Another year, another go for me at the Leicester Half Marathon. I've lost count now how many times I've done this race, but I keep coming back for more. Most likely due to it being so local. Sadly this year would be without Carmen, as she was in Oxford to pace their Half Marathon. This time it’s also a week after running the Cardiff Half Marathon in the lead up to the Larnaca Marathon, so wouldn’t expect too much from this race. My primary goal would be to run this race as consistently as possible. If I could avoid walking, then that would be perfect, although I know usually the run up through Thurmaston to Watermead Park usually tires me out enough to then need to walk for a bit.

We’ve had a lot of rain in the last month or so, and a lot of flooding locally. I’d seen pictures of how bad Watermead Park had gotten, but also saw reports that it was mostly clear now. It did still leave me wondering though what the terrain through there would be like.

I left out just before 08:00, and attempted to park up outside Victoria Park. Sadly it was fully parked up with some cars leaving gaps that were too small for another car to fit in - so a lot of wasted space. I parked on a nearby industrial estate instead and walked to the park. It was cold, but I didn’t want to be wearing too many layers for the latter part of this race, so had decided on a short-sleeve base later under a t-shirt. For the walk I had a long sleeve layer on top of that, but ended up keeping that on for the first 5K of the race, but with it unzipped so my number would be visible.

The race village, whilst it had smaller numbers than Cardiff last week, had far more loos for runners, so queuing was quick. I then slowly made my way over to the 1:45 - 1:30 pen as I figured I didn't want to attempt anything faster than 1:30 today. I noticed the 1:30 pacer though was half way through the pen in front of this one though, so knew I wouldn't be tempted to try and keep up with him.

The race started at 09:20, five minutes late, and I found a comfortable pace for running into the city. Although the 1:30 pacer was gradually disappearing ahead of me, I covered the first two miles with a 6:52/mi average. I knew it wouldn't last and by the time I reached the water station around 5K in, he was gone. For this first chunk of the race I let the terrain control my pace for the most part, and let the slight incline through Belgrave slow me down.

In my mind I had half a plan: take it slow through Thurmaston village so I'll handle the hill out of that, and the one into Watermead better, and try to last for 10 miles without walking. In previous years it hasn't been too uncommon for me to start walking at some point in Watermead Park.

As I reached Thurmaston I'm not sure I slowed down that much in reality, but I did at least slow for the incline. I then took it slightly easier for the dual carriageway, and the hill up to Watermead, and then settled into that pace I started to run through the park. Fortunately there was no standing water despite previous flooding issues. The pumping of water out of the park during the week had worked! I think maybe this section was a little more challenging mentally as I know I often walk through here, but I kept going. The choir singing on one of the corners certainly helped. Over 10K done now though, and whilst I didn't feel as fresh as I had before Thurmaston, I still felt pretty good.

Running through the park I thought of the parkrun I'd done here before, and tried to recall the rest of the park from previous races. I seemed to remember that it goes on a lot longer than I remember with a few turns before eventually leaving the park into Birstall. Even before the race, how I'd handle this bit had been on my mind. I was close to 8 miles in now, so hills would be harder, and this on up through Birstall does drag quite a bit with the first part being quite steep.

Eventually I reached the top of the hill, and could finally take it easy for a while. I felt if I could get this far without walking, I should be able to push myself to reach New Walk without walking, so would only have about a mile from there that could be a problem.

Crossing Red Hill I was starting to feel tired now, and knew this was would soon be a problem. I could have done with some jelly babies, but whilst running they weren't easy to get at as they were in my jacket pocket, which had been tied around my waist for the last 6 miles. I decided as I'd managed without in Cardiff, I'd manage without today as well. I'd got about a mile to go to reach my target of 10 miles without walking, so eased off the pace a little and kept on going into Little Mead.

The course through Little Mead reminded me of some lunchtime running I'd done whilst working from the Dock in the summer. That helped that I knew it wasn't that far to Abbey Park now based on remembering how far those summer runs had been. This kept me going past the 10 mile mark, and I thought with only 5K left to go I might actually manage to run the entire race for a change. A runner in orange ahead of me with the message "Leave it at behind" on his back almost got took out by two medics on cyclists as he took a blind corner tightly. I was glad I now take corners like that wide.

Some of the path past the Space Centre is a little bumpy, but I think that actually helped with controlling my pace until I was across the road and into Abbey Park. The first part of that is down hill, and then flattens out until reaching the bridge across the River Soar. I felt I was probably going to walk part of that humpback bridge, but surprised myself again. I kept on going.

The paths used from there are then familiar from Abbey Park parkrun, but in reverse, sort of, and instead of finishing where parkrun does, it's a left turn and across the rainbow bridge over the Grand Union Canal towards the city centre. Myself and a few other runners had to be careful here as a delivery bicycle joined the side partitioned off for runners despite marshals shouting at him to keep left.

"He's not listening," one of them said exasperated.

I checked behind me to make sure there weren't any more, and continued on. As I crossed Burley's Way I didn't have far to go until I'd turn towards the bus depot and the shopping area, but I'd had enough. I started to walk, and retrieved a couple of jelly babies from my pocket that I'd slowly eat over the next half mile once I got running again.

It felt like a bit of a false start though, and I walked again briefly on the High Street. It was a slight incline, and I could hear one of the marshals shouting with seemingly everything he'd got for everyone to keep going. I got going again before the turn, and then kept going, determined to reach New Walk without walking again. I thought about where I'd seen Carmen during the race last year, and pushed on.

As I reached New Walk I kept on running for as long as I could and then walked briefly, before pushing myself to run again until the next road crossing. After that one I saw Paul cheering me and others on, not running the race himself this year. This got me running again, and I kept going until I reached University Road, but didn't want to walk too long now. I realised if I kept going now I could beat my Cardiff time.

Towards the top of the hill I got running again, and really wanted to walk a few times, but kept on going. The finish line was in sight, but after having felt a little sick when crossing the finish line in Cardiff I decided not to sprint.

I finished in position 221 of 2,856 finishers, with a time of 1:32:49. It was faster than Cardiff, to become my fastest half of the year, and was faster than last year's Leicester Half as well. Sadly, even times I was getting in 2015 were faster than this though. It is however another step in the right direction.

At the finish there was water, small chocolates, a finishers medal, and then crisps and a banana. For those that ordered one, there were also finishers tees available.