Today I took part in the Abbots Langley Tough 10 race, competing in the Under 9s category with a race distance of 1km. I was a bit disappointed at first, as I really wanted to run in the 3km race with my brother, but you had to be 9 or older for that, and since I’m only 8, I wasn’t allowed.
I had my heart set on winning the race because many children from my old running club were participating, and I really wanted to walk away with a trophy. My plan was simple: start strong, get a lead, and then widen the gap as much as possible. The race was mixed, with both boys and girls competing together, and I remembered my dad telling me to aim to beat not just all the girls, but the boys as well. His words stayed with me throughout the race.
I got off to a good start, quickly finding myself in third place behind two boys. Although finishing third would still make me the first girl, I didn’t just want to win the girls' race—I was determined to beat the boys too. It wasn’t long before I overtook the boy in second place, and from that point on, I had my eyes firmly set on catching the leader.
About a quarter of the way into the race, I managed to overtake the boy in first place. I could hear my dad cheering me on from the sidelines, telling me to extend my lead and push forward, and that’s exactly what I did. I wanted a big lead, and I was determined to finish strong. I kept pushing hard all the way to the end, and I was thrilled to cross the finish line in first place, having beaten all the boys and girls in the race.
My finishing time was 4:33, with a pace of 4:07 per kilometre. While I was pleased with my time, I know I could’ve gone even faster, as I still had plenty of speed left in me. But overall, I was really happy, especially since I managed to win and take home a trophy. At the finish line, I was told that I was the first girl and that I’d be receiving my trophy at the presentation ceremony. One of the mums, whose son came second and was the first boy to finish, came up to me afterwards and told me how impressed she was with my performance. She suggested I should join a running club, and it made me smile knowing I used to run for Watford Harriers, just like her son.
I felt so proud collecting my trophy during the ceremony, and I couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the day. I had such a great time, and I can’t wait to come back next year. Next year’s race will be tougher, as it’s the 3km road race for Years 5 and 6, but I’m excited for the challenge. I’m determined to train hard and get even faster so that I can win that race too!
