Andrew Rojas: Running Across Luxembourg

My name is Andrew Rojas. I was never the fastest, strongest, or most talented, but I was never a quitter, and I just love getting better. From the moment I could, I was always an active kid: I biked to school, was in the gym, and practiced with my brother in all our free time. This work ethic led me to play golf at the collegiate level, but even that wasn't enough; it felt like I didn't have an off switch. I was always striving for myself, to keep pushing, never stop improving.

I think that's what started my passion for running. I started with 10k’s, then a half-marathon, a full marathon, and now... a 100km run.

How did you come up with the idea to run 100 kilometers across Luxembourg?

My thought process was that, even with having done half and full marathons, I had this feeling that, before turning 21, I hadn't done enough.

So I came up with the idea of running 100 km on my birthday (August 8), which I thought would be a fun experience and give me a platform to tie the topic of athletes' mental health to my efforts.

I then thought of places I could run and came to the conclusion: why not run from one border to the other of the country I live in? Luxembourg!

As a Division II golfer at Maryville University, how did you start your long-distance running journey? Tell us more about the Philadelphia Marathon and other half-marathons you have competed in!

Golf and running were two very separate sports for me. My whole life, including my childhood, I have been a golfer. I have spent so much time practicing and working hard to become a collegiate golfer, but honestly, golf has always been seen more like a job to me. I loved the sport, but I knew I had to be disciplined even when I did not want to play – that I had to practice.

Running was more of a hobby for me. When I was around 16, I started running 10Ks, mostly just to keep myself fit. I got the idea of running from my dad. He was running half marathons when I was around that age. So then, like father, like son, I wanted to run a half-marathon. I signed up for my first one when I was 17, and from then on, I was always looking for the next big thing I could do. Always asking myself how I could get better.

I ran a full marathon during my Thanksgiving break in my college golf career and managed to do well. I learned I can continue to practice and have the time I need for golf while still doing something else I love. Running.

How have you been preparing, both mentally and physically, for the run across Luxembourg?

I have been preparing in various ways. I realized early on in creating the project that I needed to do prep work beyond just my running. I had gotten an injury called IT band syndrome due to overuse and weakness in the knee and glutes. I had to stop running and learned a lot about physical therapy. I have been doing a lot of knee and resistance band work and foam rolling.

Before this injury, recovery was nothing I had ever thought about. Now it is essential for me.

And it's not just the physical recovery, it's mental as well. Why is mental health important to you? How do you take care of your own mental health while competing in two vastly different sports?

As a student-athlete in the US, I have had a handful of struggles of my own. Pressure, expectations, burnout, and anxiety are something many athletes have to deal with. For many athletes, the sport that was started for happiness turns into something that brings them no joy.

I think it is super important that athletes find outlets and strategies to handle the mental struggles of athletics. For example, I use running as an outlet for my main sport, golf. I’ve found that doing another sport without expectations has given me a new perspective and an outlet for happiness, and has also allowed me to fall back in love with golf. I think athletes' mental health is an overlooked aspect of sport, which is super vital, and I'm just happy if I can set one pair of eyes on it.

Is there anything else you'd like to share, or a takeaway message you'd like to share with our readers?

Not only do I want to raise awareness and put a spotlight on athletes' mental health, but I also want to show that anything is possible if you put your heart and mind into it. 3 years ago, I could barely do a 10 km run, and now I'm doing a 100 km run. I want to be living proof that we are so lucky to be alive & healthy, and we should be able to dream and chase whatever we put our mind and hearts into!