Name: Anna Brown

Occupation: Cancer Pharmacist

Home Town: London

Questions

What is your running background?

I came to running quite late after a 14-year rowing career. During that time I’d dabbled a bit with halfs and marathons as cross-training but had never done much specific training and was definitely not speedy. Its only after I retired from rowing and started getting frustrated with lack of fitness that I started running more which was around my mid-30’s. 

When did you first start running Ultra marathons and why?

I never intended to become an ultrarunner, but I love a challenge and in early 2019 I needed a massive fitness goal to aim for before undergoing my double mastectomy. On a whim I entered the Marathon des Sables to run in 2020 and then during that year I coincidentally met David Bone and Darren Strachan (Camino Ultra) who then started coaching me on a short term basis. It was only a 6 month plan leading up to MdS but the race then got pushed by 18 months due to Covid so I ended up running my first 100 miler and 24 hour track race in 2020 and was hooked. I call MdS the ‘gateway drug’ to ultra running…

When or where (at which events) are we most likely to see you?

I mainly enter ‘runnable’ events as my training (on the flat towpath in London) lends itself more to those. I’ve done the four main Centurion 100’s and GUCR and KACR as well as a couple of track 24 hour races. I can also be found at the Camino Ultra events obviously and seem to have become a regular at the Scilly 60.

What are your personal key running achievements to date?

The race I’m most proud of is my overall win at KACR last year where I also set a new female course record. I’d entered it as a ‘dry-run’ for Spartathlon so I was really happy at the outcome! I’m also really proud of my 2024 Spartathlon finish, when I was the only British female finisher that year. The other achievement that I’m most proud of is completing the Centurion (unofficial) 100 Grand Slam in 2022. Due to surgical complications I ended up having 5 operations during that year in between all the races and I also had to run the TP100 solo in December as I’d missed the event due to Covid so getting through all of that was tough going.

What Races do you have planned up to Spartathlon?

I haven’t raced as many ultras this year as I have dubbed it the year of the ‘short’ race (apart from this!). I DNFed last year after racing quite a lot earlier in 2025 so I wanted to get a solid block of training in through the Summer without having to worry about tapering and recovery this time. I did accidentally run the ‘Triple Crown’ at Scilly 60 in June though, completing the 42k, 60k and 110k over the 5 day event. I’ve also just run the Capital Ring FKT during the heatwave as that seemed like perfect Spartathlon training!

What was your hardest experience?

DNFing MdS in the ‘hot/sick’ year of 2021 after training so hard for nearly 3 years. I was the fittest for running I’d ever been so I was absolutely crushed when the heat and sickness wiped me out. It took a long time to get over that but I did go back and complete it in 2023 and used the determination from the past disappointment to power me through!

What is your typical race strategy for an ultra?

Depends on the terrain and length but I try and break the race down into manageable chunks and plan a target pace for specific sections, allowing for slippage. This allows me to work towards different goals that can be adjusted throughout. I like to try and familiarise myself as much as I can with the route whether that’s recces or studying the course maps.

What does a typical training week look like?

I’m limited a lot by working in a London hospital and having pretty rigid hours so most of my midweek runs have to be during commutes on the flat tow path. In the last year I’ve started going to more club runs with Barnes Runners and am doing weekly track sessions to work on speed. I’ll also do longer runs at weekends. I am trying to get in regular strength sessions and core work too to reduce the risk of getting injured during Spartathlon again.

What one tip would you pass onto people running an Ultra marathon for the first time?

You will inevitably feel rubbish at some point and want to stop, but generally if you can walk it out it will get better!

Tell us one interesting fact about you?

When I used row I won two Commonwealth gold medals. 

Have you taken part in the Spartathlon before?

Yes – 2024 and 2025

How did you get on at Spartathlon?

In 2024 I managed to finish but it wasn’t pretty. I really struggled on the second day with impact pain and couldn’t run at all for most of the last 50k (really disappointing when the last half marathon is downhill!) I also had borderline heatstroke by the end. In 2025 I was in much better shape and was easily an hour up on the previous year by half way, but I developed a knee injury going into the night which made it impossible to run downhill. Then it started raining really heavily and because I couldn’t move quickly enough due to pain I got really cold and had to call it after the mountain at 100 miles. I was absolutely gutted.

What tip would you pass on to those taking part for the first time?

In a ‘normal weather year’ – Use the night. The cooler temperature and lack of Sun make it easy to back off on hydration and fuelling but you need to get your body ready to deal with another day of the heat so keep pushing the fluids and fuel and reapply suncream before the Sun comes up! And after last year as a ‘cold and wet weather year’ I’d add to make sure you have plenty of dry/warm layers, whether with crew or in your drop bags. I had full waterproofs but most people didn’t. After DNFing we drove the rest of the course and there were a lot of interesting looking makeshift waterproofs being used from bin bags to space blankets – and lots of people looking quite blue! Its not always hot in Greece!

What are you looking forward to at the Spartathlon race?

Having another crack and using what I’ve learnt from 2 quite different experiences, righting some wrongs and hopefully running some of that last half marathon! Also hanging out with the BST and having a good time.

What are you not looking forward to during the Spartathlon race?

The pain.

How will you prepare specifically for the Spartathlon race?

This year with the prolonged heatwave I’m just trying to run much more in the heat of the day. I’m also trying to get more mileage on harder surfaces to mimic the pummelling the joints will get in Greece. I will spend a lot more time in the sauna for a few weeks before the race.

Will you be bringing any support crew to the race? (If so, please introduce them briefly)

Yes – My sister Kath and brother-in-law Lee. They have both crewed me in ultras and through the night before and have done a fantastic job. I’ve sold this one to them on the basis the nighttime crew points are much more lively and sociable at late-opening Greek tavernas than sitting alone in the dark on a canal towpath!