the full marathon distance the opportunity to take part and experience the race day atmosphere by signing up for either the 2 Leg /Half or the 4 Leg Team Relay. Dr. Ron Hill, who won the Manchester Marathon in 1969 and 1971 proposed that he gets a team together comprising of former outstanding Manchester Marathon winners including Steve Kenyon who ran the fastest time at a Manchester Marathon in 1981 (2:11:54) and Bashir Hussain (handicap 1.0) who had a hat trick of wins between 1996 and 1998.
The race starts and finishes near the Manchester United Football Club in Old Trafford, with an increased number of 12,500 places available for 2015.
The race offers a British-only prize fund and three time bonuses available to UK registered runners only, which is guaranteed to attract a top quality British field. In 2014 the first four men all broke the 2hr 20min mark, and seven out of the top twenty UK marathon times this year were run in Manchester. Andi Jones (handicap -5.0) and Emily Wicks (handicap 0.0) claimed the 2014 winning titles in 2:16:59 and 2:38:26, both setting new course records.
Early bird places for the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon in Trafford are available until 1st September and cost £43 for affiliated runners, and £45 for unaffiliated runners and wheelchair entries. The early bird entry fees for the Half/Half Relay are £75 per team and £120 per team for the 4 Leg Relay. All finishers receive a medal and ASICS technical t-shirt.
More than 200 runners signed up for the race at the launch event, and the first 50 entrants on the day received a free ASICS goody bag.
A team from headline sponsor ASICS was supporting the launch by offering a one stop experience for runners on The Lawns with advice on running styles, product testing via gait analysis at the ASICS activation hub and the unique opportunity to get coaching tips from Dr Ron Hill and ASICS ambassador Mara Yamauchi.
Each year the race awards a cheque for £500 to the ‘Best entertainment en route’ and the ‘Best supporting community’ as voted by the runners. The Rock Choir Timperley secured the top spot as the ‘Best entertainment en route’at the 2014 race and waspresented with their £500 cheque at the launch. The award for ‘Best supporting community’ went to Altrincham.
Race Director Simon Hill commented: “I am pleased to announce that registration to the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015 is now officially open. We already are the UK’s flattest, fastest and friendliest marathon, and we are on track to become the UK’s number 2 marathon. I’d like to express a big thank you to all our sponsors and partners for their continued support, and to all the runners who choose Manchesteras their spring marathon destination. We are looking forward to delivering another great race next April.”
Cathy McGinnis, ASICS Marketing Manager UK & Irelandsaid: “ASICS is delighted to continue to sponsor the Greater Manchester Marathon. We look forward to supporting all the runners in their marathon journey, from helping them start their training with the MYASICS training app to getting them in the right footwear and apparel, with the view for all the runners to better their best on race day.”
Cancer Research UK, The Christie and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital were announced as the Official Charities for the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015.
ASICS is the title sponsor for the Greater Manchester Marathon. Other sponsors and partners announced so far include Runners Need, AfterShokz, Metrolink, Myers Lister Price Solicitors, TWJ Partnership Accountants, Trafford Council and Virgin Money Giving. 102 Capital FM is the Official Broadcasting Partner whilst Runner’s World and Athletics Weekly are Official Media Partners for the race.
Registration to the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015 is now open, please visit www.greatermanchestermarathon.com for further race details and to register.
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