Today I took part in a 5K Parkrun at Northala Fields in Northolt. I was really looking forward to it because I hadn’t run there for a while, and I was determined to beat my personal best. I felt a bit nervous at the start but also excited. When the race began, I focused on getting a strong start so that I wouldn’t get caught up in the crowd of other runners. I knew I had to find a good pace early on to give myself the best chance of a new record.
As I ran, I pushed myself to go as fast as I could. I kept my mind focused on each step, not letting myself slow down. I wanted that personal best so badly! By the time I crossed the finish line, I had clocked a time of 22:12. This was a new personal best for me, beating my previous time of 22:14 by just two seconds. Even though it was a small improvement, I felt so proud. Every second counts, and I was over the moon with my result.
My average pace for the run was 4 minutes and 10 seconds per kilometre, which I was really happy with. When I checked my watch, it showed that I had actually run 5.34 kilometres instead of exactly 5K. This meant that my time might have been even better if I’d run exactly 5K, so it was extra satisfying to know I did even more than expected. Finishing 31st out of 296 runners was amazing, and I was thrilled to be the third girl to finish the race.
One thing that made me feel really proud was my age grading score of 81.61%. Age grading is a way of comparing performances fairly, taking age and gender into account, so I knew that this score showed I’d done really well. It’s encouraging to see that I’m improving and getting faster over time. I couldn’t stop smiling, and I felt like all my hard work in training had really paid off.
After the race, I started thinking about how I could improve even more. I know there’s still a bit more speed in me, and I’m excited to keep pushing my limits. It’s a great feeling to know I’m getting closer to my goals. This race has inspired me to work even harder, and I’m already looking forward to my next Parkrun.
I can’t wait to go back to Northala Fields and try again. There’s something special about that place, and every time I run there, I feel motivated to give my best.
