Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Ettinghausen.
Hi Andrea, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been a runner my entire life, but my relationship with running has evolved a lot over the years. I ran my first marathon, the LA Marathon, at age eight, and being part of the running community so early on allowed me to see runners of all levels and backgrounds, including my dad, who is an ultra-running world record holder. Through that exposure, I experienced both the beauty of the sport and the pressure that can come with it.
During COVID, my dad and I created a virtual race series to keep people moving and raise funds for charity. That experience became a turning point for me. I realized how much I loved building community and creating accessible experiences that helped people feel connected to their bodies and to each other, especially during a time when mental health mattered more than ever.
As I continued running and working with different communities, I noticed how often runners crossed finish lines already criticizing themselves or immediately focusing on what they didn’t do well. The joy was getting lost in the chase for PRs, rankings, and external validation. That disconnect stuck with me.
Hobby Joggers grew out of that realization. I wanted to create a space where running could be fun again, but also meaningful. We focus heavily on the mental and emotional side of running, using movement as a tool to regulate stress, build confidence, and support overall well-being, not as a way to prove anything or earn validation.
Today, Hobby Joggers hosts fun, must-attend race experiences for recreational runners, and we’ve built an online community that reframes running as something you use to feel better, not “be better.” It’s for the walkers, joggers, stroller-pushers, comeback runners, and lifelong enthusiasts who want movement to support their life, not take it over. At its core, Hobby Joggers is about fun, connection, and using running as a form of self-care.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been a meaningful one. I own and operate the day-to-day of Hobby Joggers entirely on my own, which has been empowering but also intimidating. Building something from scratch, taking financial risks, and pursuing a niche that has traditionally been criticized or dismissed as “not serious” wasn’t the safest or easiest path.
Early on, I received pushback from more elitist corners of the running world, but the overwhelmingly positive response from the community has far outweighed that. Hearing people’s stories and learning how much this space means to them has been the most validating part of the journey.
Directing races is also far more complex than most people realize. There’s a common misconception that putting on even a small race is simple, but the logistics, permits, safety planning, volunteers, and countless behind-the-scenes details are intense. That said, it does get easier with experience, especially as I’ve learned how to balance creativity with strong systems. I love introducing new themes and ideas, while also recognizing the importance of bringing back participant favorites each year.
Financially, the early years were challenging. It took about three years to break even while also ensuring our events could support our charity partners, and last year was when I was finally able to pursue Hobby Joggers full-time. Building a reliable volunteer base and leaning on community support, including my family on race days, has been essential. Seeing runners light up when they recognize familiar faces, including my dad, “The Jester,” has become part of what makes our events feel special.
In the beginning, I had an idea and a concept, but it took time to truly find my voice and solidify the brand. Now, looking back on how far Hobby Joggers has come in five years, I feel incredibly proud. If this is what we’ve built so far, I can’t wait to see where the next five years take us.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Hobby Joggers?
Hobby Joggers is a recreational running community and event brand built around inclusivity, joy, and overall wellness. We create fun, thoughtfully designed, immersive race experiences for everyday runners and walkers, and we support an online community that uses running as a tool to support mental and emotional health and overall well-being in daily life.
We specialize in making running approachable. Our events are intentionally low-pressure, welcoming all paces and experience levels, and designed to feel more like a celebration than a competition. We’re known for our creative race themes, playful details, strong community energy, and finish lines that feel like a party rather than a performance review. Every participant is celebrated, whether they run, jog, walk, push a stroller, or are showing up for the first time in a long time.
What truly sets Hobby Joggers apart is our focus on mental and emotional wellness alongside physical movement. We talk openly about burnout, comparison, and perfectionism in running, and we actively work to counter that culture. Our messaging, events, and online content reinforce the idea that running can be a form of self-care, stress relief, and confidence-building, not just a means to get faster or accomplish more.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the space we’ve created. Hobby Joggers has become a place where people feel safe showing up exactly as they are. We’ve built a community where runners feel seen, supported, and encouraged instead of judged, and that sense of belonging is something people tell us they’ve been missing.
What I want readers to know is that Hobby Joggers isn’t about doing more or being better. It’s about enjoying movement, building connection, and creating experiences that fit into real, everyday life. There are already so many incredible spaces for runners who want to chase performance, push limits, and compete, and we genuinely respect that side of the sport.
Hobby Joggers simply exists for the other side of running. For people who want movement to support their overall well-being. Whether someone joins us for a race, at run club, engages with our content, or simply finds comfort in knowing a space like this exists, our goal is the same: to remind people that running can be fun again, and that they are already enough exactly where they are.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5-10 years, I think we’re going to see a broader shift in the running and endurance world toward greater accessibility, diversity, and wellness-centered participation. For a long time, the default narrative around running has been about performance, speed, and competition, but that’s already starting to change. More people are entering the sport because they want to have fun and connect with their community.
At Hobby Joggers, we’re already seeing some of these shifts firsthand. People are hungry for spaces that celebrate the act of moving without pressure, that support mental health, and that help running feel less like a test and more like something that enhances daily life. I think the next decade will bring even more innovation in that direction, expanding who feels at home in our community and in the sport at large.
One of the biggest shifts we’re already seeing is the rapid rise of run clubs across the U.S. People are craving in-person connection, low-pressure social movement, and a genuine sense of belonging. Run clubs are becoming less about pace and more about community, accountability, and shared experience, and I think that trend will continue to grow in a big way.
What’s especially exciting is how diverse these run clubs have become. You can now find run clubs centered around socializing, EDM, beer or coffee, singles, women-only spaces, and so many different identities and interests. It’s awesome to see running evolve into something that brings people together in ways that feel fun, accessible, and reflective of real life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hobbyjoggers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hobbyjoggers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hobbyjoggers/
- Other: https://www.strava.com/clubs/joinhobbyjoggers
