Today, I took on the Battersea parkrun 5km race, and I was so excited before the start line! I was running this event to raise money for Scope, an incredible charity that supports disabled children and their families—a cause that is very close to my heart. So far, I have raised just under £4,000, and I feel so proud that I can use my running ability to make a real difference in the world. Knowing that so many people had sponsored me made me even more determined to give it everything I had.

My main goal for the day was to try and beat my previous world record for a nine-year-old girl, which was 19 minutes and 45 seconds. I set that time back in March at the Battersea 5km to qualify for the London Mini Marathon. Because I hadn’t run any competitive 5km races since then, I knew beating it would be a massive challenge. However, I was completely focused and ready to run faster and push harder than ever before so I wouldn't let my supporters down.

Today was a really special but mixed day as I ran in my school’s annual Inter-House cross-country race. The course was one lap around our school fields, covering a distance of 1.1km. I was super excited to get out there and represent my house, but I also felt a little bit sad inside. As a Year 6 pupil, this is my final year at junior school, meaning it was the last time I’ll ever run in this specific event. Because of that, I was even more determined to give a great performance and secure the win for my house one last time.

However, I had to be quite clever with how I managed my effort today. I have a big 5km race scheduled for tomorrow morning, where I’m aiming for a target pace of 3 minutes and 52 seconds per kilometre. My parents gently reminded me before the start line to conserve my energy and not burn out my legs completely. That meant I had to balance my desire to win the school race with saving enough power in my muscles so I can perform at my absolute best for tomorrow’s longer challenge.

Today, I competed in the Under 12 District League race hosted at Fleetville School. This was the second district league event of the season, and after winning the first race at Coney Hall back in September, I was completely determined to hold onto my top spot in the standings. The race was advertised as a 1.2km distance, which was meant to be roughly three and a bit laps around the school fields. Standing on the start line, I felt focused, ready, and eager to deliver another strong performance for my school team.

When the whistle sounded, I broke away smoothly from the pack and managed to establish myself in the lead early on. However, during the very first lap, there was a bit of confusion on the course when some runners slowed down in front of me. I made sure to stay composed, adjusted my stride, and pushed straight past the congestion to rebuild my momentum. Once I was clear ahead, I settled into a solid, aggressive rhythm and gradually built up a comfortable gap over the rest of the field.

Today, I competed in the Metropolitan League at Claybury Park, taking on the Under 12 girls' race for Year 5 and Year 6 runners. Heading into the event, my heart was set on going for the win. The course packed in a challenging uphill section on the first lap, which really tested everyone's stamina right from the start. I managed to get a solid start, settling into third place before quickly moving up into second, right on the heels of the leader as we tackled the undulating terrain.

The dry weather meant the course conditions were very firm, made up of a mix of hard-packed grass and loose gravel paths. I wore standard running trainers, which offered great grip on the grassy sections, but they struggled for traction on the loose gravel. Sliding slightly on the stony paths made it tricky to maintain my momentum and drive forward smoothly. Despite the footing challenges, I stayed focused on the leader's back, desperately trying to close the gap as we pushed towards the finish line.