Ana-Maria Green
Ana has been a member of TWH for 11 and a half years. She is one of the regulars at all the long distance events - usually the Thanet Marathon and Beachy Head. In October 2008 she attempted the London-Brighton run - a total of 56 miles, but due to the severe weather conditions and poor navigation skills was forced to withdraw at 30 miles. A sub 4 hour marathon is her lifetime goal and one she hopes to finally secure in 2009.
- Marathon: 4:02:39 (London 2008)
- Half Marathon - 1:43 (Paddock Wood 2008, Sussex Beacon 2001, Kingston 2000)
- 20 miles - 2:46 (Thanet 2001)
- 10 miles - 1:01:26 (Hildenborough 2000)
Back in 1997 I was part of a team training to take part in a charity mini-triathlon in memory of my best school friend’s brother who died of cancer at 21. Liz Laury and I attended the same circuit class at St John’s and she suggested I come along to the Harriers for the running element. The rest as they say, is history.
At primary school I had been good at sprinting, hurdles and high jump. At secondary school I participated in the Jane Fonda “make it burn” aerobics classes and thought myself too grown up to participate in any other sports!
I do not have much spare time and I am not very good at relaxing, thus my holidays in the sun are very important to me. I am also known to like drinking and dancing, which usually result in a number of funny stories!
A best race for me is feeling great throughout and achieving the best time for the course, very rarely do these two things seem to occur together! My time at Beachy Head in 2006 of 4hr 18 has to have been one of my best races and achievements. I knocked twenty minutes off of my previous year’s time, and given that I felt really awful pre-race, having only flown back from Madrid the day before, I am still surprised how I managed to achieve this.
Everyone knows I hate Thanet, both the 20 mile race and the marathon, from the concrete and cabbages to the severe winds and blazing heat! That said, despite the not very good times, as an individual and as part of a team, I have more trophies from Thanet than from any other race event!
My worst memories are of the first time I completed Thanet in 2001 and more recently in 2007. In 2001 I was on the course for what seemed an eternity. I had been struggling with back and neck ache and had to seek medical attention at mile 16. I was getting slower and slower and extremely cold. As Thanet is a KC race and we had a ladies team, I was determined to not let Claire or Lindsay down or jeopardise their achievements and chances of a team prize. I did manage to finish in 4hr 20 and this helped to secure the Club’s first Kent Championship ladies team gold.
In 2007 I was so exhausted and struggling during the final stages, when at the last mile Kay suddenly appeared cheering me on and offering me Jelly Babies. She ran the whole last mile with me, giving me wonderful words of support and encouragement, and I am sure without Kay, it is fair to say I really would have struggled to have got across the finish line.
Most definitely the Beachy Head Marathon. Since its change of name I have only missed the 2007 race, and this was because I was running New York the following week. Whilst there is no doubt it is a challenging course, the scenery is breathtaking, the steps, the lone piper, Birling Gap and of course the Seven Sisters, never fail to remind me why I love the experience and event so much.
I don’t have any! Those serious Harriers amongst us will be horrified to learn I do not follow any diet or race plan. It is only in the last couple of years I have become familiar with race pace and I’m still struggling with my Garmin! My sister still thinks I am a running anorak though!
I have run many races, miles and Sunday runs with Jackie, in varied weather conditions and varying distances, and through it all we never seem to run out of conversation! I consider her not just a fellow Harrier but also a friend and someone whose running achievements I admire hugely. I must also mention Guy Gracey, who took on the role of my mentor and trainer in the months leading up to New York in an effort to help me secure the elusive sub-4. For this reason, being so close was extremely disappointing.
Anything other than the distance ahead and/or my tired legs! My father was a keen athlete and I feel especially close to him when I’m running. I have had a lot of conversations in my head with him during different races, usually when I am extremely tired and struggling. I like to think that from where he is watching he is proud of my modest achievements and it is quite often this thought which helps to me push on.
Chocolate!
I can’t think of any other goals whilst I am still unable to tick the sub-4 box.
That sounds dramatic! I am fortunate to not have suffered any, or I have conveniently forgotten them! Our decision to withdraw at 30 miles from the London to Brighton was disappointing. It could be said our map reading, navigation and compass reading skills were the disaster!
In recent years it has been wonderful to see the Harriers expand, embracing all abilities and the support and friendships which have evolved. I consider myself very much an amateur and average runner, but I am always very proud to say I belong to the Tunbridge Wells Harriers.