The Great Manchester Run returned to the city on Sunday (September 26) for the first time since 2019 with over 16,000 runners of all ages and abilities taking on the 10K and Half Marathon challenges. Tens of thousands spectators were on the sidelines supporting, cheering and clapping the masses. 
 
Paul Foster, Chief Executive of the Great Run Company said: “After such an incredibly testing time for the whole country it was so important for us to celebrate being back together on the start line. It was great to see so many people taking on the challenge, with a huge number of them raising much needed funds for charities.
 
“Whether you were running, volunteering or spectating, thank you for making the event such a fantastic representation of everything that’s great about the North West.”
 
The races official starters were Sir Richard Leese, Manchester United's Jesse Lingard and a number of NHS staff, who were invited to perform official starter duties to pay tribute to the work of all health and care staff during the pandemic. There were some famous faces around the course too with Coronation Street Star Millie Gibson and Emmerdale favourite Adam Thomas joining in the fun.

The men’s elite race over 10K was a close fought battle, with Mark Scott taking first place in 28:03. The 27-year-old, who also won the Great North Run in his native North East earlier this month, was closely followed by Andrew Butchart in 28:05 and Jack Rowe in 28:07.
 
In the women’s field, Team GB Olympic finalist Eilish McColgan was the clear winner in 30:52, Meraf Bahta who represents Sweden came second in 31:44 and Jess Piasecki who represented Team GB in the marathon at Tokyo came in third in 32:01.
 
Nicola Jackson took first place in the women’s half marathon in 01:21:57, followed by Emily Taylor in 01:33:10 and Lucy Jones in 01:33:43. In the men’s race Luke Cotter of Rotherham Harriers & AC came first in 01:10:29, followed by Aitor Alvarez Fernandez in 01:14:12 and Daniel Orr in 01:14:34.
 
The 2022 staging of the event will return to its traditional May date next year (14/15 May). For anyone inspired by the weekend's run, a special early bird discount of 20% will be available on both the 10K and half marathon distances until 10am on Friday 1 October.  

To find out more visit the event website.

Image: Great Manchester Run Facebook