Over 24,000 runners return for Manchester Marathon creating positive impact across city region

Sunday (3rd April 2022) saw over 24,000 runners lace up for the challenge of the 26.2 mile distance that coursed through the streets of iconic Greater Manchester.

The elite field was the strongest to date, as the Manchester Marathon sponsored by Therme Group played host to the Commonwealth Games qualifiers, European Athletics Championship trials and the European 50K Championship qualifiers. With over 150 elite athletes signed up to compete for the coveted ‘top three’ finisher positions, the Therme Manchester Marathon welcomed the best of British athletes to its course.

The competition was tight for the position of the first finisher, with Jonny Mellor taking first place with a time of 2:10:46. He was closely followed by Ross Millington and Kevin Seaward with respective times of 2:11:38 and 2:11:54. Becky Briggs was joining her compatriots as the first female finisher, who finished with a record-breaking time of 2:29:04, closely followed by Naomi Mitchell (2:30:54) and Georgina Schwiening (2:31:37). 

The Elite Wheelchair Athletes continued to showcase their strong athletic abilities, with Polish athlete Samuel Kolek claiming the coveted first finisher place with a time of 1:48:24. Martyna Snopek, the sole Elite Female Wheelchair Athlete, also stormed across the finish line with a time of 2:40:24. 

Roads across Greater Manchester were closed, with the popular city centre section remaining following positive feedback from 2021. Therme Manchester Marathon continues to commit itself to create a positive impact on the local area and environment, contributing to the local economy, supporting businesses and giving back to the community in the form of charitable donations from the Trafford Active Fund. The economic boost is projected to surpass 2021’s total of £7.4million, with local businesses set to benefit from continued growth.

“Once again, the Therme Manchester Marathon delivered a fantastic event for all those who came, from the runners to the spectators,” said Nick Rusling, CEO of Therme Manchester Marathon.

“We saw many runners celebrate achieving PBs today, and of course, we witnessed the intense battle to the finish line for the elites.

“For 2022, we continued to focus on sustainability and the environmental impact of our events. We implemented several measures to ensure we were as ‘green’ as possible. This will continue to be a focus for us going into 2023. The Therme Manchester Marathon continues to sell out due to record demand every year, so we recommend securing your entry as soon as possible before we hit full capacity.”

Duncan Newbury, Marketing Director of Therme Group, added: “As title partner of the 2022 Therme Manchester Marathon, we’re proud to support an event that’s all about the joy of active lives. Looking towards the opening of Therme Manchester, the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort, we will continue to work to bring health and wellbeing to all members of the community.”

In addition to the personal achievement of crossing the finish line, many runners were also raising vital funds for Therme Manchester Marathon’s official charity partners, the Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and Sense, and other charitable organisations causes. Over 1,800 runners were entered for charity and expect to fundraise over £2.5m.

The Therme Manchester Marathon also used its event as a platform for runners to be able to donate important funds to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. For a donation of £10 or more, runners were able to purchase a special edition, additional race bib to be worn on their backs, showing the flag of Ukraine. Since the launch of the exclusive bib on 4th March, over 2,500 runners purchased the bib, with £31,000 raised in donations.

The Therme Manchester Marathon attracts runners and spectators from throughout the UK and Europe, with many looking to experience what the city has to offer outside of the event itself, from sightseeing, local heritage, music and football. The runners were joined by a great army of volunteers, showcasing the spectacular spirit of the event.

The organisers have seen record demand for entries into next year’s event, held on Sunday 16th April 2023.