Manchester Marathon Oct 2021

All geared up for Manchester this weekend - then a positive Covid test this morning. Appropriate enough way to finish up an injury hit training block. Started a plan pushing for 3.30 last November and pulled groin in December. Cost about 5 weeks of training. Was just back up to a decent level (hoping for 3.40, 3.45) when this hit. Hopefully it'll be clear by weekend. Flights booked for Friday evening. I wonder is there any great danger with running a marathon immediately after Covid if I do make it? Heart wise and what not. I suppose it wouldn't be advisable. We'll see how it pans out :(

Yeah, fair enough alright. Hadn't properly checked all that out yet. 7 days rules me out so. Still in a state of being gutted. Tomorrow will be time enough for sanity to kick back in.

It's really disappointing, heart breaking even, at this stage. It's the times we're in though, everything needs a Plan B! Aside from having to isolate, I sincerely doubt you would be able to run a marathon by the weekend. Everyone is different but it is currently 5 days since I tested + and I couldn't run a mile, never mind 26.2 at pace. Even if your symptoms are milder than mine it couldn't be good for you. My OH is 9 days since his + and the antigen tests are still showing positive, so while he is feeling good there is obviously still a significant virus load in his system. Take the time now to get well and you will find another marathon to put the training to good use, it's a great time of year where there will be plenty more events. Rest up, this strain seems to respond to old fashioned rest & fluids. Feel better soon.

Thanks for the thoughts and advice guys, much appreciated. All spot on of course. Head is back in gear today. There'll be plenty more races. Onwards and upwards! Pal of mine is always saying that making the start line is half the battle with any marathon. I'll be listening to his advice more often in future! Best of luck everyone in Manchester.

To be fair to yourself this was an unfortunate one. Hard to be too hard on yourself when its something as sh*tty as Covid preventing you from getting there. I'm running Limerick in 5 weeks and have the same fear that all the build up could be for nothing if I , or a family member, gets hit by it.

Sorry to hear you're missing out. Build on the fitness and strength you have gained through your marathon block of training.

Good luck on Sunday. I'd say it'll be a great experience, a friend of mine really enjoyed it last September. He was saying the hills around miles 17 and 19 (I think) crept up on him out of nowhere so no harm being forwarned.

I'm flying out at lunchtime on Friday and not taking any chances with security queues, planning to be in the airport for 10.00 ish and hopefully get through without much delay. Checking in bags and going through security with nothing but me and the clothes I stand in. Have been checking the DAA site for the last few days around the time I will be there and it has varied from 10 minutes to 35 minutes but it being Friday those times could go t**s up.

Talk about Murphys Law......as soon as I mentioned the security times in the DAA App they go and remove that vital piece of information, perhaps it was just "pie in the sky" numbers.

Not showing on mine, I contacted them and they said that they were "updating the app, right now". I uninstalled and reinstalled......still nothing !!

Very best of luck to everyone running tomorrow, I ran Manchester in Oct & enjoyed it. All the hard work is done so go out & enjoy it!

Yeah I was shocked to see them - after all the worry of thinking they might cause some aggro at security! 🤣