Emily Burrows has been running since 2019, after losing her brother to suicide. Her endurance training became a way of giving her purpose during hardship. Ever since, she has run for several charities focused on suicide awareness and mental health. Her first time running the New York City Half Marathon was in 2022, and it was her favorite race! She loved the course, the distance, and has been looking forward to running it again ever since.
Living in Kansas City, Emily is used to training in the cold, often opting to run either alone or with one of her dogs. She has four pit bulls that could all keep up with her for about two to three miles. While two of them keep pace with her, she struggles to keep up with the other two! When running with them, her attention is always on her companions. When training becomes tough, they keep her mind off any pain or discomfort. She jokes that they are her “emotional support running animals” and would have loved it if they could join her for the half marathon. But when the big day arrives, the scenery and crowds are enough to keep her going!
Outside of her full-time job, Emily works at an animal welfare group in Kansas City. She spends much of her time in lower-income communities, helping families access supplies and covering veterinary costs for their pets. Her group does everything possible to ensure the pets they help receive the love and care they need.
While she often runs with her dogs, Emily also loves listening to music during her training. Her playlist includes everything from country to R&B, hip hop, 90’s rap, rock and roll, and Taylor Swift! She considers herself a proud Swiftie! One of her favorite songs to run to is Highway to Hell by AC/DC. On days without music, her dogs’ panting does the trick!
Emily’s dad and brother are both firefighters, so she was already familiar with Answer the Call. When she began searching for her next half marathon, she knew Answer the Call would be a perfect fit. Her running experience spans across Florida, Arkansas, New York, Nebraska, Ohio, and even Berlin. She loves traveling for races and turning each one into a vacation!
To the families that Answer the Call serves, Emily shares, “After I lost my brother, I’d hate it when people told me that my brother wouldn’t want me to feel sad, because it’s important to feel these feelings. Keep living moment by moment. One day things will change. Just keep going.”
We wish you luck in the 2026 New York City United Half Marathon, Emily! We’re rooting for you!
Click here to support Emily’s fundraising efforts!
Answer the Call’s 2026 Spring Intern, Robert Dewhurst, conducted this interview and wrote this blog post.
