With Tom Powell off going 70 hill reps this edition of the race report fell to Miss J. Payne

The Leeds Half Marathon has become somewhat of an annual affair in the LUUCCC calendar, with those less engaged with the track season stretching their endurance capacities to the 13.1 mile distance.

The 2012 edition of this race, now run as part of the Jane Tomlinson Run For All series, took place on Sunday 13^th May. Mercifully, the rain that had plagued the beginning of May held off, and runners were treated to bright, fresh conditions, ideal for the distance if a little breezy at the beginning.

Many Leeds University runners tackled the course this year, with its notorious hills on Stonegate Road and the ring road ‘sorting the men from the boys’. However, after a winter training on Bodington hills, LUUCCC runners were not fazed by the formidable inclines – these ones didn’t have knee-deep mud to wade through!

There were mixed outcomes for LUUCCC runners. The course can be a cruel mistress, and many felt the effects of the over-crowded start and over-keen early pacing later in the race. Equally, there was much success for the club, with brave and loyal 2011/12 captain Freddie Slemeck placing 3^rd overall with a stellar time of 1.15.15 despite this being his fourth race in 8 days! Chris Smith continued this great LUUCCC showing with a well-executed fifth-place finish.

It was also a good day for Doss AC. Emily Birchall won the women’s race in 1.22.57, while James Gardner clocked a PB of 1.21.19 and Nikki  Sweeney another of 1.32.16. James and Nikki completed the race as part of their ‘12 Half-Marathons in 12 Months’ challenge to raise money for Cancer Research.

Many LUUCCC did the race as their first half marathon, and special mention must go to Becky Hilton and Kerry Granger, who are members of LUUCCC’s beginner section Run Leeds Students, for completing the course in less than 2 hours.

NB apologies if I missed anyone out of the results, the site isn’t organised in a way that’s useful to find people!