CHAT WITH ANYA CULLING

[@MZ123Z]

Nick, this is an insane success story. As a coach you have to be proud. Anya is an absolute beast

[@justalilbester]

Thank you 🙏🏻 its something I am so proud of and it’s all happened so quickly too!

[@edenratcliffe]

I love Anya! She is such an inspiration for me ❤

[@paulmichaeljelley540]

Love this!! she is unreal!!!

[@CityTrailRunner]

That's what I love about the marathon. People can seemingly come out of nowhere, put in the elite-style work as "amateurs" with a day job and end up National Class (e. g. Keira D'Amato). Well done, Anya.

[@justalilbester]

Very true! There’s no secrets and no shortcuts! Anyone can try it 🙌🏻

[@aethylwulfeiii6502]

Being born and training at altitude is about as close to a short cut as you can get.

[@martinkelsen6049]

Amazing, well done Anya. What a fantastic achievement, and good luck wearing that England vest!

[@lekkainc]

Congratulations Anya, we saw both of you just before the start at London last year. Good luck in Copenhagen representing the country

[@nikolaykumchev9530]

The best progress by a UK athlete in 2022! Wow, amazing achievement!

[@justalilbester]

Yeah indeed she was UK’s most improved runner in 2022! 👏🏻 Puts in the work that’s for sure but doesn’t take things too seriously at the same time. It’s a good balance.

[@1evesque]

Watched the London marathon video. Love the energy there. You both are awesome. I just started running. So these videos are definitely inspiring. Thank you!

[@justalilbester]

Great to hear and GOOD LUCK with your running journey going forward! Let's gooooo!!

[@stephenrobinson4449]

WOW , so inspiring. Congrats and Good Luck!

[@Snerunseasy]

Amazing achievement by both of you Coach and Anya , well done and congratulations... great video

[@MattRuns]

Anya is amazing 👏🏻

[@PhilippPley]

Anya is a beast and the best is yet to come, how exciting!

[@justalilbester]

Agreed! Her best years are still a while away! 👀

[@just_mls]

Lovely. Just phenomenal 🫶🏻

[@nicograf9745]

Really enjoyed this interview and congrats to Anya! Amazing story.

[@therunningtattooartist5172]

So so happy for you Anya!! And of course to Nick at Best Athletics!!

[@jonathanwatkins447]

Amazing progress. Insane how much improvement on time. Well done guys

[@jemrealalcaraz9593]

this is great, literally just rewatched the london marathon vlog. always inpiring to see amazing athletes accomplish their goals

[@justalilbester]

Thanks and not too long until tower bridge will be pumping again! Cannot wait!!

[@paulabradshaw5256]

Love Anya. She inspired my recent my recent marathon so thank you, both of you.

[@justalilbester]

Amazing to hear! I'm her coach and she inspires me too! Congrats on the marathon!

[@roberthodgson3574]

This is what peak performance looks like for coach & athlete.

[@Demiduivenvoorden]

so proud of you both!!!!

[@justalilbester]

Thansk Demi 💙

[@Leeroy49]

Also in Copenhagen :) great. See you there maybe^^. Good luck.

[@justalilbester]

Awesome, hopefully see you there!! Let’s goooo 🇩🇰

[@chrisgrayson353]

Amazing ❤❤❤

[@Felstead]

Great interview and a wonderful story!

[@srinivaiyapuri3674]

Wow!!!!! Great achievement.

[@MrCalpol123]

This is amazing guys, great interview! Love the channel! Ran Cambridge half marathon last weekend and was keeping an eye out for you but missed you unfortunately. Agree with the splits it’s so satisfying repping consistent km’s/miles. Managed to do this and actually negative split at the weekend for a 12 minute PB 1:26. Hopefully I can use some of the tips you and Anya mention ahead of Manchester marathon (first marathon) in April 🫣😬. Awesome video though guys!

[@justalilbester]

Glad you loved it and there was some good take away's for you! Well done Cambridge, especially the negative split and HUGE good luck for your first marathon! Manchester is going to have vibes of note! All the best!

[@MarkSmith_Best-Athletics]

Amazing Story. Good luck in Copenhagen 🇩🇰🤞I will be running there too. This week + another 6 then 2 for taper to go 🙂

[@DeeKay1911]

As a Dane, it’s amazing Anya is joining Copenhagen in May. Amazing race and I will run it for 4th or 5th time 🥳

[@djungtjhong672]

Congrats Anya..mantaapp.. keren🎉🎉

[@paulhanson1600]

Absolutely amazing Anya, surely as a reward Nick must wear an England shirt for the next rugby or football international tournament 😃😎

[@justalilbester]

Haha I mean I was hoping the coach would get an England shirt too but hey it seems like I'll have to work a lot harder for one of those ;)

[@garyflynn3762]

Go go Ayna!!! Well done in your marathon time reduction!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Also your place on the English running squad !!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Well done to Nick, top coach !!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@kaitlyngeorge8250]

I love her kit! Does anyone know what brand this is?

[@rxdaaa8726]

Amazing, congrats Anya!! 🥳 How long have you been working together?

[@justalilbester]

2 years pretty much to the day! 🎉

[@josephgonzalez_]

To reach this level Anya is right, running has to be a lifestyle choice. You do need to be consistent and put in the work: all the race specific sessions and the mileage. Motivation has to be high, which is easier to maintain if you have the talent and can see the results. I speak from personal experience as an M50 masters athlete who has also progressed to international level.

[@justalilbester]

Very wise words and well said!! Great work on the progression too 🙌🏻 keep going!!

[@AlfGuitar]

Cool vid mate!! I’m running Huntingdon half on the 19th, and London in April, any advice?

[@justalilbester]

It's perfect timing to give a half a nice hard effort in prep for London! Practice race day routine too! Good luck!!

[@Dmasson14]

My goal for London is 2:55. It would be amazing to run in your sub 3 hour group. Hope to see you there.

[@justalilbester]

Amazing!! Clear the path for us! We’ll be just behind you! 🎉

[@denirolondon8911]

Amazing journey, if she goes Kenya to do hight altitude training she could really go far 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

[@justalilbester]

Definitely on the cards one day! 💪🏻

[@glywnniswells9480]

Wow man thats excellent. This is the kind of story that inspires its mind boggling What was the progression tho did u make this improvement over 10 marathons or how many?

[@justalilbester]

That’s a good question for Anya. There was a big period of no races during covid. But I think she must have done about 5 between them.

[@theandroids]

She was blazing through.

[@BigStevo1]

Crazy progress like this equals amazing genes. 99.9% of people could never improve this much no matter what they did in training. Well done though - well deserved success 👍

[@hannahstewart8299]

Anya must have some crazy physiology along with the hard work! I think I’m not blessed in that department aha

[@justalilbester]

Keep showing up consistently, getting comfortable and getting uncomfortable, train smart and results will come!!

[@MNP208]

Anya is similar to Courtney D. in that she is genetically gifted and built for long distance running.

[@Team.L]

doesn't England have several female runners sub2.30 standard? or is England's female level 2.35-2.40? 

[@CityTrailRunner]

England Athletics specified a 2:40 for women to represent the country Internationally in 2023 in the marathon, with Copenhagen being the representative race. They are sending a team of 4 women who either expressed interest in being considered or were just invited. It is a development opportunity for promising upcoming athletes. (Standard and selection for World's/Olympics is different) around. 2:28 and 2:26 I think.

[@Team.L]

@@CityTrailRunner ok 👍 thanks for the info! yeah the Olympic standard are 2.26.50 .. then u have the world points ranking system where u need have run 2.28.00 and have chansen for olympic start.

[@justalilbester]

@@CityTrailRunner Thanks for clarifying. Let's goooooo!!

[@jasperherr8694]

Her form makes me laugh