The 21st AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2024 wrapped on Sunday and we caught up with a member of the public who gave it a go.

A Great Manchester Run(ner)

Among the around 30,000 runners that took on the Great Manchester Run 2024 was Oscar Morris, 21, from Stockport.

Oscar is a keen runner and previously ran the Sheffield Half Marathon twice. He is also a massive Manchester United fan.

He says: “It was a great opportunity for me to run a half marathon in my home city.

“As a Manchester United fan, who could turn down the opportunity to pass Old Trafford (twice). Especially after such a fantastic cup win the day before!”

Oscar ran the half marathon for the Alzheimer’s Society an illness his late Grandad suffered from. He raised £100 for the charity.

“It’s a charity very close to my heart after my late Grandad suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years before he passed and raising money for this fantastic cause offers people support with dementia that my Grandad didn’t have.

“It contributes towards research that can stop this disease from devastating millions of other families nationally.”

As he ran the race, Oscar aimed to keep a strong pace of 7:20 minutes per mile to finish with a time of 1 hr and 36 minutes.

“My pace started strong cruising past the Etihad Stadium where I waved at the number of fans who had been there all season. Zero!

“Up the Nexen Tyre footbridge, I maintained a good pace of around 6:55 min per mile.

“I dropped slightly around Old Trafford but was still in a good position of 7:02 per mile at mile 9.”

He adds: “Approaching mile 10, and the Salford Quays, was a struggle. I tried to keep my 7:20 pace but I began to feel tightness in my hamstrings. By the second time I passed Old Trafford I was slowing down to 7:30 a mile.”

It was at this point that Oscar took inspiration from his favourite Manchester United players.

“I thought of the heroes who won the FA cup final and thought, would Kobbie Mainoo have given up? Would Bruno Fernandes stopped running the second things got tough? No!

“Suddenly I felt a surge of energy and managed to get back to the 7:15 mark.

“I finished the race strong, sprinting to the finish. I nearly collapsed to my feet.”

Oscar finished the half-marathon, with a personal best of 1:32:08 at a pace of 7:02 a mile.

The Winners and Fastest Times

Additionally, the event hosted many elite runners and the winner’s times show how impressive Oscar’s time was.

Kenyan athlete, Vincent Ngetich won the Men’s 10k with a winning time of 27 minutes and 25 seconds, interestingly this is only a few seconds behind the fastest pace ever set by fellow Kenyan, Micah Kogo in 2007.

James Westlake, a British runner won the Men’s half marathon with a time of 1 hour, six minutes and thirty-four seconds.

Furthermore, the Women’s 10K winner was Gotytom Gebreslase her pace of three minutes and four seconds per kilometre with a time of 30 minutes and 32 seconds.

Barnsley’s Eleanor Baker won the Women’s Half Marathon winner with a time of one hour, 14 minutes and 50 seconds.

Check out our other Great Manchester Run story: All you need to know about the Great Manchester Run 2024 – Nine to Alive