Today, I took part in a running event called the Charnwood AC Open Meeting. It was held at Loughborough University, which is known for its amazing sports facilities. I was really looking forward to the race, especially as it was taking place in the evening at 6:50pm, after a full day at school. I had been thinking about it all day, and I couldn’t wait to get on the track and give it my best. As soon as school finished, my dad picked me up, and along with my brother, we started our drive to Loughborough. It took about two hours to get there, so we had lots of time to talk about the race and get excited.

I was entered into a 600 metre race, which is one of my favourite distances. What made it even more exciting was that my brother was running in the same race as me. I had a goal in mind – I really wanted to beat my personal best time, which I had set on 3rd May. That time was 2 minutes and 4 seconds, and I had been training hard ever since. I had heard so many great things about Loughborough University and their sports programmes, so I was also keen to see the place for myself. I think I’d love to study there one day because of all the brilliant sports facilities.

Today, I took part in the Radlett Rotary Run and ran in two races — the 1.5 km race for under 11s and the 5 km race for anyone aged 7 and over. I was really excited to return this year because I had done well last time and wanted to do even better. Last year, I finished 4th in the 1.5 km race, while my brother came 1st. This time, I really hoped we could finish 1st and 2nd together — him in first and me just behind.

At the start of the 1.5 km race, I got off to a good start and settled into 4th place. After about 300 metres, I managed to move into 2nd position, right behind my brother. I didn’t want to let him go, so I pushed myself as hard as I could to stay close to him the whole way. The race is all run on grass, with a steep hill to climb, so it’s quite tricky. But I stayed focused and determined.

Today, I took part in a race in Hitchin called the Golden Mile. It was a one-mile run through the town centre, and it was open to all children under the age of 14. I was really excited but also knew it would be a tough race because I’m only eight years old. Still, I wanted to push myself and try my best to get a good time, even though I was running against older children.

There were around 140 runners in total, a mix of boys and girls. I knew that meant the race would be very competitive, so I gave it everything I had right from the start. I tried to stay focused and keep my pace strong the whole way through. It was a busy and exciting race, and the crowd cheering really helped me keep going.

Today, I ran in the Middlesex Young Athletics League at Perivale. I was very proud to take part because I was chosen to be in the scoring team for my athletics club in the under 11s age group. This meant a lot to me, as it showed that my coaches believed in me. The race distance was 600 metres, and I felt confident that I could get a strong time and help my team.

This was my first race of the track season, and I was really excited. I enjoy track season much more than cross country, especially because I prefer running on a smooth surface rather than in the cold and muddy fields. I had trained hard and was looking forward to seeing what I could do. I told myself to stay focused, especially at the start, so I could get off the line quickly and settle into a good rhythm.