From roaring to a surprise Run Norwich victory to winning a national award, an unforgettable 2022 has left Anya Culling fired up for another big year.
After starting to take her running seriously during the first Covid lockdown, the former Wymondham College pupil was crossing the line in front of Norwich City Hall on a real high.
Setting a new female record of 34 minutes and 43 seconds for the 10K in her home city, the success followed being the third British woman to finish the London Marathon a few weeks earlier.
Remarkably, the former Norfolk junior hockey and cricket player knocked over two hours off her 2019 time to finish in just two hours and 36 minutes.
That earned Anya the Most Improved UK Road Runner of the Year award in Athletics Weekly’s Readers’ Choice Awards last month - capping her amazing year.
“I’ve read the magazine for ages. It was so cool that my grandma could go into the shops and get a copy," said the former Dereham Hockey Club player.
"They sent me a medal. I cut the page out and put it on my bedroom wall!
“Having the support of people who both know and don’t know me was amazing. Looking at the nominees, people like Eilish McColgan and Eliud Kipchoge - who can run a sub-two-hour marathon - I cannot believe that people voted for me and were inspired by my story.”
Anya says she became "totally addicted" to running during lockdown - and now has her sights set on the big time, including qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
“It’s a wild dream, but I would love to shoot for Commonwealth entry," she continued.
"I’m riding this high with running. This year will be one of the most amazing years of my life.
"I’m going to do a spring and autumn marathon and get as close to a two-and-a-half-hour finish as possible. The main aim is to keep enjoying it."
Anya says she runs at least 100km a week and hit a total of 5,000km for the year with a New Year's Eve run.
“I would love an England vest in the next year or so," added Anya, who grew up near Watton.
"I’m still pretty new to running. I don’t know where my limits are.
"This year I can be really pushed and come to really understand my running capabilities."
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