Today I competed in the fourth fixture of the Under 11 District League at Mandeville School in St Albans. Having won the first three races of the season, I arrived determined to protect my 100% winning record.
Since returning from Dubai over Christmas, I have struggled with my running after being severely unwell. January included a few performances that were below my usual standard while I was still recovering. However, over the past few weeks I have trained hard and consistently, and today I was eager to see whether my form had truly returned.
From the very start, I committed fully. As the race began, I sprinted aggressively off the line and within the first 50 metres I had taken the lead. I was determined not to surrender that position.
The course consisted of two and a half laps on grass. As the race unfolded, I continued to increase the pace, gradually extending my lead over the rest of the field. I pushed harder with each lap, not only to secure the win but to achieve a strong time.
I crossed the finish line in 3 minutes 51 seconds. My watch measured the distance at exactly 1 kilometre, giving me a pace of 3:51 per kilometre. This was approximately 10 seconds faster than my pace at the same venue last year, when I finished third. That improvement made the victory even more satisfying.
With this result, I have now won four out of four District League races this season. The final fixture takes place in March, and I am looking forward to finishing the league strongly.
Most importantly, this performance restored my confidence. After illness and a challenging start to the year, this race confirmed that my strength and form have returned. I feel healthy, powerful and back at my best.
Next, I hope to compete this weekend in Malvern, Worcestershire, over a longer distance of 2.8 km in the Under 11 category. It will be a bigger challenge, but based on today’s performance, I am ready for it.
