Leeds - I love a home town race! The atmosphere before the race is great, the charity village and just town in general, there is a good buzz about the place. Everyone has smiles on their faces, the music is playing - and the sun was shining - again! The race starts in the city centre and runs out of town towards the ring road. The support here is fairly quiet which you'd expect. After the ring road, you head towards a housing estate where people are out with hose pipes, oranges, drinks and sweets.... Back to Kirkstall Road and the long slog back into Leeds. It seems to go on and on, but then you reach 12.5 miles and the crowds are there - in big numbers! The route has a bit of everything, (all roads), but up hills, down hills and flat. The finish was a relief on such a hot day - but made that first pint even nicer. A definite must do race...