Cat Runner: Following His Psych To Flow State

By Kelsey Knott • Photos By Matt Johnson

Back when Dick’s Sporting Goods had a rock wall, a tiny, young Cat Runner climbed his way to the top, instantly ready to take on the more challenging wall.

An active child from the start, Cat describes climbing without innate fear: “It’s very intuitive to us. As children, it’s how we engage with the world before we know how to walk. It’s a natural form of movement expression to explore and interact with our world.” Horseback riding, Taekwondo, basketball, and field hockey were also sports of his youth before Osgood-Schlatter condition halted cardio-heavy athletics. Though climbing took a backseat in his teen years, he found his way back with new motivation and access when a bouldering gym opened up seven years after his youth climbing program ended. 

When climbing, Cat works to achieve a flow state: “When my body and my mind are working in tandem with one another,it’s a very peaceful state. I like being able to engage and activate flow with harder and harder climbing sequences, especially climbs infamous for short people. It’s fun to find a solution that works for you.” Rather than relying on strength, he hones in technique, crediting his consistency and eventual win on HBO’s reality competition show, The Climb, where he felt supported by his climbing family. Cat finds inspiration in greats like Brooke Raboutou, but also in the behaviors and habits of his climbing circles, community leaders who create space for access and exploration, and don’t shy away from conversations about barriers. “I have a good group of friends who work hard to bridge access to equipment, spaces, and knowledge surrounding climbing. It’s important to remember that not just the climbing community, but all of our communities, are microcosms of the human condition. Rainbow flags or a pride night doesn’t mean all barriers have been removed.” 

While Cat loves a challenge, he recognizes the value of balance: “Follow the psych–wherever it takes you. If you’re not psyched on climbing right now, or frankly, it seems better to rest and chill with that time, then follow that because it’s harder to and can be more damaging to push through that once you grow a resentment. If I’m excited, I’m more likely to follow through and put the work into it and chase what makes it fun and makes me remember why I enjoy doing this hard thing in the first place.”

With the amenities of a larger city blended with local, passion-driven establishments, Louisvillians love to support what inspires them. Cat admires how Louisville rallies behind talent despite its small population: “There’s a strong sense of loyalty bred in Louisville.” He believes that the center of everything is our human experience and that continued growth in respect happens with this recognition. “I am painfully just a normal person, living my life, doing things I’m passionate about–things I’m good at at a high caliber. Some see that as inspiration. It impacts our youth knowing they have a future to exist in this world exactly as they are. People are going to love you for it. There’s space for you. You can love yourself for it.”

Besides being a rockstar athlete, Cat is a founding member of Trans Climbers Belong, which recently challenged a policy that would have prevented 90% of all trans climbers from competing in USA Climbing-sanctioned events, successfully pausing it and getting trans writers on the team for the rewrite. He also founded Queer Climbers network, a resource database of queer climbing organizations and meetups to spread the word about safe climbing spaces. Catch him at Flash Foxy Climbing Festival in May, and follow him on Instagram @catlikeacat!