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.

Today was the Moor Park Junior Fun Run at Merchant Taylors’ School, and I was competing in the Under 10 Girls category, which was a 1.3km race. It was an all-girls race, and I had one clear goal in mind: to win and finish in first place. I was determined to prove myself and show everyone that I could not only win but do so convincingly.

As usual, my strategy was to get to the front as quickly as possible and then build on my lead throughout the race. I got off to a great start, gaining an instant lead within the first few moments. The lead came much easier than I had anticipated, and once I found myself in that position, I focused on extending it as much as possible. Winning was definitely my top priority, but I also had another goal—I wanted to achieve an impressive time. My brother’s friend had just won his race in the Under 12s category, so I felt even more motivated to prove that I could dominate my race just as decisively.

Today I unexpectedly ran my first Welwyn Fun Run! I had no idea I’d be taking part until I woke up that morning. My dad had spotted the race online the night before, so instead of doing our usual ParkRun at Pitshanger Park, we decided to give this new event a go. It was a 2K race for children aged 4 to 14, and while I was excited to run, the weather wasn’t exactly on my side—it was raining when I woke up, and I knew the day ahead might not be the most pleasant.

When we arrived at the venue and parked, it was still pouring down. We had a short, soggy walk to the field, but thankfully, by the time I picked up my race number, the rain had stopped, even though the skies still looked grey and gloomy. I took a moment to check out the course, which was entirely on grass, and noticed a steep hill that looked like it would be a real challenge. There were trophies on display too—one for the first boy and one for the first girl—which definitely motivated me even more!