Today I ran in the Wheathampstead 2k Fun Run for the very first time. It’s a local event, recommended by my school, and I was really determined to do well and run as fast as I possibly could. There were three trophies on offer for the top 3 boys and top 3 girls under 15, and I had my sights set on placing in the top 3 girls. I knew it would be tough, especially since I’m only 7 and in Year 3, but I was up for the challenge.
From the start, I pushed myself as hard as I could. I settled into a good pace and tried to keep it up throughout the race. The course was quite challenging, with rough terrain, but it was all on grass, which I actually enjoyed. By the end of the race, I was proud to finish in 25th place out of 533 runners—not a bad result at all! I was also the 5th female to cross the finish line. The trophies were being awarded to the top 3 girls under 15, and the girl who finished 4th was in the Under 17 category, so in reality, I placed 4th in the girls Under 15 group.
I was so close to winning a trophy, which was a bit disappointing. In the Under 11 category, I ended up being the 2nd fastest girl, with the winner finishing in an amazing time of 08:23. I, on the other hand, finished in 09:04, which wasn’t my best. Just a week earlier at Pitshanger ParkRun, I had clocked 8:21 for a 2km run, so I knew I was capable of much better. It was frustrating knowing my time was off, and I couldn’t help but think about how much faster I could’ve gone.
Even so, I’m proud of myself for completing the run and giving it my best effort. I really enjoyed the race, and I’m already looking forward to next year. I’m determined to come back stronger, push myself harder, and focus on getting faster. With more practice, especially on grass and challenging terrain, I know I can do even better next time—and hopefully win a trophy!
