Whilst most of the running club were chasing PBs at one of the club’s GP events at West Pinchbeck, on the 1st October, Vicki Ball chose to enter a longer distance at Leicester’s Running Festival. Holding both a 10k and half marathon distance, Vicki chose to enter the half marathon as a test having not ‘raced’ the distance for 2 years.
The half marathon route started and finished at Victoria Park. Heading through the city and out along Leicester’s golden mile, runners then looped back through Watermead Park and Abbey Park, before the final push up the idyllic New Walk, all the way to the finish line.
Vicki was hoping to secure another run under 2 hours requiring a 9:09 minute mile average pace. Vicki felt strong for the first half of the race noting at each mile her pace maintaining under the required time and a half way time check saw 59 minutes on her watch, she knew she just needed to hold the pace.
The second half of the race saw 4 of the miles under 9:00 minute mile pace and a brief moment of joy until she hit exited Abbey Park. From here the final 2 miles were an unrelenting uphill climb through the city.
Determined not to undo her hard work and knowing hills were not her strong point Vicki pushed ahead. Her fellow runners making her not feel quite so alone in the pain as they expressed some choice words towards the neverending hill. One final push to the finish line and Vicki was very happy to finish in a time of 1:58:48 averaging a 9:00 minute mile.
The half marathon was won by Mo Hussein in 1:06:59 and the 10k by Jack Chennell in 34:17