Thanks to some unusual circumstances I won the M40 category of the Leeds 10K in 31.34, some time earlier Dan Robinson had finished second around 29.30 behind Notts Ian Boneham. Sian was the first W45 in 37.02, there did seem a lot of quality women mingled in with the men when the race reached the turnback. It was a different race from last year, perhaps without a Midlands team I didn't feel the same need to make a fast start - whatever, I was much happier around 2-3K at the back of a group with Adrian Marriott who tends to be a steady starter (Sian later asked him how he ran in Toronto - 2.18!!!). The three leaders were away, there was a group of around 10 athletes chasing - I could see Darran Bilton there, and then the smaller group I was behind. I began to struggle in the middle of the race, perhaps another year was telling along with my annoying sniffle/cold. After half way things looked down, local runners were coming past too easily and I was definitely struggling to hold position. But given that I'm almost 45 things could have been worse, Jamil from Otley was ahead, he finished around the same time as me last year, so I hung on gamely (rather than determinedly) hoping to survive until the last mile and see what happened. There's a saying about looking gift horses in the mouth - at 8K Darran was clearly injured, it's never good to see another human struggling, but chances like that don't come my way very often. I'm not a great believer in mental application stuff, being determined in the big races is part of the game, but this wasn't BMAF, nor Midlands, and it wasn't in the US, but mentally the confidence flooded through me, suddenly the athletes who had come past were jogging. The seemingly massive gap to Jamil had disappeared, his coach urged him to sprint in the last K, but he didn't stand a chance of finishing before me, soon Bud was on the mic and I could see I was going to be just outside 31.30. Indeed 31.34 (chip 31.32) is the best I've done as M40 apart from at Bath Uni. Against the odds I had pulled off Leeds again - I hope Darran is ok, it's always difficult struggling on for your team when you are injured. Sian showed she is in good form, 37.02 is creditable, but a negative split by 45s is remarkable! She ran 36.36 earlier in the year at Gloucester but we were both flying then. It's always good when things work out and the trip was worthwhile, and it's great to see a few local faces like Dan and Adrian. The five hour train journey back isn't so long using 'predictive text' to write some words on the phone. ...and the compliment of the day came from Bud (who for me is the best commentator around) who told everybody I'm 42 when really I'm 45 in January.