Cryptic crossword No 2,562

If you have a moment, I’d value honest feedback on the following: Do you find this crossword on the easier or tougher side? If easy, do shorter clues usually mean ‘easier to solve’ in your experience? If tough, why so, and does that detract from the fun? Thanks

Hi Ruskin and thanks for a very enjoyable puzzle. I will address your questions in the reply but first will note my favourite clues: 10a, 14a, 20a, 28a, 3d, 7d and 15d. To the reply! ->

Hi Claire, I enjoyed this, although you bested me on a few (28a - very clever!) my faves included 5a & 13a, 23a (very neat), 3d, 7d,15d,19d

Very good Ruskin, thanks. Lots of great clues in here. My favourites: 10a, 12a, 26a, 3d, 7d (although maybe a QM in order?), 15d and 21d. Thoughts on your questions in reply …

Thanks Ruskin for a very enjoyable and clever puzzle. 18a and 20a gave the theme away. Favourite clues included 9a, 10a, 28a, 2d, 3d, 7d, 17d. Your question is one that has often occurred to me, especially after publishing on here! Observations follow...

As a beginner, still, I found myself guessing quite a lot of answers, and then parsing them... I found some of the synonyms tough as mentioned by others (over marathon...) etc. But v impressive, and many were fun! I think I have spotted the theme, but not in time for it to help me! Makes me happy that I now speak "a bit of crossword"....!

Hey Ruskin that was a lot of fun! Loved 7d and 28a which was my LOI. I've just read the other comments and see there was a theme which I totally missed - now i'm looking at the grid and it's staring me in the face!!! Haha! Great stuff. I've recorded my solve and it will be live on my channel tomorrow - so you can watch me suffer LOL! Thank you for such an enjoyable puzzle :)