Today I took part in an MYAL athletics event in Harrow, and it was a proud moment for me. I was chosen to run as the leading scorer for my running club, which made me feel really special. I was running the 600 metres, and I knew it would be a hard race. I’m only in Year 4, and most of the other girls who are also scorers are probably in Year 5. That made me a little nervous, but I was also excited to give it my best.
My season’s best time before the race was 2 minutes and 4 seconds, and my goal was to try and beat that. I wanted to run faster and set a new personal best. But when I was warming up, I kept falling over — not just once, but four times! I didn’t know why at first, but then I realised my running spikes were a bit too big for me. That made me feel even more nervous, because I didn’t want to fall over during the race.
Luckily, my dad helped me. He gave me his socks to wear over mine to make the shoes feel tighter. We did our best to fix the problem before the race started. When I stood at the start line, I felt worried. I just hoped I wouldn’t fall again. But once the race began, I focused and ran as hard as I could. I gave it my all and didn’t let the fear stop me.
In the end, I finished with a time of 2 minutes and 4 seconds – exactly the same as my season’s best. I didn’t beat it, but I was happy that I didn’t run slower. I also managed to finish ahead of the other scoring member from my team, which made me feel proud. Being the leading scorer for my club and doing my best was a big achievement for me, even if I didn’t get a new personal best.
Even though I was a bit disappointed with my time, I reminded myself that I ran with a lot of fear. I was scared of falling again, but I still kept going and ran well. That’s something I can be proud of. My dad also said he’s going to get me some proper insoles for my shoes and maybe adjust them so they fit better. That should help a lot next time I race.
Overall, I think I did a good job. Falling four times in the warm-up and still running my best time shows that I didn’t give up. I know I can get faster, and I’m going to keep working hard. Next time, I’ll aim to run closer to 2 minutes, and I believe I can do it. I just have to keep practising
