Today was my chance to bounce back after a tough 1500m race earlier in the week. I competed at Woodside Stadium in the Watford Harriers Minor Open Challenge, running the 600m event. This distance is one and a half laps around the track, and I felt comfortable racing here because it's where I used to train with Watford Harriers.
Before this race, my personal best stood at 1:52.65 seconds. My big goal was to break 1 minute 50, though I knew that would be challenging. I had an extra bit of excitement - and nerves - because I was wearing brand new spikes I'd only bought the day before. I hadn't even had a chance to train in them, so I wasn't sure how they would feel during the race.
When the starting gun went off, I got away quickly. After about 50 metres I found myself in the lead, which felt amazing. But at the 150 metre mark, another runner passed me. I didn't panic - I focused on my rhythm and managed to retake the lead at the 200 metre point.
The middle part of the race was tough. Between 300 and 400 metres, one very strong runner powered past me and opened up a big gap. I settled into second place, pushing hard to maintain my position. Then in the final straight, with just 70-80 metres to go, another competitor overtook me.
I gave everything in the final sprint but crossed the line in third place. Still, I was pleased to set a new personal best of 1:52.20 seconds. While it was only a small improvement, it meant a lot after my disappointing race earlier in the week and running in unfamiliar spikes.
Now I'm looking ahead to my next challenge - an 800m race at the East Area Prep Schools competition in just two days. I know I can run even better, and I'm determined to make up for my recent setbacks. The key will be staying strong in that final 200 meters where I've been losing positions.
This race taught me that even small progress is worth celebrating. Every hundredth of a second faster is moving in the right direction. Most importantly, I proved to myself that I can bounce back from disappointment and keep improving.
