On the 18th of October, we had our school’s House Cross Country race, and I was really excited about it. Last year, I finished 4th in this event, but this time, I was determined to take the win. I was already riding a wave of confidence after winning the Under 11 District League Cross Country at Fleetville, and I had my sights set on another victory.

The course was around the school grounds, which I guessed was about 1km. My plan was to start strong, get ahead quickly, and build up my pace as the race progressed. I have really good stamina from running 5K ParkRuns regularly, and I love long-distance running. I’m not much of a sprinter, so it usually takes me a bit of time to find my rhythm.

Today was my second cross country race as part of the Under 11 District League, and this time it was held at Fleetville School. Six girls from my school across Years 4, 5, and 6 were selected to compete, with the top four finishers earning points for our school. With over 70 girls from various schools participating, I knew it was going to be a challenging race, but I was determined to win. After finishing 2nd in my last race, I was even more motivated to take the top spot this time and help my school climb the league rankings.

The race was set to be three and a bit laps around the grassy fields of the school. Before the race, I ran a few warm-up laps with a friend from school, just to loosen up. When it was finally time to race, I put on my spikes, focused, and got ready to give it my all. The starting formation was a bit tricky; each school had six runners, but only two were allowed to start at the front. The next pair lined up behind them, followed by the last two runners at the back. Since I was part of the final trio for my school, I started near the back, which felt like a bit of a disadvantage. But I refused to let that hold me back. I was determined to make up ground as soon as the race started.

Today was the Twyford Together Charity Fun Run, and I had entered two races back-to-back. The first was the 1km race for Year 3 and Year 4, and the second was a 2km race for Year 5 and Year 6. Even though I’m only in Year 4, I wanted to push myself and see how I would fare in both competitions. This was my first time taking part in this event, and I was determined to perform well. I also saw it as great practice for the upcoming House Cross Country race at school, which I’ve been preparing for and really want to win.

For the 1km Year 3 and Year 4 race, it was a mixed competition with both boys and girls running together. I was really focused on trying to win, but I knew it was going to be tough. I got off to a strong start and was sitting in 5th place early on. There were three boys and one girl ahead of me at that point, with the girl leading the entire race. As we ran, I managed to overtake two of the boys, leaving just one boy and the leading girl in front of me.

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.