Today, I took on the Battersea parkrun 5km race, and I was so excited before the start line! I was running this event to raise money for Scope, an incredible charity that supports disabled children and their families—a cause that is very close to my heart. So far, I have raised just under £4,000, and I feel so proud that I can use my running ability to make a real difference in the world. Knowing that so many people had sponsored me made me even more determined to give it everything I had.
My main goal for the day was to try and beat my previous world record for a nine-year-old girl, which was 19 minutes and 45 seconds. I set that time back in March at the Battersea 5km to qualify for the London Mini Marathon. Because I hadn’t run any competitive 5km races since then, I knew beating it would be a massive challenge. However, I was completely focused and ready to run faster and push harder than ever before so I wouldn't let my supporters down.
Since parkrun rules state that runners under 11 must be accompanied by an adult, I was really fortunate to have a brilliant runner named Joe step up to pace me. Before we set off, Joe and I discussed our strategy and decided to target a finish time under 19 minutes and 30 seconds. To achieve that, we needed to lock into a target pace of around 3 minutes and 52 seconds per kilometre right from the start line. Having a clear plan gave me a huge boost of confidence.
As soon as the timer started, we set off at a strong, steady rhythm. The pace felt fast, but my legs felt strong and my breathing was controlled throughout the first few kilometres. Joe was amazing at keeping me focused, constantly encouraging me and checking our split times at every single checkpoint along the course. Knowing that we were right on target kept my mind clear and gave me the energy to keep pushing through the tough sections.
When we turned into the final stretch, I gave it everything I had left in the tank and crossed the finish line in an incredible time of 19 minutes and 15 seconds! That meant I had smashed my previous Personal Best by 30 seconds and set a brand-new benchmark. I honestly couldn’t believe that I managed to take half a minute off my March record, and the feeling of crossing that line after working so hard was absolutely unforgettable.
Looking back on the morning, I am so thrilled with what we managed to achieve on the track. I am extremely grateful to Joe for taking the time out of his own busy schedule to run alongside me, keep me on pace, and cheer me on to the finish. Running can be a solo sport at times, but having a great pacer and supportive people around you makes all the difference when you are aiming for a big goal.
Most importantly, I am over the moon that I could use my love for running to raise so much money for Scope. Knowing that every step I took today will help disabled children across the UK makes this new Personal Best feel even more special. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me, donated, and cheered me on—this achievement belongs to all of us!
