Today, I took part in the Charnwood AC Open Meeting at Loughborough University, and I had been looking forward to it all week. The race was scheduled for 6:50pm in the evening, so it came right after a full day at school. I felt quite tired before the race because I had ended up running a 1,500-metre trial earlier that day at school. It was a surprise as I didn’t know we were doing trials for Sports Day. I gave it everything in that race because I really wanted to be chosen to run the 1,500 metres on Sports Day. Even though my legs were a bit tired, I was still determined to do my very best at Loughborough that evening.
After school, my dad picked me up and we set off for the two-hour drive to Loughborough, with my sister coming along too. I was entered into a 600-metre race, which is a distance I really enjoy. What made it even more exciting was that my sister was running in the same race. I’d heard so many amazing things about Loughborough University, especially about how brilliant their sports facilities are. I think I’d really like to go there when I’m older, so running there felt like a really big deal.
When we arrived at the university, I was amazed by the stadium. The track looked so modern and professional, and there were timing boards all around it so runners could see their times as they raced. Everything looked so clean and new, and it made me feel excited to be part of something so special. I focused on staying calm and getting ready for the race. Even though I was a bit tired, I reminded myself of the target I had set — I wanted to beat my personal best of 1 minute and 52 seconds, which I had set earlier in May.
As the race started, I got off to a good start and settled into a strong pace. I tried to push myself hard, especially in the second half of the race. My legs felt a bit heavy from the earlier 1,500 metres, but I didn’t want to let that stop me. I kept telling myself to keep going, to keep driving forward. I was really focused on hitting my goal and trying to beat that personal best.
When I crossed the finish line, I looked up and saw my time — 1:52. I had matched my personal best exactly. At first, I felt a little disappointed because I had really hoped to go even faster, maybe down to 1:50. But then I reminded myself that running the exact same time while already tired from another race was actually really good. It showed that I’ve become much more consistent, and I’m running much stronger than I was last season.
Overall, it was a brilliant evening. I had the chance to race at a famous university, I ran alongside my sister, and I managed to match my best time even after a tiring day. It was a great experience, and I’m more motivated than ever to come back and try again. Next time, I’m aiming to break that 1:52 and push even closer to 1:50. I’m excited for what’s to come.
