The first Manchester Marathon was run in 1908 starting and finishing at the Saracen's Head pub in Warburton in Trafford. This was a 20 mile (there was no established distance for a marathon then) run organised by Salford Harriers.

The first ever amateur marathon to be run using the now established marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yard distance was the Manchester Marathon in 1909. This marathon started in Sandbach and went through finished at the Fallowfield Stadium in Manchester.

After a 14 year gap, the Manchester marathon returned and kept the same course from 1923-28 and 1931-36. This route started and finished at the Fallowfield Stadium passing through Cheadle, Timperley, Altrincham, Hale Barns, Styal and Gatley.

From 1969-73 the Maxol marathons started from Manchester Town Hall and finished at Old Trafford football stadium. Manchester Marathons were the run from 1981-85 then from 1996-2002.

Now, after an absence of ten years, we are bringing the iconic Manchester Marathon back to Trafford, the sporting heart of Greater Manchester, to offer the North West a truly magnificent personal challenge.

Bibliography - Manchester Marathons 1908-2002, Ron Hill & Neil Shuttleworth