Tell us a little about yourself (kids, married, job)? My name is Catherine Andrews. I am married and have one son, three dogs, one cat, and a leopard gecko (all pets are rescues). I work full-time as a Sr. Paralegal for a regional bank in Cleveland, Ohio and I am also a part-time college student working towards completing my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
When and why did you start running? I have been running off and on for years, mostly to cross train for other sports I was participating in. I did not really dedicate my time and effort to running until 2020. Trail running was on my radar after reading an article about a local trail runner and I knew I wanted to make trail running my next sport. I use exercise to help control my mental and physical health along with maintaining my identification as an amateur athlete.
What keeps you motivated to train? My mental and physical health keeps me motivated to train; I feel my best when I engage in exercise. The next big race always helps keep the fire burning too.
What are your hobbies outside of running? I love food and trying new restaurants, which is not much of a hobby, but I love food and exploring local eateries. When I am not trail running, I love hiking with my son. Northeast Ohio has some great park systems.
What is your favorite race? Burning River Endurance Run is my favorite race because it offers 100M, 50M, 4-person relay, and 8-person relay. It is cool to see so many different trail runners come together and race the course.
What is your bucket list event? Burning River Endurance Run 50M is on the list this year. I am sure I will have others as I grow in this sport.
What is the funniest thing to happen to you during a race? This was during a training run; I thought a hair weave was a snake and freaked out for nothing.
What is your proudest race moment? My proudest moment is any time I lace up and toe the line at a race.
What is the one thing you wish you knew when you first started running? Consistency is key to success in this sport- you will get out what you put in.
What is your best piece of advice for new runners? Start slow/consistent, strength train, and do not skip the dang warm-up!