Today was a really exciting day for me. I took part in the Charnwood Open Athletics meet at Loughborough University, and I was running in the under-13 800-metre race. I’ve been training hard for weeks and looking forward to this event for a long time. I love running, and I was determined to do my best and hopefully beat my season’s best time of 2 minutes and 56 seconds. My goal for the day was to get as close as possible to 2 minutes and 50 seconds, which would be a big improvement.
The atmosphere at Loughborough University was amazing. The track is one of the best I’ve ever run on, and everything felt very professional. What I like most about the Loughborough track is that they have timers on each corner, so you can always see your time as you’re running. That’s a big help because it lets you know whether you’re ahead or behind your target, and it keeps you focused and motivated during the race.
When I arrived, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves. I made sure to warm up properly and stretch, so my body was ready. I kept thinking about my goal and telling myself to stay calm and give it my all. I was in the first heat of the 800m, and I wanted to make a strong start. As I stood at the start line, I took a deep breath and got into my position. The starter raised the gun, and BANG—we were off!
I started strong and quickly moved into a good spot in the group. I didn’t want to go too fast too early, so I focused on keeping a steady pace. When I passed the 200-metre mark, I looked at the corner timer—it said 41 seconds. That was right where I needed to be. It gave me a boost of confidence to see I was running on track.
At 400 metres, my time was 1 minute and 23 seconds, and I knew I was still on pace to hit my target. I was starting to feel a little tired, but I reminded myself that this was the moment I had trained for. I kept pushing and stayed focused on my rhythm. At 600 metres, the clock read 2 minutes and 7 seconds, and I knew the finish line wasn’t far off. That’s when I decided to give it everything I had left.
I powered through the final 200 metres, running as hard as I could. My legs were tired and heavy, but I didn’t slow down. I could hear people cheering from the side, and that gave me a little extra energy to keep going. As I approached the finish line, I glanced up at the clock. It was ticking fast, but I could see I was still just under my goal time. I crossed the line, and the official time showed 2 minutes and 50 seconds exactly
I was over the moon. I had smashed my personal best by six seconds, which felt amazing. I had set a goal, worked hard towards it, and reached it right on the dot. I couldn’t stop smiling. My coaches and family were really proud of me, and I was proud of myself too. It felt great to see all that training pay off.
After the race, I cooled down and had a drink. I sat on the grass near the track and just let it all sink in. I kept thinking about the race in my head, step by step. I remembered how nervous I had felt before the start, and how strong I had finished. I knew this was a day I would remember for a long time. Not just because of the time I ran, but because I had stayed calm, focused, and gave it my best all the way through.
Running at Loughborough University was such a brilliant experience. I really enjoyed everything about the day—the track, the other athletes, the energy, and the excitement of racing. I definitely want to come back and race there again in the future. My next goal is to get under 2 minutes and 50 seconds and set a brand-new personal best.
Today reminded me that if you work hard, stay positive, and believe in yourself, great things can happen. It was one of the best races I’ve ever had, and I’m so happy I got to be a part of it.
