My name is Anna, I am 12 years-old and go to Kristin School in Albany, Auckland. I love to play sports, particularly netball, hockey and tennis but especially running. My friends all think it’s weird that I love to run.

My first race
 
I ran my first cross country race when I was living in Singapore.

My older brother had just won his age group race so I thought I would have a go at winning.

I didn’t know anything about running long distance so when the whistle went I just ran and kept running until the end.

I won! I was six years-old.

		Runaway start I came to New Zealand four years ago. I didn’t think about running other than to race in the annual school cross country which so far, I have won each year. I then took part in the North Shore Cluster which I also won last year. I joined North Harbour Bays Athletics Club two years ago and took part in various athletic events each week through the summer. Long distance   Last year, an athletics coach at the club spotted me running the 1500m event and asked if I would like to join the Harriers’ group
training sessions – they are the long distance runners. Our first practise was a 15km run! It was exhausting but I felt great and knew then that this was something I really wanted to do. I feel free when I am running. It’s just me alone with my heart pounding.

Perseverance
 
I get quite nervous just before a race.

I don’t know how fast everyone else is going to run and I ask myself why I do this and tell myself this is the last time.

However once the race starts all that disappears.

I talk to myself when I run, urging myself to keep going and not to stop.

At the end, all I see is the finishing line.

My mind goes blank and I sprint as fast as I can.


It pays to prepare
 
Before each race I walk or jog the course so I know the route.

I look for hard and soft spots on the course, places where I can run faster or overtake easily, and I look out for hazards.

I also make a mental note where to start the final sprint but that can change depending on what happens in the race.

I train with my coach from North Harbour Bays every Wednesday, and sometimes on Sundays. I try to run once more during the week.

Typically, I warm up with a gentle jog for four laps, then stretch, and then do a long run of about 45 minutes and some sprint training.

I stretch after my session.

I find it tough making myself go to training but once I am there, it’s fun with all my friends from the club.


Big gains

So far I have been very lucky and won most races I enter.

Last year I won the Auckland Grand Prix and the Auckland Road Race and held the title of North Island champion.

I went back this year to defend the title and came second. It was a very hard race.

It had rained heavily and every step I took was in mud or water. It felt terrible seeing the girl I beat last year come in ahead of me. I felt angry with myself.

This year I won the Grand Prix and came second in the Inter-Schools race, but the highlight was winning Gold at AIMS where my school also won the Premier Award!