Pre-race favourite Tanui lived up to expectations winning the men’s race in a time of 2:21:17 and finishing almost four minutes ahead of his nearest challenger.

Before the marathon, the 31-year-old, who is a brother of 2011 London Marathon winner Emmanuel Mutai, had set the goal of running closer to his PB of 2:10:39, however, it wasn’t to be in his first outing on UK soil.

At the halfway point in the race, which starts and finishes in Trafford, Liverpool Harriers’ Dejene Gezimu was right on the heels of Tanui, before the Kenyan pulled away in the second half to build up a four-minute lead by 20-miles.

Gezimu was a casualty in the last six miles, and at the time of writing, what happened is unknown.

With a quarter of the race to go, the chasing trio of Andreas McConville, Irish runner Mark Ryan, and Ben Johnson were inseparable, however in the closing stages, it was Southport Waterloo’s Johnson who had that bit more to give and pulled away to take second in 2:25:03.

Rathfarnham WSAF’s Ryan, who was making his marathon debut completed the men’s podium, crossing the line in 2:25:39, finishing over a minute ahead of East Hull Harrier Steve Bateson.

Garscube Harriers’ Katie White made a fast start in the women’s race and had an 11 second lead at the 10km mark, however, City of Norwich’s Dani Nimmock impressively made up the ground by the halfway point.

Nimmock, who ran 74:13 at The Big Half in London last month, took control in the second half and crossed the line in 2:38:24 to win by almost three minutes.

It was a big personal best for the Norwich runner slicing nearly ten minutes from her time at the Frankfurt marathon in 2016.

Finishing second was White in a personal best of 2:41:15, with Wakefield Harriers Julie Briscoe third, running a time of 2:41:35.

Laura Riches, who has been sharing her running journey this year on Fast Running as part of the ‘class of 2018‘, was making her marathon debut and had ambitions to dip under the three-hour mark.

After a first half split of 1:27:35, and still on target at 20 miles, the Leigh Harrier ran into trouble in the daunting final marathon miles but battled through the experience, endured by many first timers, to finish in 3:08:48.

Hopefully, Riches will not be put off from having another crack at the sub 3-hour marathon in the future.

A special mention should also go to 2006 Commonwealth Games marathoner and winner of the London Marathon 1000-mile Challenge, Shona Crombie-Hicks, who crossed the line in 2:57:49 as a V45 runner.

Men’s top 10 results

1) Shadrack Tanui, 2:21:17
2) Ben Johnson, 2:25:03, Southport Waterloo
3, Mark Ryan, 2:25:39, Rathfarnham WSAF, Ireland
4, Steve Bateson, 2:26:44 (V40), East Hull Harriers
5) Andreas Mcconville, 2:28:04, Fk Studenterna
6) John Newsom, 2:28:54, Inverness Harriers
7) Scott Harrington, 2:29:26, Otley AC
8) Ben Sadowyj, 2:30:02, Barton & District
9) Joel Jameson, 2:31:08
10) John Hobbs, 2:31:34 (V40), Valley Striders

Women’s top 10 results

1) Dani Nimmock, 2:38:24, City of Norwich
2) Katie White, 2:41:15 (V35), Garscube Harriers
3) Julie Briscoe 2:41:35 (V40), Wakefield Harriers
4) Gemma Connolly, 2:44:05 (V35), St Helens Sutton
5) Shona McIntosh, 2:45:08 (V35), Hunters Bog Trotters
6) Holly Rush, 2:47:32 (V40), Asics Frontrunner Team
7) Anne Holyland, 2:49:55 (V35), Charnwood AC
8) Eilidh Bell, 2:50:12, Team Bath
9) Emma Ballantyne, 2:51:38, City of York AC
10) Megan Crawford, 2:55:40, Fife AC

The post Marathon glory for Shadrack Tanui and Dani Nimmock in Manchester appeared first on Fast Running.

The Kenyan runner is targeting a course record in his first race in the UK, and with a personal best of 2:10:39 from the Seville marathon last year, has every chance of doing just that.

Outside of his native Kenya, the 31-year-old is not too well known, but he is the brother of 2011 London Marathon winner Emmanuel Mutai.

“I am really looking forward to coming to the UK for the first time to compete in the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon,” said Tanui. “I have heard the course is easy to follow and the Manchester support around Trafford is great. I am hoping to run my best time.”

Also lining up in the elite men’s race is Southport Waterloo’s Ben Johnson who has a PB of 2:21:46 and clocked 67:54 at last month’s Big Half in London.

Irish runner Mark Ryan will make his marathon debut after running 68:22 last month to win the Meath Half Marathon.

Laura Riches, who has been sharing her running journey on Fast Running as part of the ‘Fast 10: class of 2018‘, will also make her debut on Sunday and aims to break the three-hour mark. You can read all about Riches’ year so far here.

“I’m feeling excited but extremely nervous, it’s something which was completely out of my comfort zone about six months ago, but I think I’m ready,” said the Leigh Harrier ahead of Sunday. “How was the preparation? Well, I had a bit of an injury and a bad half term cold, so my taper went well as I couldn’t run. Haha.

“But I managed to get one more long run in which has helped my confidence, and I’m feeling fit and injury free now, so I am ready to go.”

Joining Riches on the women’s start line is Wakefield’s Julie Briscoe who returns to the distance for the first time since her 2:39:43 personal best in 2014.

Scottish 2:42:37 runner Katie White is also among the entries and heads into the race in good form following a win at the Inverness Half Marathon last month.

The Greater Manchester Marathon, which starts and finishes in Trafford, was won last year by debutant Stockport Harriers Pat Martin in 2:22:37 and Georgie Bruinvels in a time of 2:37:03.

Known for its flat course, friendly supporters, and being a PB breaker for many, the event is building up to be one of the top road races in the UK this year.

Additionally, the organisers have introduced a new time bonus scheme this year for UK runners. For one male that goes under 2:10 and a female that goes under 2:26 they will be awarded a £10,000 cash prize.

Then for a male under 2:15 and female under 2:32, £3000 cash prize. Finally, all males that complete the marathon under 2:20 and all females under 2:38 will receive £500 as a cash bonus prize.

The race starts at 9:00am on Sunday morning and will be streamed live on the Manchester Evening News website.

Ahead of the event two-time champion Dave Norman also shared his top tips for success over 26.2 miles, which you can be found here.

The post Runners set for Greater Manchester Marathon appeared first on Fast Running.

In superb conditions, thousands of runners took to streets of Salford and neighbouring areas and were cheered on by the local community and supporters around the 26.2 mile course which started and finished in Trafford.

One of the the flattest and fastest marathon courses in the UK, Stockport Harriers Pat Martin was the first to cross the line in the men’s race, taking the win in an impressive time of 2:22:37.

It was the Stockport runner’s debut marathon and another impressive performance this year, having won the Wrexham Half Marathon in February, and a second place finish in the New Balance Knighton 20.

There was over a one minute gap between Martin and second placed Trafford AC runner Tom Charles.

Third to cross the line was Andrius Jaksevicius of Lithuania in a time of 2:24:28

Men’s top 3 finishers
1 Pat Martin 2:22:37
2 Tom Charles 2:23:55
3 Andrius Jaksevicius 2:24:28

Congratulations to our first place finisher Patrick Martin, well done!! pic.twitter.com/1fNDypwKAe

— Manchester Marathon (@Marathon_Mcr) April 2, 2017

In the women’s race, 2015 winner Georgie Bruinvels ran an excellent race to regain her crown. She crossed the line in a time of 2:37:03, improving on her 2015 winning time.

Amazingly her 2015 victory in Manchester was her first attempt at the distance.

Bruinvels finished over eight minutes ahead of her closet challenger Charlotte Firth. The Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow runner crossed the line in 2:45:28.

In third place was St Helen Sutton runner Gemma Connolly in 2:46:43.

Women’s top 3 finishers
1 Georgie Bruinvels 2:37:03
2 Charlotte Firth 2:45:28
3 Gemma Connolly 2:46:43

Full results can be found here >>

The post Pat Martin and Georgie Bruinvels win ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon appeared first on Fast Running.

Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon

Hitting the Prague streets for the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon on Saturday will the current road world 10km and 15km record holder Leonard Patrick Komon and Olympic medallists Galen Rupp and Tamirat Tola.

Kenyan Komon, who finished 12th in the World Cross Country Championships last weekend, has the best half marathon time amongst the three men. His personal best of 59.14 is 52 seconds faster than Tola’s (1:00:06) and 1 min 16 seconds faster than Rupp’s best time (1:00:30).

Saturday’s race will be Olympic bronze medalist Rupp’s first race of the year. The American was scheduled to run the Houston Half Marathon earlier in the year, but was forced to pull out due injury.

Tola, who won the Olympic 10,000m bronze medal in Rio has been in great form this year, running 2:04:11 to win the Dubai Marathon in January.

Another athlete who will be going for victory on Saturday is Kenya’s Barselius Kipye. The Kenyan finished second in last year’s Prague Half Marathon and will hope to go one better this year.

In the women’s race last years winner, Violah Jepchumba of Kenya will defend her title. In last years race she set a new course record, running 1:05:51.

World Half Marathon champion and world record-holder Peres Jepchirchir was set to race in Prague but has had to withdraw due to illnesss.

However, Jepchumba will still face tough challengers, most notebly fellow Kenyan’s Gladys Chesir who has a PB of 1:06:57 and Joyciline Jepkosgei (PB: 1:06:08).

Representing the US will be Jordan Hasay, who recently won the USA 15km title. The American only made her half marathon debut this year in Houston running 1:08:40.

The race begins at 10 AM local time (London: 9 AM, USA :1 AM Pacific / 4 AM Eastern) on Saturday 1 April.

ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon

Renowed as the flattest marathon in the UK, the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon takes place on Sunday (2 April).

Joining the Thousands of runners from all over the world will be 2015 winner Georgie Bruinvels from Aldershot, Steve Way, Britian’s 100 km record holder and Manchester’s own Matt Bond.

A former cross-country runner Bruinvels, won the Greater Manchester Marathon in 2015, which amazingly was the first marathon she ever ran.

Going by PB times, Way, with a marathon PB of 2:15:16 would be hotly fancied. However, the 2014 Commonwealth Games athlete is intending to run Sunday’s marathon as a training run.

That leaves Sale Harriers runner Matt Bond as the favourite for Sunday, who has a marathon personal best of 2:15:32, which he achieved in last year’s London Marathon.

Bond will not have it all his own way though, and will challenged by Stockport runner Pat Martin, who impressed in the New Balance Knighton 20 mile race last month, running 1:48:37 to finish  in second place.

The marathon race will begin at 9am local time (USA :1 AM Pacific / 4 AM Eastern) on Sunday 2 April.

The post Weekend Race Previews: Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon and Greater Manchester Marathon appeared first on Fast Running.