Kirsty Wade; young athlete I've always been keen on sport and very fit so a few years ago I decided to join my local athletics club

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Kirsty Wade, young athlete

I've always been keen on sport and very fit so a few years ago I decided to join my local athletics club. In the beginning I put all my effort into the long jump because it was my best event, but the coach encouraged me to try different things.

I ended up as a middle-distance runner, which means I don’t run the short distances like 100 metres, or long cross-country races, but the in-between ones like 800 metres. It’s an interesting type of running because you have to mix speed with strength. You also have to think a lot about how you race, and choose the right moment to run at your maximum speed. You need to do quite a lot of regular training when you first start and it helps if you have a good coach who can keep you motivated and teach you the basics.

I take part in some quite major competitions now, but I still remember my first race. I was so nervous before it started. And when it finished, I could hardly stand. It was a big surprise for me and I came second so I was very pleased. Since then I’ve learned to stay calm before and during races. I do a lot of breathing exercises that help me stay relaxed, and that helps me to focus on my own abilities. And now I find that I love running more than anything else – it’s a sort of performance.

The only thing I don’t enjoy so much is how hard you have to work to stay fit and strong enough to do well. I find it tiring at times, but I often train with friends who enjoy it as well, but I don’t think I’d be able to spend so much time on it if it weren’t for all the fun we have together.

I also watch Olympic athletes on TV and imagine myself in their position. It must be amazing to compete at that level. But I don’t feel that it’s necessarily where I’m aiming. I think you have to give up so much if you want to reach that level.