I love it when a plan comes together. After last year’s Great Eastern Run when I missed out on a 2-hour time by four minutes, I was back in Peterborough on Sunday determined to crack the magic number. With more miles under my belt courtesy of marathon training early in the year and more experience in pacing and race nutrition, I was ready to knock those vital four minutes off my PB. That’s me on the home straight going for the sprint finish after hearing my dad shout to ‘run through the line’.

But I couldn’t have predicted as I calculated my mile splits on Friday evening that I’d manage sub-9 minute mileing and achieve a new half-marathon PB of 1.56.31. Whoo hoo. What a difference a few days can make to how you feel about your running. Although I’m at the same fitness now as I type as I was on Friday, proving to myself that I can achieve the goals I set and pace myself to a sub-2 hour half has made me grow in confidence. For the first time I’m feeling like I’m quite good at this running lark. I’m going to take a few days off then think about what race and time I’m aiming for next.

As for the race, I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone. It’s a flat, flat, flat course so perfect for a PB and really well organised. Plus the locals will give you loads of support all the way round.