Andrea Toppin

Do you have a quote that guides, inspires, or embodies your training/racing/life?
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan

What was your favorite sport in middle school?
Whoof…that’s tough! I want to say basketball because I loved contributing to something bigger than myself with my teammates on the court, BUT I believe it was cross country. My school was really small at the time, so we didn’t have enough to score as a team, so results were very individualized. Right before starting junior high, everyone told me I was going to the Olympics and that I should go out for cross country. I looked at them like they were nuts and went out anyways. I always loved cross country over track. I loved running in nature with a constant change in scenery along the way…it was like an adventure for me. Cross country to me back then was more for competition and trying to be different than everyone else at my school who went out for volleyball. I loved it because it was challenging, painful, and nobody wanted to do it so it made me feel like a badass.

Can you share your first sports bra experience?
Being a small breasted child (maybe even adult these days…whoops) I never wore a bra until I was 10 years old. I remember asking my mom for one before my first ever basketball tournament with my friends in the 4th grade. Most everyone had sports bras, and as a little 10 year old girl I felt it was sign of strength. I was a little string bean out there on the court, so my first ever sports bra made me feel like a badass to be honest. I get the same feeling when I put on my sports bra for runs/races today being in my mid-late 20’s.

What is your favorite piece of #flystyle and why?
My favorite piece of #flystyle would have to be all of the sports bras (I can’t pick one…they are all marvelous). They are all soft and flexible to any and all body types! I love the colors, the feel, and the boldness of them all.

If you could give one piece of advice to a 12 year old girl, what would it be?
Don’t get caught up in how others are living their lives. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing or how others will think of you. Always smile and try to find the positive in the most negative of situations! Be you. Be unique. Live your life. Dream big dreams.

If you could give one piece of advice to a 12 year old girl, what would it be?
Don’t get caught up in how others are living their lives. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing or how others will think of you. Always smile and try to find the positive in the most negative of situations! Be you. Be unique. Live your life. Dream big dreams.

Tell us about your favorite place you have ever traveled to:
I’ve been to many beautiful tropical areas of the world, but my most favorite place I have ever traveled to would have to be Colorado, specifically the Frisco/Breckenridge/Vail area of Colorado (towns in the mountains). I have climbed 5 “14er’s” (14,000 ft mountains), and I have never seen anything more breathtaking than being at the top of a mountain. I have a bucket list to climb all of the 14er’s in Colorado…and I believe there are around 60ish of them.

What alternative career do you fantasize about?
I always wanted to be a Graphic Designer. As a child, I was obsessed with homes. I would play Sims all of the time, decorate/design and layout loads of different homes. I would watch HGTV all of the time. Then I realized I liked the idea of healing the human body more so I stuck with becoming a Chiropractor.

What is your superpower?  
My superpower is perseverance. I always find myself trying to accomplish big goals in the most challenging circumstances. I’m stubborn and I never give up on something I want. For example, in college while running for Iowa State, I went through injury after injury after injury. I would make a comeback and then suddenly get injured again, but I never quit. During my junior year at Iowa State, I had a really bad stress fracture at the top of my tibia. The orthopedist told me it would never heal. He told me he was going to put a giant nail down my tibia and that I would never run again. I told him I was going to try and heal so he gave me crutches. With a very positive attitude and perseverance I healed, made a comeback, and the following year I helped my team qualify for the national meet in cross country. Never give up, always persevere and fight for your dreams.