Running on empty

BEN STANLEY

While most Kiwi sports fans were enjoying a late night last weekend celebrating or commiserating Ireland's win over the Wallabies, extreme mountain runner Anna Frost was tackling the 35km Table Mountain Challenge in Cape Town. Ben Stanley talked to the Dunedin-born athlete, who competes with the UK-based Salomon team, to find out what makes her keep running and running.

Sunday News: Tell me about your history.

Anna Frost: Now a mountain runner, I have always had sport in my blood. From a young age I focused on field hockey but also loved triathlons, touch rugby, rowing, cross-country skiing and athletics. I started to change my focus from hockey to running in 2000 with a bit of everything – triathlon, 10km, half-marathons, 3km and steeplechase on the track, as well as endurance multisport events and cross-country races. I first qualified for World Mountain Running Championships in Italy in 2004. The experience was the beginning of my love and respect for the mountains, the people in them and the events that challenged me to experience all it.

How did you get into ultra-distance running?

It was a challenge put to me by the heart of our Salomon team, Greg Vollet. He said `why not?' I had no response to that so I was in!

Tell me all the steps that got you to where you are today.

I started off mountain running for NZ and backpacked EU, racing in the Grand Prix and World Championship series. I then got into more adventure racing in the UK for Team INOV-8, where we raced (and won) some international events such as the SalomonMXR. After four years with them I joined the Salomon UK family and focused on mountain/trail marathons, like the Everest marathon. Over the next three years until now I have raced/travelled with the Salomon international family.

What motivates you building up to these massive runs?

Many things. The social aspect, the challenge mentally and physically, the competition, the travel, the new people I will meet and the new places I will see. Getting to the top of the mountain to feel the freedom and see the views – the list goes on and on.

Tell us about your training?

It is not disciplined, structured or routine. With all the travel it makes it pretty hard to get any of those. I know I need speed, I know I need strength, I know I need endurance, so depending on where I have travelled to, I train and focus on what that environment can give me.

What goes through your head as you're doing these runs?

So many things when I am training. I correct the world, I solve all my problems, I make all my life plans. When I am racing I generally think about where I am at in terms of form, distance, food and water, where the competition is, how are they feeling.

Ultra-distance running is attracting more and more interest from the public and the media these days. Why do you think that's so?

Trail running is a relatively easy and cheap sport to get into. You can do it anywhere and all you need is a pair of shoes. Ultra-running is giving the people the bigger challenge, not only more freedom to experience adventure and the environment but also themselves.

What is the longest race you've ever done?

I have done four to six day stage races which have had some long mountaineering days in them. But in an out-and-out running race 50 miles (80km) is my max.

What do you strive for on a run? A great time or personal satisfaction? Tell me why.

Usually, time doesn't really matter in the events I do. I am very competitive so I like to go into a race feeling like I can race with the best and sometimes race to win. This gives me personal satisfaction when I know I have gone out there and raced as hard as I can and even better when it means I win.

When's your next big run and what is it?

The 21km Kinabalu Climbathon, October 2 (Borneo, Malaysia) and then the Fifty Mile North Face Climb, December 3 (San Francisco, California, USA).

Tell me about Salomon Running and it team environment there.

It is a family. We are the heart beats driven by the heart, Greg Vollet, who has inspiration, motivation and a vision for us all to succeed. We have the legs, the power, the passion and an understanding between us all that is sometimes hard to get on the outside. We strive to create products that work and to make our experience on the trails a better one.

Where are you based these days?

Just where ever the next race will take me.

- © Fairfax NZ News