Well, Mancs, it’s that time again – time to lace up our running shoes, get our homemade signs at the ready and pray for good weather as the Manchester Marathon is nearly hereand we have tips.
2024 is already shaping up to be a historic year for one of Europe’s most popular races and the UK’s second flattest marathon (good news for those of you taking part) and we genuinely can’t wait to see the city and the rest of Greater Manchester buzzing with excitement as hordes of runners descend on 0161.
But before we come flying out of the traps too fast, you know what they say: fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Luckily, we’re sure all of you wonderful people have been putting the same graft into training as you do any other day. Nevertheless, we’ve still got some extra bits of useful advice for this final week.
And it’s not just from us part-time runners; Team GB Olympic marathon runner and professional adidas athlete, Steph Kessell (née Davis) has been kind enough to share her seven biggest tips to make sure you’re all sorted for when you hear the starting pistol. Let’s hand it over to the expert, shall we?
Pro runner Steph Kessell has given us here top tips for the Manchester Marathon (Credit: adidas Manchester Marathon)
Seven top tips for the 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon
1. Taper
In the final week, your overall training volume and intensity should have dropped to less than 50% so you can get to the start line of the marathon feeling fresh and raring to go.
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Your last higher-intensity session should be four to five days before the marathon and include some marathon-paced intervals, but not many of them! You can find suggested event week sessions in the Manchester Marathon training plans HERE.
2. SLEEP!
Sounds simple but we can’t stress enough how big a step this is as sleep is the most important recovery aid. Hopefully, you have been getting plenty of sleep throughout your training block but during this final week prioritise early nights and aim to get your 8 hours.
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It’s common to not sleep very well the night before the challenge but don’t stress; if you’ve been able to sleep well in the build-up, then this won’t affect your event. If you can’t sleep, try to stay in bed and relax – this is still good rest and recovery time.
3. Hydrate
If there’s even just one of these tips that you take seriously for the Manchester Marathon, make it this. (Credit: Nigel Msipa via Unsplash)
Again, sounds simple but so crucial. You want to go into race day feeling hydrated, as dehydration has a negative effect on performance, even if it’s not that warm outside. Carry a water bottle around with you to remind you to drink regularly aiming for at least 1.5 litres a day right up until the big day.
If you have some electrolyte tabs handy then take one daily as well as one the evening before the event to ensure you are extra hydrated come your start time.
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4. Make sure to prep your kit properly
If you haven’t worn your event day kit for a run yet, then this is your final chance to test it out. You want to feel comfortable, wear the right amount of layers and avoid chafing. Nothing is more annoying than being distracted by an itchy hat or the wrong pair of undies (yeah, we said it).
From sports bras, socks, heart rate monitors, race belts and hydration packs, try absolutely everything that you plan to wear when it’s go-time the night before at the very least, so that way you can feel confident on the start line.
5. Strategise
At the start of event week write out a plan for the event day. What pace will you start at? When will you take on fuel? Where are the water, gels and toilet stops? It all counts and most importantly helps keep you in control. When you’ve planned this out in advance and read over it again and again before the day, it’ll help you feel more relaxed and confident because you already what you’re going to do.
A detailed plan can also be a good distraction from the nerves as it gives you something to focus on. Break it down into five to seven stages or so and take each part as it comes. You can find info on all of this HERE.
Credit: MCR Marathon
6. Plan how you’re getting there
Another one that will help ease your nerves. Don’t leave it until the morning of to decide how you are going to travel there. Plan out your route and leave plenty of time to get there.
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A leisurely start to the day will be more pleasant than a last-minute frantic dash trying to find the bag drop and loos. You can find plenty of useful travel information and more in our full guide to the 2024 Manchester Marathon.
7. Stay warm
We mean this both figuratively and literally. Marathons often require an early start which means it can be cold (and it is Manchester, after all), so as well as warming up, stretching and keeping those limbs loose, bring a top or jumper you want to donate to charity to keep you warm at the start line.
At the Manchester Marathon, you can keep wearing this right up until the end of the start chute where you will see signs to show you where to donate it as you get close to the start gantry — just make sure that you don’t drop it too early! It’s a nice touch that we love.
And that should just about do ya’. We’re strong believers in preparation playing a key part in all walks of life and, in this case, the bits where you’re running too. Cheers for the help, Steph.
At the end of the day, it’s also worth reminding that the Manchester Marathon is also just an incredible day for the city and the region as a whole too, so tips or not just go out there and enjoy it.
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We’re glad to inform you that we’ll have feet on the ground representing The Manc as well, so you’re not this alone – in fact, far from it as there’s a record 32,000 of us taking part this year.
Manchester City’s Stadium Tours are back for the summer and bigger than ever
Danny Jones
Manchester City stadium tours are back for summer 2026, with more to see from the home of the Blues than ever, and with 15% off all tickets until the end of August, too.
It’s safe to say that Man City are going through a HUGE period of change right now: embarking on a new era under Enzo Maresca following the dynasty of Pep Guardiola, vast redevelopments of the wider Etihad Campus, a new club hotel, and the expansion of the North Stand – now named after said Catalan coach.
With that in mind, there’s so much new stuff going on over in East Manchester and arguably more of it all happening in one place than we can recall in recent memory, making it the perfect time for Cityzens to return to the famous home ground – indeed, your Etihad debut if you haven’t made one already.
Giving you greater access to areas usually reserved for players and staff only than ever, this exclusive, interactive and virtual tour will take you through the very bones of the storied sporting arena, all the way through to pitchside.
Fans can explore the dressing room and follow in the footsteps of their favourite City players as they walk through the iconic glass players’ tunnel, before walking out into the open air and sitting in the dugout to take in that incredible view.
You can also try out the latest ‘Beyond the Blue Moon’ experience – an immersive VR adventure that sees supporters journey through Manchester City’s past, present, and future.
Following on from Pep lending his likeness, using innovative technology, you can now even have the chance to put your questions to Erling Haaland in the Press Conference Room.
There aren’t many teams on the planet that offer this level of stadium tour, let alone just here in the UK, so it’s no wonder they remain award-winning almost every single year.
Whether you’re a lifelong City fan, a football lover or visiting this wonderful place we call Manchester for the very first time, there’s something for everyone.
For instance, with The Medlock Hotel and accompanying Medlock Square already lining up its maiden events, the City Football Group (CFG) are once again committing to make the wider Etihad Campus an all-year-round entertainment destination.
That being said, plenty of people online have been generating a lot of buzz about the aforementioned Medlock’s new stadium-view rooms since clips appeared on social media.
Pitch view rooms coming to the Radisson Blu Medlock Hotel at #ManCity’s Etihad Stadium. 🤯
As for the tickets themselves, the club have also taken steps to keep the cost affordable.
Standard prices start from just £32 for adults and only £20 for under-16s, with larger family packages available from £60.
BUT, with the 15% discount mentioned earlier, adults currently cost just £27; kids go for just £17, and those family passes start from just £51.
You can find all the options when it comes to stadium tour passes and grab the type of admission that suits you right HERE.
Speaking of tickets, City have also been met with praise for the introduction of new discounted seats for local residents; find out all the details below.
René Meulensteen names the ‘ideal’ signing that Man United appear to be overlooking
Danny Jones
Ex-Manchester United coach René Meulensteen has named the one key signing that he feels the Red Devils are missing out on by not pursuing this summer.
The former Man United assistant, who served under Sir Alex and has recently returned to the backrooms of the English football pyramid, has given his verdict on what he thinks his old club still needs in terms of reinforcements.
Chatting with TipmanTips, the 62-year-old identified the backline as a persisting problem area for now full-time manager Michael Carrick, insisting that they could do with another central defender.
The footballer in question is his fellow countryman, Micky van de Ven – fresh from a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur – who has surprised many by not securing his next big-money move so far in the transfer window.
We are delighted to announce that Micky van de Ven has signed a new contract with the Club!
Speaking in an exclusive interview, he said his Dutch compatriot wouldn’t just be a great rotation player but a starter coming into the 2026/26 season.
“I still think they’re vulnerable at the back”, says Meulensteen, “and that’s one thing Michael is going to have to sort out as soon as possible when the season starts. Finding a centre-back partnership that works and getting some consistency in the back line will be key.
“Harry Maguire is coming off a good end to last season, but he needs some complementary centre-backs next to him, and then also on the right-hand side next to him with Mazraoui and Dalot not really doing anything.”
“I would have been looking at Micky van de Ven from Spurs before he signed a new deal. He’s powerful, he’s quick, he’s got great experience in playing as a left centre back in the Premier League, and he would have given United a very different dynamic in their defence.
He rounded off the recommendation, however late, by arguing that were Maguire to be a mainstay first-choice centre-half for Carrick this season, “van de Ven would’ve meant you wouldn’t have to worry about his lack of pace in behind, as he can cover so much ground recovering.”
As for who they have brought in so far, they’ve managed a well-balanced, albeit limited number of young and experienced talents, including the surprise return of greatest-ever goalscorers (currently 13th on the all-time list at still just 28) in Marcus Rashford.
While he did go on to cite the likes of Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke as a viable alternative, it’s fair to say he would be high up on the shortlist of many fans – and not just United.
On the other hand, we’d once again reiterate that we include ourselves among those stunned that he hasn’t had more suitors floating around of late, especially given he was one of the few bright lights among a side that nearly got relegated last term.
Would you have him as another CB option, Reds?
As for the one-time United assistant, he has recently been introduced to Stockport County FC supporters as the latest addition to the technical staff in an admittedly curious new position…
Danny Jones -
7th April 2024 
