The Blonde Runner

ANDY BROWNING

Occupation

I’m a data manager for the Actuarial department of a health insurance company.

Where are you from/tell us about you?

I have lived most of my life in Woods Cross and currently live 2  

miles away from the house where I grew up.  I come from a small but  

close family.  My mom, sister and I all live within a few miles of  

each other.

How did you get started in running?

After not making the soccer team during my sophomore year in high  

school I decided to run track since everybody makes the team.  Found  

out that it was something that I was decent at so I continued running  

track and cross country all through high school.  After I graduated I  

let life get in the way and stopped running but picked it up again 12  

years later after my twins were born.  I needed something that would  

be a good stress relief and help me become more healthy.

What teams have you been on?

I am currently on the St George Running Center/FastRunningBlog running team.

What is your current weekly mileage?

I’m currently running 60 miles per week and peak at 80 miles when  

training for a marathon.

When is your next race?  Other races planned for 2009?

My next race will probably be the Turkey Trot at the South Davis Rec Center.

I don’t have any big races planned in 2009.  I am taking a break from  

marathons to let my mind and body heal.  I plan to focus on getting  

better at 5K?s and half marathons in hopes that the added speed will  

help improve my marathon time.  Of course, I said the same thing about  

2008 and ended up running 5 marathons.

Favorite run?

My favorite run is from the bottom of Mueller Park canyon to Elephant  

Rock (especially in the Fall).

Favorite race distance?

I have the most fun racing ½ marathons but the marathon is definitely  

the most satisfying distance to race.

 PR?s & most memorable race?

PR’s: Marathon=2:53, 1/2 Marathon=1:23, 10K=38:20, 5K=18:27

My most memorable race is the 2007 Boston marathon.  It was the worst  

weather in the history of the race (cold, wind and rain) and I loved  

every minute of it.  Everything that you have ever heard about running  

the Boston marathon is true.

Why do you run?

So much of my time is spent taking care of kids and working that I  

use running as an escape and a way to blow off steam.  There isn’t a  

better way to relieve stress.  It has also become part of my identity - 

most people know me as “a runner”.

What are your running goals?

I’ve accomplished most of the time goals that I have set so my  

current goal is to keep running fun and maintain a high level of  

fitness.

Best advice you have been given by someone about running?

Consistency is the key to improving in long distance running.

Best advice you can give to others just getting started into running?

Be patient.  It takes a long time to see the rewards from your hard work 

but they will come and will be well worth the wait.

Other hobbies or interests?I like to wake board in the summer and 

snow board in the winter.

Tell us more about you (family, work etc)?

I have a 12 year old son and 6 year old twin daughters.  Most of my free

time is spent helping with homework or shuttling the kids to their activities 

(soccer, gymnastics, etc.).  I work part of the day from home so I have 

the flexibility to be home for my kids when they are home from school.