Scheuber International News

A combination of hard work, discipline, and a love for running helped Pleasant Grove resident Andrea Scheuber come in first place at the Swiss Days 10K race in Midway.

The race, held on Sept. 2, began at 7 a.m. and included 314 runners. Scheuber, 30, placed first in her category of women ages 30-34. She finished the race with a time of 43:12.1 and placed sixth overall.

This year was the 60th anniversary of the Midway Swiss Days, an event that began as a celebration of bountiful harvest. It now attracts thousands of visitors each year and helps to raise funds for community projects.

Early settlers of the area came from Switzerland and the event celebrates with Swiss food, Swiss stories, and merchandise.

Scheuber also has reason to celebrate the Swiss heritage. She moved to Pleasant Grove one year ago from Switzerland with husband, Volker, and children, Kim and Liam. As a teenager, she ran cross-country and enjoyed mountain running in Switzerland. In 2003, she was the Swiss champion mountain runner. The mountain races require running 10-12 miles up very steep terrain.

"I love the mountain runs," said Scheuber.

To train, Scheuber runs for one hour each day, often to the "G" and back, in Grovecreek Canyon, or along the canal by her home.

"I have never had training opportunities so close," she said.

According to Scheuber, "Americans are amazing. They exercise so early in the mornings. At 6 a.m., the road by the canal is full of people. In Europe, we do our work in the evenings."

In addition to running, Scheuber works out daily using the Nia technique. Nia (Neuromuscular Integrative Action) is a combination of martial arts, yoga, dance, and spiritual self-healing. She has been a Nia instructor for four years.

Discipline is necessary to have success with running as she has had. When talking about the Swiss Days race, Scheuber said, "It was my goal to win. It was chilly and fresh. It was a really fast run."

In addition to the Swiss Days 10K, she has also competed in other marathons and triathlons. In 1998, she had the opportunity to run the New York Marathon. Earlier this year, she took second place at the Freedom Run 10K in Provo. Exercising is not the only thing that Scheuber enjoys. She also loves to cook and write. In Switzerland, she wrote a children's book titled "A Travel Beyond Your Dreams" (translated from German.)

And, she will begin teaching Nia on Sept. 19 at the Pleasant Grove Recreation Center, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 a.m.