Flashback to 2015. I was in two minds whether to take part in the Ealing Half Marathon or the Windsor Half Marathon which unfortunately were on the same day. Luckily(?) for yours truly, they were at different times. After much(?) persuasion, I took the challenge and after running Ealing in just under 90 minutes in the morning, I leapt on a train and walked down the Long Walk to the start line of Windsor. Although battered and bruised, I got round but the 1:47:ish had played on my mind ever since, so this year I decided to skip Ealing and attempt Windsor with fresh legs. Now, I love Ealing. Absolutely worship it and it will always be one of my favourite races I’ve ever taken part in, but I just had to get this nagging feeling out of the back of my mind for good. Arriving at Windsor was easy – REALLY EASY. We made it into the car park nice and effortless and although the marshal looked like he was replicating the classic sprinkler dance routine, we followed his ticking elbow and got parked up. The music was pumping as we arrived and the DJ sounded great on the sound system. Pump It by the Black-Eyed Peas was pumping and I was ready to go. Channeling Jules from the movie with the famous soundtrack that backed this Fergie and Will.i.am screaming number, I knew that I would strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers and show this race who was boss. Making my way towards the start line on a slightly overcast morning, I gazed into the distance to the end of the Long Walk. This was the hardest mile of the race, but not for miles 1-2, but because this would also be the final mile of 12.1-13.1. It brought back a shudder and I remembered just how wrecked I was the last time I was here, but I knew I had it in me to do a good time. Not long to go and air-drumming to Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen helped me deal with the pre-race nerves. I genuinely have no idea how many half marathons I’ve done now from the top of my head, but I still get the slight anxiety feeling I get with every other race. Is it adrenalin? Is it the pressure I put on myself to do well? Or am I a massive wimp? I’ll let you choose…. As 10:00 struck, the Earl Duke of Whoknowswhereville started the loud horn and we were away. As is the usual case with all my races, I set off far too quickly out of the traps and this time wondered how long I could maintain it before my lungs would explode. Surprisingly, I made it all the way to the first mile around the 6:20 mark and felt as fresh as a daisy. At the end of the Long Walk, I did a left which was to be my first lap. I always remembered this course being unbelievably scenic and after crossing a small bridge and running up an incline, the crowds started to appear and cheer us on. This may not have had the crowd support that Ealing has and is a lot quieter to reflect its calmer and more countryside surroundings, but the support was lovely and it certainly got the blood pumping. After up and down some challenging inclines, I hit the six mile mark just under 39 minutes and had begun the second lap of the course. My legs were starting to feel heavy, but I was surprised how in control I felt at this point. My breathing wasn’t heavy, my chest still wasn’t beating particularly fast and I knew if I could just keep at a steady pace I would achieve the usual sub 90 minute target I normally aim for with half marathons. There was a nasty climb at 10 miles which caught a few of us out, but after making it to the top of the incline, I chucked a right turn and headed towards the last couple of miles. Hitting 12 miles in the 1:20:00 mark, I had a rather smug feeling that I had run really well during this race. In the last couple of half marathons I’ve taken part in, I struggle in the last mile or two, but this time I continued to fly at a good pace. Hitting the slight downhill on the Long Walk, I continued to soldier on and keep running down what every other competitor describes as the hardest mile. Although it may be obvious why, this mile is the hardest because it’s dead straight and no matter how much ground you make up, the finish line doesn’t seem to get any closer. I looked up and saw that I would get in under the 90 minute mark so after waving to the Avery fan club of Mrs A, Harris and Lennon, I clicked my heels and finished the race in 1:28:11. A time I am very happy with and later discovered I made the top 100…. barely! I collected my medal, goody bag and t-shirt before meeting the fan club and going into Windsor town centre for a well earned beer and pizza. This was a great race and one that I am really happy I took part in. It’s certainly not Ealing, but to be honest I don’t think it tries to be. The Windsor Half is a lovely setup in a beautiful part of the country and has a great day feel-good factor to it. Would I do it again? Certainly, but I’ve got another commitment in West London planned for 2019…