5 minutes with...Anna Frost
Frosty - she's the champ!
2008 WMRA Grand Prix champion – has a nice ring to it! PE teacher, and new Saab Salomon recruit, Anna Frost is one of those human beings that make the world go round. With sport in her blood from a young age, coupled with that Kiwi tenacity, Anna was always destined for the top.
So how did all of this begin then, Anna?
I played field hockey for 14 years when I was younger and was always doing everything I could at school, i.e. touch rugby, rowing, cross country skiing, triathlon and running. In 2000 I started focusing more on running, running anything from 10kms, 5kms, road races, cross country, ½ marathons and triathlons and eventually giving up hockey. In 2004 I qualified for the world mt running champs in Sauze d’oux – Italy, and instantly fell in love with the racing, the people, the environment and the travel. So in 2005 I began following the grand prix circuit and various other international mt races. I met so many amazing friends and families and adventured so many incredible places and mountains. For 3 years I did 6 months of racing in Europe and then would return to nz to PE teach and do various other sports specific jobs. 2007 I decided to stay in Wales with my boyfriend Gilbert and have travelled to and from Europe to race ever since.
2008 was a great year for you. What were the ingredients that went into making it such a good year?
I really enjoyed running this year. I couldn’t wait to get out running in the hills and because of this did some quite high mileage. I also did (and won!!!) the Salomon MTX adventure race as a team of girls so I had to get a lot of mileage both running and biking under the belt. I spent most weekends doing long run, bike, run, bike sessions which I really loved and the swimming help all the aching muscles.
You’ve joined the crack Saab Salomon squad for 2009, how did that happen?
Last year I was approached by the brilliant team manager Tim Lloyd, however, it just wasn’t the right time for me. This year I was ready to bump it up and take on another challenge of adventurous, new and exciting races with some fantastic athletes…so bring it on.
Anna gets ready for some Scottish basejumping...
You teach by day, a challenging enough job in itself, how do you balance that and training to be one of the worlds best mountain runners?
The school I teach PE in – Ysgol Dinas Bran – Llangollen is really supportive of my mountain running, so when I need time off they are really great about helping me. I couldn’t do it without them. I am also lucky that the school is based in an incredible location, with canals for flat runs, steep hills for hill reps and rolling fells and trails for long beautiful training runs.
Along with Jono Wyatt you two are running things at the moment, is there something in the New Zealand water? ! Seriously, is there something in that part of the world that makes for good mountain runners?
Just magical mountains that inspire you to run up them!
Anna and Jono - legendary Kiwis
You’re currently a UK resident. Is that permanent move, or do you see yourself returning to NZ?
After this year of exciting races including the grand prix series (Slovenija, Austria and Norway), the Trans Rockies running race, mt blanc cross, drei zinnen mountain marathon and mount Everest marathon I think I will slowly travel my way home maybe through India, Thailand and Japan . I do miss the NZ mountains and going out for breakfast after long Sunday runs!
You’re having a dinner party, no expense spared, who’s coming and why?
All my family, running buddies and friends from NZ! Why because…I miss them loads! Oh and of course the Salomon team!
