Hi, I’m Daniyal, and running has been my passion since I was just 7 years old. It all started in Year 3, when I competed in the Donkin Cup at school and came 4th out of around 60 boys. That was the moment I realised running wasn’t just something I was good at—it was something I loved and wanted to keep doing.
After that race, I joined the Watford Harriers running club, where I started training twice a week. I even did one-to-one sessions with my coach to really focus on improving my speed and technique. Not long after, I began participating in Junior ParkRuns at King George Park in Bushey. I can still remember the pride I felt when I achieved a time of 09:32 for the 2K. Week after week, I came first with very little competition, and although I lowered my PB to 08:37, it wasn’t as exciting anymore because I was always way ahead.
That’s when my dad helped me find another Junior ParkRun with more competition. We discovered the Pinner Village Gardens ParkRun, and I was thrilled when I hit a new PB of 08:23 and finished 2nd. It felt like the challenge I needed, pushing me to improve. Over time, I managed to drop my PB to 07:50, but once again, I found myself finishing first most weeks, with little competition to push me further.
Around this time, I began running in Adult 5K ParkRuns at Canons Park. My first-ever 5K time was 24:22, and I still remember the tough, muddy conditions and knee-high puddles that day. My dad was so proud, but my mum wasn’t too happy when I came home covered in mud! As I kept running the 5Ks, I improved quickly, and just over a month later, I hit a new PB of 22:00.
In late 2023, I decided to switch from Watford Harriers to Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. This was a huge step forward for me. Shaftesbury had specialised middle-distance training, and by then, I’d realised that middle-distance running was where I excelled, rather than sprinting.
At the same time, I started participating in my school’s Habs Dash, a 3.5K course around the boys’ and girls’ schools. My first run took me about 18 minutes, but I was determined to improve. By March 2024, I had brought my time down to the late 14 minutes.
Though I kept up with Junior ParkRuns, the lack of competition eventually made them less motivating. That’s when we found another Junior ParkRun at Pitshanger Park in Ealing. On my first run there, I smashed my PB again, this time dropping it to 07:39. It felt amazing to see my progress, cutting nearly 2 minutes off my time in less than a year—from 09:32 to 07:39. But I wasn’t satisfied yet; I wanted to keep getting faster. Around this time, my dad bought me a Garmin Forerunner watch, which really helped me manage my runs and push my pace even further.
Since then, I’ve had some incredible achievements. One of my biggest highlights was winning the Donkin Cup in Year 4, after coming 4th the year before. I’ve also continued improving my times in the Habs Dash and have won numerous trophies in various competitions. More recently, I took first place in the Abbots Tough 10, a 3.9K road race. It was both nerve-wracking and exciting, but I was so happy to win. I even won the Donkin Cup again in Year 5, which was a special moment for me.
There are so many people I want to thank for helping me along my running journey. Watford Harriers gave me my first real opportunity to train and compete. Leanne, who trained me through cold, dark evenings, played a big role in my early progress. At Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, I have Ty and Tom to thank for their intense sessions that pushed me beyond my limits. My school has also been incredibly supportive, allowing me to compete in the Donkin Cup and Habs Dash. I’m grateful to all the teachers who’ve cheered me on each week.
A big thank you also goes to all the adults I’ve met at ParkRuns, who ran with me when I wasn’t allowed to run alone. You inspired and motivated me to keep improving. Special shout-outs to the wonderful people at Canons Park, Harrow, and Northala—you’ve all looked out for me and kept me going. And of course, a huge thank you to my mum and dad. Dad, thank you for driving me to every ParkRun and competition, and for always believing in me and pushing me to do my best. None of this would’ve been possible without your support. And to my mum, thank you for always being there, even when I come home covered in mud!
Lastly, I’ve made some incredible friends through running, and I want to thank them for motivating me during training and pushing me to compete as hard as I could.
As of 19th October 2024, my personal bests stand at 19:23 for the 5K ParkRuns, 07:13 for Junior ParkRuns, and 13:41 for the Habs Dash (3.6km). I’m enjoying running more than ever and am focused on keeping my age grading percentage above 80%. My goals for the next few months are to improve my form, increase my speed, and most importantly, continue to enjoy every run. I have big ambitions for the future and can’t wait to see where my running journey takes me next!
