Race Date: 3 April 2026

The Manchester to Liverpool Ultra (M2L) is a fifty mile event that follows the Trans Pennine Trail, Manchester Ship Canal and River Mersey. Immensely popular, the 2027 race has already sold out. Julia Neri reflects on her day out.

I was really looking forward to M2L, mainly as a chance to switch off. That is what running does for me, and this felt like the perfect day out to just get into it and forget everything else for a while.

The mass start at IWM North (Imperial War Museum, Salford) was great. There is something about setting off with that many people that gives you a proper lift, and it set the tone for the day. I ended up socialising more than I expected, especially at the checkpoints. I probably ate my weight in marmite sandwiches and salty potatoes, which, to be fair, did the job perfectly. I am still not a huge fan of Tailwind (an endurance sports drink) finding it hard to stomach, but it works and, crucially, it does not make me sick, which at this distance is good enough.

The running itself came together nicely. I was out there for about 8 hours of running time, with roughly 40 minutes of stops. I really appreciated what I can only describe as the energy return phenomenon. I am not a medical professional, but I do know that the human body is a responsive mechanism, and if you keep fuelling and moving, it does give something back. It is a strange but very real feeling when things click and you can just keep going.

There was loads of support along the way and at the finish, which made a big difference. I even got a couple of shout outs thanks to the Steel City Striders shirt, which always gives you that extra push when you hear it. I also came in within the first 200 finishers, which meant a gold medal, a nice bonus at the end of the day.

By the end I was properly exhausted physically, but at the same time very rested mentally. Exactly what I needed.