Today I took part in the Stan Allen Mile, which is a one-mile race on the athletics track in Tooting. I was really excited before the race because I had never run a full mile on the track before. The longest track race I had done up until now was 1500 metres, so this felt like a new challenge. I had set myself a target time of five minutes and twenty-five seconds. Before the race, I worked out how fast I would need to run each lap, and I planned to check the clock each time I came round to make sure I was keeping to my pace.
When the race started, things didn’t feel quite right. I didn’t feel as strong as I normally do, and very quickly I found myself slipping to the back of the group. This was unusual for me because I normally stay near the front. I kept pushing on though, and when I reached the first lap marker, which was just over 400 metres, I was already two or three seconds behind my target pace. It wasn’t the start I had hoped for.
My second and third laps were also tough. I was struggling to keep up, and I found myself right at the back of the race. I knew from the lap times that I was heading for a slower finish than I had planned. It was hard not to feel a bit disappointed, but I reminded myself that there was still one lap left, and that was my chance to give it everything I had.
When the final lap began, I decided to sprint as hard as I could. I knew I was in a bad position, but I wanted to finish strongly and prove to myself that I could do better. I pushed my legs to go faster, and I ended up running the last 400 metres in about one minute and sixteen seconds, which was much quicker than I had expected. That strong finish helped me to overtake one runner, and I nearly managed to catch another just before the line.
In the end, I crossed the finish in five minutes and thirty-two seconds. Even though it was seven seconds slower than my target, I still felt proud of what I had done. I am now the third fastest under-11 runner for one mile on the track, which is something I can be very proud of. At the same time, I know I can improve. If I get a stronger start and push harder during the middle laps, I think I can get much closer to my target of five minutes and twenty-five seconds.
I’m planning to run another one-mile race at a meeting in a couple of weeks, and I feel confident that I will do better next time. Although I didn’t hit my target, I still think my time is good for someone who is only ten years old. I always want to push myself and aim to be the best I can be, and this race has shown me that I have more to give. Next time, I’ll be ready.
