Manchester Marathon 2026: Your guide to the big running event

This weekend the Adidas Manchester Marathon will take place on 19 April 2026 which will bring tens of thousands of runners from all over the UK and the world to Trafford and will be greeted by thousands of spectators cheering them on along the route.

Many roads will be closed from 8am until around 4pm although some roads will reopen slightly earlier depending on the situation, you can view all the road closure information HERE

Travel into Manchester by train will be restricted and could cause some disruption due to damaged overhead cables there will be no trains in or out of Manchester Piccadilly from 11pm Saturday to 11am on Sunday the day of the Marathon.

The big day is almost here for the runners with some running for the first time, we hope you will have already got yourself training long before the Marathon, running a set distance that is comfortable for you, and extending this as far as you can go.

This is not going to be easy, it will take you to places you never thought was possible! you will be battling both physically and mentally during the race, it will be even worse if you do not have the right clothing and trainers to run in!

We suggest not to be doing much on the day before the Marathon just rest, massage or get a massage of your legs and no takeaways! have good sources of protein through the day, lots of salad and some carbs, plenty of water or similar during the day.

Wearing the right clothing and trainers is incredibly important, you could be doing better than expected (so long as you done the right training) you are feeling good and then half way around your trainers start to feel like they are just about to come off on the next stride and end up in a letter box or worse!

The cheaper trainers that you may have thought would be good enough may well have looked great at first and the price was perfect, The problem is the Marathon is over 26 miles! and so its vital you buy the right trainers that will last the entire distance and for a long time after that if you look after them.

You need to be paying over £100 for a pair of running trainers that offer a good lock down, Breathability, Good reliable cushioning and a superior grip if it rains, equally important is the socks you buy! no point in having super trainers with cheap socks.

Clothing is simple enough for most but we would suggest not to be wearing cheap cotton t-shirts, they might be alright for normal wear or just jogging around however they will struggle in a marathon, some of the cheaper t-shirts often are poor with breathability and the dye used will leak into your skin.

Wear lightweight polyester clothing, not to lose and has no chaffing as that could ruin everything so no huge stitching, like a logo or if the stitching inside is too much, as Sunday is predicted to be a nice day you will still need a very light packable windproof jacket with zipped pockets as you will need this at the start and might be alright for the duration depending on the wind or even the shade.

Most importantly, it’s essential to pace yourself if this is your first marathon—this advice applies even to those who aren’t elite runners. We’ve witnessed many runners struggle by pushing too hard too soon, finding themselves worn out halfway through. Remember to run your own race and enjoy the journey! Use your watch during your second marathon; having a time to beat can be a fantastic motivator, pushing you to improve further!

Remember to keep hydrated throughout and bring with you some energy gels and some flapjack, even if you don’t eat much carbohydrates you will need to in a marathon.

We wish everyone all the best in the Marathon and if you cannot make it as a spectator you can listen to the race at Altrincham on Radio Alty or watch live on Manchester Marathon’s YouTube channel.