Is anyone else finding Anya insufferable these days? More brand deals than sense, even promoting products she 100% does not use, but cash is king it seems. Labelling herself as an elite and international marathoner is very generous, particularly having been paced twice in marathons by ex coach, Nick Bester. It seems she threw him under the bus once she found fame. Her performances have declined but given she has a full time sponsorship, goes on training camps and is a running coach with no 9-5 job, how can this be?
Is anyone else finding Anya insufferable these days? More brand deals than sense, even promoting products she 100% does not use, but cash is king it seems. Labelling herself as an elite and international marathoner is very generous, particularly having been paced twice in marathons by ex coach, Nick Bester. It seems she threw him under the bus once she found fame. Her performances have declined but given she has a full time sponsorship, goes on training camps and is a running coach with no 9-5 job, how can this be?
She's making a good living from the brand deals, so well done to her. I think your annoyance is akin to getting annoyed at an actor in a commercial, it's just the way brands advertise and line of influencer/actor is blurred these days.
The elite status, I get your drift. I've represented England in the last 12 months, so maybe equivalent to Anya, and wouldn't describe myself as elite.
Coaching wise, it obviously made a better financial decision for her to be with Runna. I know Matt Fox gets bashed here but he did highlight how Best Athletics coaches work (Nick takes 50%+ of fee for all coaches). She probably earns more from Runna. Money talks.
Performance wise, she has annoyingly gone backwards. She was on cusp of being a real asset to GB team and now that seems to fizzled out. I guess she prefers getting joy from a nice lifestyle, not having to worry about money too much, over that 'win' of being the best runner you can be. It's not an unreasonable choice, I too like money.
If you don't like what she's doing, just block her. Why hate watch something? I don't consume media I don't like, just move on to the next thing that you do. My suggestion would be Jake Barraclough - Ran To Japan, he's best example of 'opposite' to Anya I can think of.
Your reference towards hate watching isn’t quite fair, I had been following her for a long time as like many, loved and respected her journey. However, there does seem to be a lack of grace/humbleness in her approach. I’m sure you’ll agree
Is anyone else finding Anya insufferable these days? More brand deals than sense, even promoting products she 100% does not use, but cash is king it seems. Labelling herself as an elite and international marathoner is very generous, particularly having been paced twice in marathons by ex coach, Nick Bester. It seems she threw him under the bus once she found fame. Her performances have declined but given she has a full time sponsorship, goes on training camps and is a running coach with no 9-5 job, how can this be?
Fair point. I am, as fan of elite running disappointed. She seemed on a not dissimilar trajectory to some like Rose Harvey (now 2:23 marathon runner who came out of 'nowhere') but Anya seems far to comfortable running 2:45 marathons and taking brand deals.
Other people, will find that all more entertaining and inspiring but, probably similar to you, I find journeys of where 'average runners/decent club runners only' have fought their way up to world champs/olympic standard more entraining.
For avoidance of doubt, if Lululemon paid me £50kpa I'd agree never to run another sub 6 mins/mile again and jog around everywhere. I'm full on a hypocrite...
Whilst she trained hard, I think people mustn’t kid that she would have gone further than when she was at 2:34/35/36, regardless of any brand deals she has signed. 2:34 is very very solid but I can’t forsee her getting close to that again or catching up with the likes of Philly Bowden, Becky Briggs, Molly Smith etc. Can argue she’s made the decision to follow the money, but her hand may have been forced knowing she didn’t actually stand a chance of making another elite field or being professional. Lots of people found it insulting how she treated the elite entry at London last year. Whilst she claimed to have treated it as a celebration of her hard work (fair enough) she was nowhere near other brits and was even beaten by many females who had good for age entries. Worry not, the British female elite field is incredibly exciting. One must look forward to that rather than watching an influencer lapping up engagement.
I think my deep dislike of it all is the way that athletic merit and performance and - if I may - 'virtue' have been so totally split off from what financial rewards these may bring. In terms of 'athletics development' there are so many better options than Culling for the commercial money in the sport to be spent - a notional 19 year old/early 2 Top 10 UK 1500m runner from a poor family who can't raise a few hundred quid to get the suitable medical treatment to sort an ongoing injury, and may drift from the sport. There are so many much more deserving people in the sport than Culling for some £ benefits.
Because it's not my world I wonder what goes on in the heads of these people as they work out how to get a load of money for, really, nothing. I do admit to getting schadenfreude when I read that their inner lives have melted down.
Can anyone confirm that Bester takes 50% + of the fees paid to Bester coaches other than himself? If so, why do they stay with him?
Anya wouldn’t be in her position without everything Bester did for her. I think what’s disappointing is that her story was so inspiring for many, now she just comes across as self obsessed and constantly showing off a luxury lifestyle. Imagine if she didn’t run that 2:36 with Bester pacing her in London in 2022, things would be very different (rumours about doping but who knows - apparently health related) Your points on brands like lululemon not putting money with talent is very on point. But someone like Anya has a mass following and that means the brand gets greater exposure. Similar to Jonny Davies too. Not an elite or exceptional of outstanding athlete, just runs (fast walk to be honest) far, sticks it all over socials and there we go. Cash cow. Have never been coached by Bester or his business so can’t comment on his rates but heard it was something like that.
I really disagree with this. Noone knows her ceiling was 2:34.
I think Rose Harvey is a good example here. She kept chopping her marathon time down. No track pedigree, no obvious talent. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but hardly anyone would have foreseen Harvey's progress from 2019 to now.
I think there's similar stories of US women, but I'd need someone with more knowledge to give an example.
Anya has managed to monetise something she enjoys, well done to her. She might look back on her path with regret over he PBs, great opportunity to train full time but seemingly no focus/drive to execute.
I really disagree with this. Noone knows her ceiling was 2:34.
Anya has managed to monetise something she enjoys, well done to her. She might look back on her path with regret over he PBs, great opportunity to train full time but seemingly no focus/drive to execute.
My take - no more than a POV - is that it's a cowardly, empty and vulgar pathway; to either see how far her very high of level of talent can take her (much faster than 2.34 surely), with all the great people in the sport she might meet along the way; or to cash in and spend time with people whose raison d'etre for working with her is to monetise a small part of the leisure sector.
Not too sure how many female runners can relate to her anymore. Her narrative is way off. Also, how many more years will we hear about the 2:36 ran in 2022?
Can't blame her, as most people have said, her chance of success as a traditional 'elite' was slim and her paychecks probably would have been lower. She's enjoying her life, getting paid - but for people who actually follow the sport, we're not her target audience anymore. Fairplay to her. I unfollowed a while back
Although I still enjoy following Becky Briggs, who runs in some of the same circles as Anya but is more of a 'serious' athlete and whose content is more up my street. I think she treads the influencer/athlete line better
Becky has also been running for a long time, rather than just running as a result of Covid, which seems to be the way for majority of runfluencers. She ran 2:29 a while back and has struggled with injuries but really feel she’s going to get better and better. Also, very humble and grounded in her approach when working with brands/telling her story. Can’t be said for someone else. Great to see the sport getting more and more poplar, but a pitty at times it doesn’t feel as pure and organic as it once did. Hey ho!
Someone mentioned Molly Smith above, definitely worth looking out for. Sister of Jake Smith. Getting quicker by each marathon. I think 2:30/31 recently. Very promising