Race Team Member Cathi Cannon

Cathi Cannon
Age: 34
Occupation: Graphic Designer

Hailing from the flatlands of Florida, Cathi has been on a quest to live & play in the mountains since high school. A current resident of Chattanooga, she finds this to be the perfect city for the trail lover – within 15 minutes, 3 mountains with hundreds of miles of singletrack are at her disposal. Cathi began trail running 6 years ago with short distances in sprint adventure races. She has slowly ticked off several “I’ll never do those!” events, including multiple 50k’s and most recently her first 50 miler, the Tahoe Rim Trail 50. She has now learned to never say never, but rather “perhaps next year!”

Cathi works as a graphic designer to fund her trail running and racing habit. Spare time (somehow a little bit exists) is spent volunteering on the board of the Wilderness Trail Association, directing a youth & adult adventure race to benefit the local YMCA, mountain biking, and chronicling her adventures thru writing and photography at bebackonmonday.com.

Favorite training spot:
Cumberland Trail. With over 300 miles to explore, you can't get bored! Perhaps my favorite segment is along the North Chick segment, which we call the Blue Hole Run - approx 5 miles to a pristine swimming hole that is tucked away from all the day trippers. It is the perfect place to relax in the sun and swim with the fish.

What I like most about running:
Being able to immerse myself in wilderness... even if it is just 15 minutes from downtown! The solitude and peacefulness wipes away any stress from the work week.

Tips for other runners:
When new runners hear about my adventures, they think it is entirely out of reach. Hey - we all start somewhere! When I signed up for my first marathon, I could barely get through 4 miles. Sure it takes a lot of time to work up to an ultra, but nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it.

"Just understand that it takes time, commitment and patience to reach your goals. Believe in yourself and go for it!"

2009 Races/Significant Accomplishments:
Winter ankle injury forced me to pull out of some early season races (Mt Mitchell Challenge + River Gorge)
Scenic City Trail Marathon
“A” Race: Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run – 50 miler (my first!) 14 place, sub-12 hrs!
Greenway 5 Miler – 4th overall female (out of 70+)
Spent 10 days in Austria cycling & running. Highlight was 5 hrs on the Pinzgau trail
Finished 1st overall female in the Georgia Off-road Duathlon Series
Late season concussion forced me to withdraw from the StumpJump 50k
With not enough prep due to injury, I attempted the Shut-In Ridge race – definitely felt the time off, finishing 7 min slower than last year (although conditions were at near record high temps)

2008 Races/Significant Accomplishments:
Rock/Creek River Gorge Race, 6.5mile (2nd, womens open)
Rock/Creek StumpJump 11 mile Trail Run (4th, womens open)
Black Mountain Marathon (10th, womens open)
Blankets Dirty Duathlon (3rd womens overall; 2nd AG)
Shut-In Ridge Trail Run (2008: 15th, womens open)
Tsali Challenge Offroad Triathlon (4th women's solo event; 2nd women's team relay)
Greenway Challenge (4th, womens open)
Waterfront Triathlon (1st, womens relay)
Set woman's age group state record (6:33) at 2008 Blue Cross Market Street Mile
Leadville 100 mile Mountain Bike Race - finisher!
Cohutta 65 mile Mountain Bike Race (5th, womens open)
Black Bear Rampage Mountain Bike Race, 44 miles (1st, womens sport 34 & under)
Race Director, YMCA Strong Adventure Race
Vasque Ambassador
National Geographic Adventure Magazine, September

Other highlights:
- Featured in Competitor Southeast magazine, April 2007
- 2007 Ultra O-gaine, 12hr event (1st female solo, 2nd solo overall)
- 2007 Overmountain Extreme Adventure Race (3rd, elite division)
- 2007 Mountain Mist 50k (6th AG; 17th womens open)
- 2007 Black Mountain Marathon (11th, womens open)
- 2007 Rock/Creek StumpJump 50k (9th womens open)
- 2007 Tsali Challenge Offroad Triathlon (4th women's solo event; 3rd women's team relay)
- 2006 Panther Creek Xterra (1st AG)


Race reports, training stories, and pictures can be found on Cathi's Blog: www.bebackonmonday.com

2010 Race Calendar:

Cathi's Favorite Winter & Spring Trail Running Gear: